Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/533

 MUNICIPAL REVIEW, 1908-1909 519

pal government, and enforced responsibility and accountability. Under the amendments the mayor will be actually, not figura- tively, the responsible head of the administrative departments of the city government.

Chicago could have had some of the legislation it asked for and desperately needs if it had been willing to agree to a per- manent limitation of its representation in the legislature. The city is not anxious to set up in the state business, but its leading papers believe that there should be and in time will be a recog- nition by the whole state of Illinois of its substantial stake in the city's welfare and legitimate development in the line of her destiny as a world metropolis. Her plea for home rule in mu- nicipal matters is thus met by "down state papers," the following being from the Rockford Star:

The legislature has wisely refused to enlarge the power of the city of Chicago at the expense of the state at large. If the legislation sought by Chicago were granted that city would, for all intents and purposes be a state of itself. It would continue to send boss owned representatives to the legislature who would vote on matters affecting the commonwealth, but the "down state" members would have no voice in matters relating to Chicago.

The legislature will not add to Chicago's power until that city is re- stricted in its legislative representation. At the present rate of growth it will not be long before Chicago will control the legislature. "Down state" people view that possibility with considerable alarm. The class of men Chicago sends to the legislature is not such that their increase can be viewed with equanimity. To allow Chicago a majority in each branch of the legislature is not best for the people of the entire state, nor would it be beneficial to Chicago. The country districts do not send their best men to the legislature, but such as they are, they are not boss made. They come from a free and independent constituency which will not toler- ate self-appointed political bosses.

It must be conceded that there is a considerable measure of merit in the demand that the city send a better grade of repre- sentatives, but this should not be allowed to interfere with the city's right of self-government.

Municipal home rule, although apparently a far cry in New York and Chicago, is a living actuality in St. Louis, and under the new constitution in Michigan. The constitution adopted a