Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/543

 MUNICIPAL REVIEW, 1908-1909 529

Chicago has a commission which is engaged in probing its municipal housekeeping. Among other things it is trying to find out how far the number of employees, the services rendered by such employees, compensation paid them and the conditions under which they work, conform to the best standards of economy and efficiency. In other words, the commission is charged with the duty of instituting an expert comparison between the work which is furnished the city and that which is furnished large private corporations, with a view to determining whether the munici- pality is getting a proper return for its money. The fact that the commission is headed by Professor Charles E. Merriam of the University of Chicago who is also a member of the Board of Aldermen, guarantees that the work will be thorough and far- reaching in its results.

Turning now to another phase of the situation, we find a satis- factory increase in the number of agencies designed to educate American citizens not only in their rights but — what is far more important — in their duties. Municipal voters' and civic leagues continue to increase in number and efficiency ; the Intercollegiate Civic League represents an important and encouraging develop- ment of interest. The Associated Harvard Clubs' Report on Reform in City School Administration represents a still further important and significant development of interest on the part of college men. Libraries are increasing their municipal departments and are providing in various ways, on the one hand to meet the increased demand upon them for information and, on the other, to stir up such a demand. The Katisas City Star has sought to stimulate interest through the creation of a series of prizes for the best essays on municipal topics. A Harvard man has given to that institution $5,000 a year for ten years to be used chiefly for increasing its facilities for preparing young men for service in municipal government, either as intelligent citizens or as ex- pert officials. As the Boston Herald points out, this is a very propitious sign of the times. With this sort of aid from men of means and with the co-operation of the National Municipal League's Com- mittee on Instruction, it is apparent that universities and colleges can if they will contribute much more than in the past to helping this country to a higher grade of municipal administration.