Some Defects in Municipal Government. 119 



gance on the part of cities by limiting their debt con- 

 tracting ability for general purposes, there does not ex- 

 ist the same reason for limiting, to the same extent at 

 least, the debt contracting ability for the purpose of 

 constructing or improving revenue producing municipal 

 plants. Sioux City is at the present time exjjeriencing 

 the ill effects of this five per cent, limitation. It has a 

 waterworks plant worth approximately $1,000,000, with 

 only a nominal indebtedness. A large sum is needed 

 for improvements to the system in order to meet growing 

 municipal needs, and we are practically helpless, so it is 

 claimed, on account of the fact that the city has exceeded 

 its constitutional limit of indebtedness, although the net 

 income of the plant will pay interest on at least a half 

 million of bonded indebtedness. I am sure that the 

 framers of the state constitution never contemplated 

 such a condition and actual hardship, and I am equally 

 sure that at the proper time, if the matter is fully under- 

 stood, a change can be effected, and an exception made 

 where the indebtedness is incurred for the purpose of 

 constructing or improving revenue producing plants. 

 We can all readily agree with Bird S. Coler when he says 

 that this constitutional limitation "should not be made 

 a fetich to be worshiped blindly at the expense of really 

 necessary progress." 



Bonds issued for the payment of public utilities are 

 not real burdens on the taxpayers. The municipality's 

 debt incurring power for the purpose of making non- 

 essential public improvements should be limited, but for 

 those things which are essential to public health and 

 comfort, like pure water in abundance, there should be 

 no constitutional bar. It is well to have restrictions and 

 limitations, but nothing is to be gained by having restric- 

 tions and limitations which in their operation must of 

 necessity result in depriving us of those things which 

 aid in bringing about better conditions of municipal life. 



Other reforms in the present method of governiag 

 Iowa citites might be suggested. The merit system, for 

 example, should be reasonably and practically applied 

 to the civil service. The referendum law should be ex- 

 tended. But a discussion of these and other subjects 

 would unduly prolong this paper. 



