Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Studies in History Economics and Public Law, Vol. 9
The present practical problems of American public law are largely administrative. The spheres of the national and commonwealth governments were delimited by the Civil War, and the delimitation then reached has been recognized by subsequent legislation. The relation of commonwealth and local governments now demands our attention, and a solution of the problem becomes more urgent as each year passes.
The origin of the problem is comparatively recent. In the early years of our history the need of a careful delimitation of the spheres of local authorities and a determination of their relations to each other and to the state government, was very slight. But the last hundred years have witnessed most radical changes. The functions of government have increased enormously. In the period of early frontier life, the activity of the local government was almost limited to the protection of life and property. Indeed, frequent reliance was placed upon the individual himself to act as his own guardian. Soon, however, schools were established, high ways constructed, and as population increased, other func tions were assumed by the localities. It was not, however, until cities sprang up that the subject assumes its greatest importance. The various gigantic municipal enterprises of the present day - waterworks, street railways, gas and electric lighting, parks and commons, paved streets, public libraries and museums, sewerage systems, fire departments - were largely unknown fifty or one hundred years ago.
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