A third illustration of the uneven distribution of corruption throughout a political structure may be found in our own case. In the United States, as is well known, the general opinion of the honesty and efficiency of the federal government is extremely high; state government enjoys considerably less repute; and municipal government is pretty commonly and indiscriminately condemned. Even in the case of the latter, however, it is worth while to observe that in some cities otherwise considered almost hopelessly bad, certain departments, notably public schools and fire protection, are recognised as being managed on a much higher plane than other branches of the municipal service. In such cases public recognition of the importance of the departments concerned has led to an insistence on efficiency and honesty that has proven effective. The conclusion would seem to be well founded, therefore, that a proper recognition by our city population of the vital importance of other branches of the service, such as sanitation, refuse disposal, water supply, building and housing inspection, letting of contracts, and so on, would go far toward bringing about much needed improvements. It would also appear that corruption may be omnipresent and yet not extremely harmful because of the moderation of its demands. A practical politician once remarked that “the people will never kick on a ten per cent rake off.” It is quite possible that the effort to wipe out so modest a tribute by a reform agitation opposed to the principle of the thing might cost more in effort or even in campaign expenses than would be represented by the saving to the municipal treasury or public. Obviously, however, the advisability of an effort for the establishment of honest government is not to be calculated in financial values only. The moral effect of a corrupt exaction of ten per cent which no one thinks it worth while to attack may be worse than the moral effect of a fifty per cent exaction which is vigorously condemned. A purely Machiavellian machine leader may also discern a degree of danger lurking in a government ten per cent corrupt due to the very fact that the electorate accepts it with quiescence. Under such conditions it is difficult to convince the more greedy minor politicians that while they can get ten per cent without a murmur they could not take twenty or even fifteen per cent without serious trouble. The great expenses of political management which the leaders are called upon to meet must also incline them at times to exactions beyond the verge of prudence.