6. What is the geographical center of your community? The center of population? The center of access, that is, the point which, by reason of traffic facilities can be most quickly and easily reached by the largest number of people? If a civic center were being established, where ought it to be placed and why? 7. In the largest cities there are about 20 policemen for every 10,000 people, in smaller cities only 10 or 12. Why is this? Is the number of arrests made by a policeman an indication of his efficiency? Scandals are frequent in the police departments of large cities and this is sometimes explained by saying that the police are exposed to more temptations than any other city officials. Discuss this explanation. 8. What in your opinion are the most common causes of fires? Many schools set apart one day in the year as _Fire Prevention Day_. Make some suggestions concerning a suitable program for this occasion. 9. Can you think of any sources of revenue not now utilized by cities which might be drawn upon to meet an urgent need without arousing a great deal of opposition from the people? 10. What civic organizations in your community are helping the public officials to solve their problems? Give an account of the purposes and work of each. Topics for Debate 1. A maximum limit should be imposed by the state law upon the tax rates of cities. 2. City employees, including policemen and firemen, should (or should not) have the right to join a labor organization. 3. All public work should be done by contract (or by the city’s own employees). CHAPTER XII STATE GOVERNMENT IN OUTLINE _The purpose of this chapter is to explain the relation of the states to the nation, to show how the state governments are organized, and what services they render the people._ [Sidenote: Place of the states in the nation.] =The Sovereign States.=—It is customary to speak of the American Republic as made up of “sovereign states”, but unless this expression is clearly explained it is apt to be misleading. On July 4th, 1776, the thirteen colonies became free and independent states, each entitled to frame its own plan of government. These new states were subject to no restrictions except the very mild ones which, by adopting the Articles of Confederation, they had agreed to place upon themselves. They were very jealous of their independence and disinclined to surrender any of their powers, even to create a unified nation. For this reason, when the national constitution was framed in 1787, the states reserved to themselves all powers not conveyed to the new federal government by the provisions of that document. It was intended that the preponderance of power should rest with the states, that most of the work of government should be performed by them, and that the first interest of the citizen should be in the affairs of his own state.