The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-01
A Few Judicious Executions
Would, He Says, Improve
the City.
WORK OF CIVIC SOCIETIES.
The Good They Have Accomplished
Exploited Before the Mu-
nicipal League.

to-day Charles Richardson, first president,
read a paper on Municipal Government
by National Parties" /. T. Milliken of
San Francisco spoke on "The Municipal
Condition of San Francisco"
Mr.. Milliken began with the consolida-
ton in 1856 of the city and a portion of
what had been the county into the present
City of San Francisco, which was extempo-
raneous with the final acts of the old
Vigilance Committe, the historical doings
of which and the spirit imbuing it, he
added, left more than transient mark.
Coming down to local reform move
ments, he named the various reform and
civic associations whose efforts have bent
toward bringing about good government.
Another step in this direction, he con-
tinued, has been the passage by the recent
session of the Legislature OF several bills
in the interest of pure elections. One
of these relates to primary elections, which,
Mr.. Milliken asserts, "have become so
farcical as to be Stunned by the better
class of voters in both the old parties"
"Great hopes are entertained that the
better element will make itself felt under
the new rule" said the speaker. "There
is much to be said in praise of San Fran
cisco, though it is not in all respects an
ideal city. 1t is long time since the
Vigilance Committee. But there is no
city in the Union with a quarter of mil
lion people excepting Cleveland) which
would not be the better for little judi
cious hanging.
1.-THE difficulties to be met here are, in
general, similar to those of other cosmo-
politan cities. New York furnishes dodgers
and voters for Long Island, Staten Island
and the choice residence parts of New
Jersey. San Francisco does the same for
Alameda, Marin and San Mateo counties.
But recent developments show that when
the best elements of New York are united
in municipal reform they can control.
ain common with our sister cities we
must reach condition under which citi-
zens may accept and even aspire to public
office and not debase themselves by venal
pledges and agreements in advance.
Public and semi-public corporations must
learn, and are beginning to realize, that
bribery, subsidy and deceit cost more in
the long run than will frank dealings with
their patrons. In bringing about all these
needed improvements the National Mu-
nicipal League cannot fail to prove lead
ing factor"
Professor Albion W. Small of the Uni
versity of Chicago read paper on "The
Civic Federation of Chicago" Professor
Small dwelt at length upon the organiza-
ton and history of civic federation in his
city, and stated that civic consciousness
began at Chicago with a mass-meeting
called in 1893 by William 7. Stead of
London.
The federation was comprehensive
rather than fractional. 1t did not assume
that schoolteachers are the best people to
draft revenue laws nor that ministers are
likely to be competent inspectors of sani-
tary conditions, nor that politicians will
do good service in regulating educational
and religious enterprises.
President Frederick Elliott of the Brook
Ign Law Enforcement Society also read a
paper which detailed the work done by the
society in the recent social crusade in New
York. Addresses were made by E. L.
Graves of Seattle, Wash, and Thomas N.
Strong of Portland, Or.
Rev. Donald MacLaurin, DID,, of De-
troit, Mich, read very interesting paper
on the municipal conditions existing in
that city.
Rev. Gregory J. Powell of Omaha de-
clared that the solution of the municipal
problem will never be reached until the
evil resulting from the performance of
city duties by corporations is corrected
L. II. Holden of Cleveland contended
for minority reports as a great aid, and re-
ports of the benefits to be derived from
that system was made by several dele
gates.
moralizing Congress to modify the natu-
ralization laws SO that an applicant for
must show certificate from
a home officer as to his age, occupation,
birthplace and port of departure, and one
from the United States Consul setting
forth the character of the applicant.
James W. Price of New York presented
these resolutions to be considered by the ex.
ecutive committee:
WHEREAS, The Government and the constitu-
ton of the United States are founded upon the
capacity of the individual citizen for self
government; and whereas, popular govern
ment in the large and rapidly growing cities of
this country has practically failed to deyelop
capacity for local self-government in the citi
ZenS OF our municipalities, anu whereas, Cfti-
zens who fail in their duties to local govern
ment which affect daily and intimately the
happiness. the comfort and the personal safety
of themselves. their families and their neigh
bors, cannot continue to discharge the duty of
citizens of the Nation with that patriotism
upon which our forefathers founded our Fed
eral Government; therefore, be it
ResoIued, That in the operation of the Ma.
tional Municipal League the present con-
ditions of local government in the great ma
jority Of cities of this country is such as to
threaten the integrity OF our institutions and
ultimately the existence of the nation; and.
Rescued, That in the opinion of this league
the question of municipal government de-
mands the serious consideration and devoted
services of all citizens who would not have the
rottenness of our city governments, still suffer
ing from boss rule, spread.
The afternoon session opened with a
paper by Frederick L. Siddons of Washing
ton, upon the municipal condition of that
city. He declared government of the Dis
trict of Columbia by Congress was far from
being satisfactory.
Good City Government From Woman's
Standpoint" was the subject of an address
by Mrs. Runkle of New York. She showed
in convincing manner that mnr;o;noI