San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-31

NhHN hh<hND, w., ildy ol.- liz
morning session Of the National
Municipal league today was
marked by somewhat smaller at
tendance. The first paper this
morning was that Of Charles Rich
ardson, first vice-president of the
league. His subject was "Munici-
pal Government by National Par
ties"
He was followed by Francisco l.
T. Milliken, who spoke on the
"Municipal Condition of San Fran
CISCO"
f. O. Graves, of Seattle, Wash
ington, and Thomas n. Strong, Of
Portland, Oregon, made addresses
on the same subject in connection
with their respective cities.
CLEvI AND, o., May 31.-The fol-
lowing papers were read at the
"good city government confer
ence today. DR.. Billings opened
with good city government from
the standpoint OF the physician
and sanitarian."
"From the standpoint of the ply
sician," began DR.. Billing, "the city
government is that which best pre-
serves the health of the cities peo-
pie, best cares for the sick and as
sists those who require municipal
aid and gives most opportunities
for the increase and diffusion Of
medical knowledge and at the same
time interferes the least with the
citizens in general, to use their
time, knowledge and their proper
ty in their own way and for
their own benefit. The sanitarian
also considers that the best
city government is that which
preserves the health of the people,
but with the provision that it be
done at reasonable cost"
Discussing the methods for Sc
curing a perfect health system, DR..
Billings said "No system will prove
satisfactory which prevents the
chiefs OF the health and engineer
ing departments from presenting
their plans and estimates directly
to the mayor for street cleaning
and the city should own its own
plant and employ it's own men
under the direction Of the en-
gineering department"
DR.. Billings outlined the meth
DDS by which the various deside-
rata mentioned by him should be
provided for by city government
and proceeding said: ~ believe
the statements that the present
evils of a city life are temporary
and remediable and that science is
competent to answer the problems
connected with this.
But science is a matter of fact, of
quantities, of measurements, it
must have data to work with, and
the first thing needed for most Of
our cities is to obtain this data. l
am much inclined to believe that
the wisest thing a city could do
would be to have its health and en-
cheering departments inspected
by committee, expert statistician,
askilled sanitsrian and an expert
enced municipal engineer from
elsewhere for the purpose, who
should take from one to six months
to do their work and then report the
results with their recommends
tions. The citizens would then
know what of these parts Of the
municipal machinery are in good
order and what are not. Each city
presents its own peculiar problems,
but in many cases the problem can
be better solved by experts called
from other cities than by those
that can be selected from the citi-
zens of the place itself.
John William Baer, OF Boston,
followed, on "The work Of Chris
tian Endeavor societies in behalf
OF Christian citizenship"
Mr.. Baer, began his address by
quoting from the addresses made
by Francis E. Clark, president Of
the Christian Endeavor society at
the conventions held in Montreal
in July, 1898, and in Cleveland last
July, anent the Christian Endesvor
campaign for Christian citizenship.
He then extensively discussed
the work OF the various subordi-
nate unions of the society in differ