The herald., 1895-06-01
Work Done by the National
Municipal League
CORRUPTION IN THE CITIES
L. F. MiIliken Spoke Of the Conditions
in San Francisco
Dr.. John Billings Read an Interesting Paper
On the Government Of municipalities
at the Conference
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CLEVELAND. O., May 31.-At the
session of the National Municipal league
today Charles Richardson, first yice-presi'
dent, read a paper on Government by
National Parties. Francisco l. t. MILL
ken spoke on municipal conditions OF San
Francisco. E. l.. Graves of Seattle,
WaSh., and Thomas N. Strong OF Port
land, Ore, made addresses. DR.. John
Billings read a paper at the good city
government conference this afternoon on
Good City Government from the Stand
piont OF the Physician and Sanitarian.
-''From the point Of view OF the physl-
cian," began DR.. Billings, 'the best city
Eovevnment is that which best preserves
lhe health OF the people, best cares Tor
the sick and injured who require NUM-
Sipal aid. and gives most opportunities
.Sor the inc ease and diffusion of medical
knowledge; and which, at the same time.
HnteYferes least with the freedom OF
Sndividuals in general to use their time,
thei1 knowledge and their property IN
$heir own way and for their own benefit.
&he sanitarian also considers that the
best city government is that which pre-
serves the health of the people, but with
che proviso that it be done at reason
akle cost.
"The most important question to be
thus considered, the doctor continued,
fare vital statistics, water supply, sewage
disposal, garbage disposal, streets and
parks, drainage, prevention of the spread
Vness, suppression OF nuisances, supervi-
1ion Of food supply, regulation OF the
<dquor traffic, care OF the sick and disposal
spf' the dead. Each OF these. ''he said,
S'require expert knowledge to obtain the
<yoest results, and the experts should be
kcl kvx &l,x. ptvr1 afh CI
3cluding political considerations.
Discussing the means OF securing a
Verfect health system, DR.. Billings said:
mo system will prove satisfactory which
'prevents the chiefs of the health and en-
Iineering departments from presenting
Their plans and estimates directly to the
mayor, and no system OF contracts Tor
street cleaning and the removal of garb-
age will, in the long run. secure work
properly done at reasonable rates. All
such contracts must be what are known
as rambling contracts. The city should
own plants and employ its own men for
all this kind Of work, which should he
under the direction OF the engineering
department"
DR.. Billings outlined the methods by
which the various desiderata mentioned
by him should be provided for by a city
government. and. proceeding. said: 81
believe the statement that the present
Iiable. and that science is competent to
answer the problems connected with this.
But science is matter OF fact of guam
'tities, of measurements must have
data to work with-and the fist thing
needed for most of our cities is to obtain
these data. | am much inclln ed to be-
lieve that the wlsest thing a city could
do would be to have the health and en-
yineering departments inspected by a
COMMITTEE composed Of an expert statis-
:ician a skilled sanitarian and an ex-
perienced nun nicipal engineer from else
where for the purpose, who should take
from one to six months to do their work,
and then report the results with their
recommendations The citizens would
then know what OF these parts of the
municipal machinery are in good order
and what are not. Each city presents it's
own peculiar problems, but in many
cases these problems can be better solved
by experts called from other cities than
by those likely to be selected from the
citizens of the place itself.
Mr.. James W. Price of New York pre-
sented a resolution to be considered by
the executive committee declaring that
in the opinion OF this league the question
OF municipal government demands the
serious consideration and devoted sc rvice
of all citizens who would not have the
suffering from boss rule spread.
\ The convention ended after short
speech by President Carter, in which he
congratulated all who had attended upon
the beneficial nature of the proceedings.
The place of the next annual meeting
will be selected by the executive commit
tee.