The record-union., 1895-06-01
GOVERNMENT OF CITIES.
Proceedings Of the Conference Held
at Cleveland, Ohio.
PERFECT HEALTH SYSTEM A MOST
IMPORTANT FACTOR

WaterspOut In Texas Causes Great
Damage to Railroads and the LOSS
of Hundreds of Head of Cattle.
Special to the RECoRD-UNroN.
CLEVELAND (O.). May 31.-The Good
City Government Conference was held
here to-day. A number of interesting
papers were read. The subject of DIR.
John Billings was, Good City Govern
ment, From the Standpoint of the Physi-
clan and Sanitarian."
From the point of view of the physi-
cian," began DIR. Billings. ''the best city
government is that which best preserves
the health of the people, best cares for the
sick and injured who require municipal
aid, and gives most opportunities for the
increase and diffusion of medical knowl-
edge; which at the same time interferes
least with the freedom of individuals in
general to use their time, their knowledge
and their property in their own way and
for their own benefit. The sanitarian
also considers that the best city govern
ment is that which preserves the health
of the people, but with the provision that
it be done at a reasonable COST"
Discussing the means Of securing per-
feet health system, DR.. Billings said:
mo system will prove satisfactory
which prevents the chiefs Of the health
and engineering departments from pre-
senting their plans and estimates directly
to the Mayor for street cleaning, and the
city should own the plant and employ
its own men under the direction of the
engineering department."
DIR. Billings outlined the methods by
which the various desiderata mentioned
by him should be provided for by a city
government. Proceeding, he said
Il believe that the statements of the
present evils OF city life are remedial, and
that science is competent to answer the
problems connected with this. But
science is matter of fact, of quantities,
of measurement-it must have data to
work with-and the first thing needed
for most of our cities is to obtain these
data. am inclined to believe that the
wisest thing city could do would be to
have it's health and engineering depart
ments inspected by committee COM
posed of an export statistieian, a skilled
sanitarian and an experienced municipal
engineer from elsewhere for the purpose,
who should take from one to six months
to do their work and then report the re-
suits with their recommendations. The
citizens would then know what of the
parts of the municipal machinery are in
good order and what are not. Each city
presents its own peculiar problems, but
in many cases these problems can better
be solved by experts called from other
cities than by those likely to be selected
from the citizens of the place ITSELF"
j. w. Baer of Boston spoke on "The
Work of Christian Endeavor Societies in
behalf of Christian Citizens" Mr.. Baer
began his address by quoting from the
addresses made by Francis E. Clark.
President OF the Christian Endeavor So
ciety, at the conventions held at Montreal
in July, 1893, and in Cleveland last July
in the Christian Endeavor campaign for
Christian citizenship. He then exhaust
lively discussed the work of the various
subordinate unions of the society in diff
terent cities throughout the country.
Thomas N. Strong of Portland, Or,
Arnished paper on Municipal Condi-
tion OF Portland. Oregon" AT the outset
Mr.. Strong dwelt on the growth of muni-
cipal corruption in his city for many
years, as the result of political control
and the supineness of its citizens, who
bent on money making, were regardless
or ignorant of the methods of adminstra-
ton.
The full awakening, he said, came in
1898, when, under the pressure of finan-
clal stringency, several banks failed and
city and county funds to the extent of
over $780, 900 were tied up. The people
arose and the famous Taxpayers Com
mittee of 100 was formed and began a
rigid examination into municipal depart
ments. AS a result of its work the old
apathy largely disappeared and public
officials are now being held TO account.
Professor Albion w. Small of the Uni
versity of Chicago read a paper on the
Civic Federation of Chicago" Pro-
fessor Small dwelt at length upon the or
ganization and history of the Civic Fed
GRAFTON in his city, and said that civic
consciousness began at Chicago with
mass-meeting held in 1898 by William T..
Stead of London. The federation was
comprehensive rather than fractional.
1t did not assume that school teachers
are the best people to draft revenue laws,
nor that ministers are likely to be compe-
tent inspectors of sanitary conditions,
nor that politicians will do to work
in heading educational and religious en-
terprses.
Professor Frederick Elliott OF the
Brooklyn Law Enforcement Society also
read a paper which detailed the work
done by the society in the recent social
crusade in New York.
James w. Price of New York presented
resolution to be considered by the
Elective Committee declaring that in the
opinion of this league the question of
municipal government demands the seri-
Gus consideration and devoted service of
all citizens who would not have the rot
tenness of our city governments still suf-
fering from boss rule spread.
The convention ended after a 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 Com
mittee.