The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-11
MUNICIPAL REFORM

A Citizens League has been formed in
New Orleans to GUST the present corrupt
municipal government. 1t is waging
strong fight against the "rinR," and at Il Q
election TO be held on April st there Will
be battle royal for control of the Offices Z,
| with the present chances favoring the re-
formers. One councilman has already
been convicted and sent to the state pris-
or; three more are in Jail and will nr
doubt soon follow. Eleven in all are un-
der from one to six indictments. The
| grand jury reported that two-thirds OF the
councilmen were guilty of blackmail or
bribnrv. but that not enough evidence
| could be secured TO prosecute all success
| fully.
dent of the National Municipal league and
| vice president of the Philadelphia NUM-
cipal league, has been appointed by Mayor
/ Warwick of Philadelphia. member OF the
civil service examining board. to examine
policemen and firemen. This is cell
merited appointment. and ind C ttes q de-
sire on the part of the mayor to avail him.
self of the valuable services Of one who
has given long and careful study and at
tention TO important civil service reforms.
The Fellowship for Ethical Research of
Philadelphia, 10 holding a series OF meet
ings on the present claims OF the various
pc itcal parties on the suffraees Of the
American people. The following parties
are represented: Republican. Democratic,
POpulist, Prohibition, Municipal League.
Women's Suffrage, Single Tax and A. p.
MThe National Municipal league is taking
census of municipal reform organizations
the United States. ALI who possess in.
rmation about any such bodies. whether
Already formed or only forming are re-
quested to communicate with the secretary
of the league. Clinton Rogers Woodruff,
ESQ.,, BID Walnut street, Philadelphia.
The Municipal league Of Milwaukee has
issued a campaign address calling for laws
to prevent the giving away OF municipal
franchises, to repeal the street railway tax
exemption bill and 10 prevent corrupt prac-
tees at elections.
In 1895 Governor Morton appointed a
commission, consisting of Messrs. Robert
Earl, James &. Cutler, Michaei Il. Driscoll,
Arthur Il. Andrews and David NJ Greene,
to draft bill to propose legislation gov
erning New York cities of the second class
This commission has completed its labors
and presented bill to the present legisla-
ture. 1t covers Oh pages, and goes over
the ground thoroughly. Should it become
u law it will affect Albany, Rochester, Syr-
acuse and troy.
Mayor Pingree of Detroit spoke before
the Rhode Island business mems associa-
| ton, at Providence, recently on his expert.
ences with companies supplying municipal
service and enjoying municipal franchises.
The interest manifested in city problems
by business organizations is an encourage
ing indication sign of the times.
The chamber of commerce of Cleveland
| has done the cause of municipal reform in
that city a substantial service. Its rnu-
| nicipal committee prepared an extended
statement of the actual condition of affairs,
| and this report was discussed at length by
many prominent citizens, including the
| mayor, at q regular meeting of the cham
Der. The report showed that the municipal
service was not what it should be; that there
was pressing need of effective civil service
regulation; that public franchises had been
given away too cheaply; that party alle-
| glance had been develoved at the expense
of the public welfare, and so on through
the list of municipal evils. The result is
| that Cleveland has been thoroughly stirred
up over the need for reform.
The publication Office of Good Govern
ment, the official organ of the National
| Civil Service Reform League, has been
transferred from Washington, d. c.. to
New York city, and George McAneny, the
| efficient secretary of the league, has as
sumed editorial control. The first num-
bers under the new management indi-
cate the adoption of broad and progress
sive policy that will make the paper of
great service to all interested in the cause
of good government in city, state and
nation.
What is to be hereafter known as the
Reform Section of the Society for Ethical
| Culture of Philadelphia has been organized
for the purpose of enabling its members to
exert themselves actively Yin behalf Of
what is right and just,' and especially &c
enab them to cooperate with existing re-
form efforts. Its first circular letter tc
members and all others interested has just
been issued, and urges them to come to
work with the municipal league of Phila-
delphia in its campaign for better council
! men.
New Orleans was very DESTROYS of secur-
ing the fourth annual meeting of the
National Municipal league and the national
conference for good city government; but
it looks now as if Baltimore were to be the
successful city. 1t is significant fact that
four southern cities, New orleans, Louis
vile. Chattanooga and Baltimore sent in
vita.ions to the National Municipal league
for the. conference. Syracuse. N. Y, and
Milwaukee also presented strong pleas for
the meeting.