Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

of want of example, but that this was
peculiarly So Indifference by legislatures
had prevented the proper carrying out of
many experiments.
IF we could have for five years." ex-
claimed the speakSN "a single free city Of
100000 inhabitantsA we should hear very
little more about The hopeless problem OF
municipal government"
The speaker laid down as generally ac-
copied the propSStions that properly
equipped citizens LEGALLY had not the time
to devote to public affairs without compen-
sation. and that young men could not take
up public office because of the necessity for
making livelihood that certain stigma
attaches to the ns9e of alderman. which
It will require some substantial considera-
ton to offset in the minds of honorable
men. These conditions would seem to call
for the payment OF good salaries.
Upon the other Hand the existence Of
such salaries would prove a greater temp
tation and incentive to the very men now
sought to be set aside.
1T Is said sometimes" said he, that to
say we must pay salaries in order to Sc
cure the services of the most patriotic citi-
zens is an acknowledgment too humilat-
Ing to be made, end that If it is true our
case Is hopeless. This seems to me to be a
somewhat fanciful view We must deal
with facts The facts are that we want
our best men in our municipal legislatures
no matter how insignificant the part play
ed by those bodies be at the moment; that
men whose services are of the highest
value cannot act as members of such leg
1SlatureS under present conditions without
liberal compensation. and that such com
penSat1on would open the way to MANY of
our best citizens who would welcome the
opportunity to serve their communities,
but to whom the opportunity cannot come
unless the Office presents itself a. a means
of livelihood"
Papers as follows were also read Munich
pal Condition of Springfield, Mass, and of
Albany, N. "" by George A. Dennis of the
0hr
Boyd Thacher of Albany The Rev Albert
G: Lawson, ID. of Camden. N. j.. spoke
OF christian Citizenship Leagues"
Col. Warnings Narrative.
Colonel George E. Warning, New York
city's street cleaning commissioner in speak
ing of 1.-THE Necessity of Excluding Politics
From Municipal Governments" entertained
the delegates with an amusing history of
how he got his present position and
what he had done since He said he
was originally offered the place by a men,
Der of the democratic national committee
ana said he would accept it with the under
standing that he should have his own way
Subsequently Mayor Strong appointed him
on these terms, and has never interfered
with him.
He detailed his experience with the poll
tlclans, and asserted that Mayor Strong
had received 161 sets of resolutions asking
Tor ms removal because of an alleged attack
upon the old soldiers. The politicians had
come to his way of thinking however. and
he had received assurances from one of
Iammanys big four" that he should be re-
tanned IN the event Of a Tammany victory
In conclusion he asserted that the street
cleaning department of New York was now
strictly non-partisan, and that 1t is a shin
ing example OF the efficacy of divorcing poll
ucs from municipal government
AT o'clock the convention adjourned sine
die.