The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-01
AMAYoRs, CONVENTION

On September %, at Columbus, O.,wiIl
assemble the first national convention
of mayors and councilmen ever held in
this country. 1t will continue in ses-
sion four days. The arrangements for
the meeting are in the hands of a com
mittee of which Mayor Fellows is a
member The committee is composed
OF thirty-six mayors and twenty-four
councilmen drawn from all parts of the
country.
A circular letter issued by this COM
mittee sets forth the objects of the con-
vention as follows:
First-The formation of a national or
ganiZatiOn of the chief executives and
members of councils in cities of the
United States.
Second-The hearing of addresses on
important municipal topics by distin-
guished speakers.
Third-The general discussion of all
questions pertaining to the administl "a
ton of all branches of municipal work
by mayors and councilmen from all
parts of the country.
Fourth-The interchange of ideas and
knowledge on municipal problems, such
as will result from the experienced city
officials coming in contact with each
other.
The convention will deal with such
important topics as the granting of
street railway, gas, electric and other
franchies and the control of and reve-
nues derived from corporations enjoy
ing such special franchises; the cOllec-
ton and disposition of garbage; the
relative merits of various street paving
materials including cedar block, brick,
granite, Medina block, asphalt block
and the different kinds of sheet
asphalt; the cleaning of streets;
the municipal ownership of lighting
plants and the cost of street lighting
under the contract system; the munich
pal management of public water sup
plies and the necessity for water fltra-
ton; parks and Fairgrounds, municipal
finances, taxation and special assess
ments, the regulation of the social and
saloon evils, etc.
On the men who will assemble at
Columbus depends in a large measure
the welfare of the urban population of
the country.
1t rests with these officials and their
subordinates to improve the condition
of municipal life so that it cannot be
wrecked upon the rocks of confiScating
taxation. Pure and wholesome water,
sewerage systems adequate to protect
the public health, schools for the proper
education of the children, parks and
Fairgrounds for the comfort and enjoy
ment of the people, hospitals for suf-
fering humanity, charitable institutions
for the unfortunate, warehouses for the
lawbreakers, fire and police depart
ments for the protection of life and
property, improved streets and bridges
for the safety and convenience of the
whole community, sanitary collection
and disposal of garbage, and clean
streets are a few of the necessities of
American cities which must be pro-
vided and maintained by the people
through the agency of their elected Of
ficials. These necessities cost money,
and to provide the best at the least cost,
together with the task of securing to
the city adequate remuneration for the
use of public streets by private corpor-
atoms, belongs to the field of practical
municipal reform.
1t will be seen. therefore, that there
are possibilities for much good work to
result from such an assemblage and the
citizens of Topeka will doubtless be
pleased to be fittingly represented on
that occasion