The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-01
MAYORS AND COUNClLMEN
The First Annual Session-Temporary Or.
gsnizatiOn-Papers Read Before the Con-
=sntfon-Women Councilmen Present rs
Delegates

Columbus. Ohio. September 2s.-The
first annual conference of the mayors
and councilmen of the United States,
Canada n Mexico was called TO order
at IL o'clock this morning by Mayor
Black of this city, about 100 regularly
accredited delegates being present in
the auditorium. The mayors opening
remarks were brief and formal. and he
closed by introducing Governor Asa S.
Bushnell, of Ohio, who delivered an
address of welcome.
At the close of the governors well
come, Mayor Black presented Mayor
c. A. Collier, of Atlanta, Ga, who re-
isponded for the visitors in a speech
glowing with sentiments of patriotism
and presenting the Importance of good
,muicIpal government with great force
and eloquence. He co~mplimented Ohio
upon the aid that she extended to At
,lanta at the time of the first cotton ex-
position and closed with a feeling tribute
ito the common love of country that had
called the delegates together. Mayor
Golfers address was received with en-
ithuSiastic applause.
Mayor Black was made chairman of
the convention, and Editor Gordon, of
City Government, secretary. These of
ficers are to serve only during the SEES
sions of the convention prior to the
formation of a permanent organization
on the closing day.
AT noon the convention adjourned
till 2 o'clock p. M, but it was nearly
3 o'clock Chairman Black called
the meeting to order this afternoon.
There was no reference made by the
chairman or the secretary to the official
, roll call, as made up from the reports
of the delegation chairmen, and as no
convention continued it's business with
out any definite information as to who
constitute it's members.
Chairman Black announced the COM
mittee to formulate a plan of perma-
nent organization. This committee is
to report not later than Wednesday
I: night.
A careful count made at the after
noon session disclosed the presence of
tWenty-seven men wearing the official
badges Of mayors and ffty-one men
and women with those Of councilmen.
The number of properly accredited DEL
! egates is not far from 100. AS yet New
York city, Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadel-
phia, Boston, St. Louis and other cities
of that class are without representation
here.
Joseph w. Slower, of New York city,
occupied forty minutes Of the time Of
the in the reading OF a
paper on Photographic Systems for the
Facilitation of Fire and Police Service"
William Brophty, chief electrician of
the city of Boston, was on the pro-
gramme for a paper on Modern Con
structiOn Inc Maintenance of Electric
Wires and Their Supervision by Mu-
inequalities" but he was unable to be
present, and a substitute read the
paper. There was no discussion of
either paper, and at 4 O'Clock the con-
vention adjourned till 8 O'Clock p. m.
Chairman Black, in his opening re-
marks at tOnight's session, made refer
ence to the Importance of street light
ing in cities, and called attention to the
significance and influence of the Ma
tional Street Lighting Association, now
in session here. In closing, he intro
duced Henry Hopkins, of New Haven,
Conn.,, who is secretary Of the associa-
tiOn. He e a paper on The Proper
Lighting of Cities Streets"
The National Street Lighting Asso-
citation has thirty-eight delegates here,
but SO far it's deliberations have pos
sessed no measur of public interest.
Mayor McVicar, of Des Moines, Iowa,
read a prepared paper on Street Light
ing by Contract and by Municipal Own
ership."