The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-01
A CITIES LEAGUE ORGANIZED.
TEEE ORGANIZATION AT COLuMBUs
MADE PERMANENT.

Mayor Collier of Atlanta Is Elected
Vice President-A Rock of Discord
Struck i'm the Outset of the orgmnf-
zatiOn-Thc body viii Hereafter
BE Known as the League of
American Municipalities" and the
Next Meeting viii Be Held in De-
trOit.
Columbus, o., Sept 3O.-By its action
this afternoon in the election of perma-
nent executive secretary, the conference
OF mayors struck the rock which. in the
opinion of many of it's most conservative
and far-seeing members, seriously threat
ems its possibilities for usefulness, and
may wreck 1t absolutely at the start. b.
f. Gilkison, publisher of City Government
was a recipient of the honor, and in the
presentation of his name by Mayor Green
of Binghamton, N. Y, it was declared
that If his candidacy should provoke any
considerable opposition he would not per-
NIT himself to destroy the unity and the
harmony of the new Organization at the
outset Up to midnight, however, Mr.
Gilkison had not resigned the office.
to character or ability, but those opposed
to him felt that. with him a secretary and
executive officer, the organization would
be hopelessly tied up to his publication
as its organ. and thus be charged with
the responsibility of the policy of the
magazine and all it's utterances. The
fight was a sharp one, and intensely ex-
oil nj
in the session, when the constitution was
| under consideration. The fourth article
provides that all the officers, except the
secretary. Shall be officers of a munich
| pality, holding membership in the organ
ization. Mayor Quincy of Boston moved
to strike out the exception and the fight
was on. He made strong. earnest and
eloquent protest against liking this league
| of municipalities with any man s. busi-
ness, or lending its influence to the furth-
| erance of his personal interests
| Mayor Quincy was ably supported by
| Mayor Jones of Toledo, o., and Alderman
| JOHN w. Darcy of Joliet, Ill.
TIE constitution provides that the name
of the mayors organization shall be the
| League of American municipalities. Its
| objects are the general Improvement and
| facilitation of every branch of municipal
administration by the following means:
First. The perpetuation of the organ
ization as an agency for the cooperation
| of American cities in the practical study
of all questions pertaining to municipal
| administration.
! Second. The holding of annual conven-
| ton for the discussion of contemporaneous
municipal affairs. n
Third. The establishment and mainte.
nance of a central bureau of information
for the collection, compilation and dissem-
| ination of statistics reports, and all kinds
| of information relative to municipal gov.
| eminent. Ate
Any municipality in the United States
| or Canada may become a member, the an.
nual membership fees being as follows
| Cities under 25.000 population, $40; between
$4,000 and $4,000, $50; between $1,000 and
! 100000 $40; between 100000 and 100000 $50
| over 100000, $50.
/ On the questions of electing officers ant
| selecting time and place of annual meet.
| ing, each and every member shall be en-
| titled to one vote, which shall be the ma.
| jority expression of the members delega.
| ton; on all other questions the vote of the
majority of delegates present shall con.
| troll.
John McViar, Des Moines, Ia, was elect
| ed president; Mayor Collier, Atlanta Ga.
| vice president; Mayor Black, Columbus
| o., treasurer, and the following trustees
| Mayor Warner PEORIA ILL.,; Councilman
| Walker, Trenton, N. j.; Councilman
| Rand, Minneapolis.
Detroit, Mich, was chosen as the next
| place of meeting
| At the night session a number of inter.
| esting papers were read. Municipal Own
| ership" win be discussed tomorrow.
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