The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-01
The Organization of Mayors
and Councilman
Which is in Session i'm Column
bus, Ohio,
is ALMOST WRECKED
On the Rock of Municipal own
ership of Utilities.
A Representative of That Idea
Made Permanent Secretary.

Columbus, o., Oct. by its action this
| afternoon in the election of a permanent
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 it absolutely at the start. B.
g. GillNison, publisher of City Government,
was the recipient of the honor and in
the presentation of his name by Mayor
Green of Binghampton, N. Y, it was de-
clared that, if his candidacy should pro-
woke any considerable opposition, he would
not permit himself to destroy the unity
and the harmony of the new organization
at the outset.
There was objection to Gilkison
as to character or ability, but those OPP
posed to him felt that with him as secre-
tary and executive officer, the organiza-
ton would be hopelessly tied up to his
publication as its organ, and thus be
charged with the responsibility for the
policy of the magazine and all its utter
anees. The fight was precipttated early
in the session, when the constitution was
under consideration. The fourth article
provides that all of the officers, except
the secretary, shall be officers of a mu-
nicipality holding membership in the or
ganization. Mayor Quincy of Boston
moved to strike out the exception and
the fight was on.
Mr.. Quincy. Mayor Jones of Toledo, O..
and Alderman W. D. Arrey of Joliet, Ill,
led the fight against Gilklson. They ar
gued that Mr.. Gflkison's publication was
persistent in it's attacks upon private
ownership of municipal service plants.
and hostile to all corporate interests, and
that his election would tie the organiza-
ton up to his publication and work the
ruin of the league. The constitution pro-
vides that the name of the mayors or
ganization shall be the League of Amer
lean municipalities. Its objects are the
general improvement and faoilitation of
every branch of municipal administration
by the following means:
First, the perpetuation of the organiza-
ton as an agency for the cooperation of
American cities in the practical study of
all questions pertaining to municipal ad-
rninistra ton; second, the holding of an
nual conventions for the discussion of
contemporaneous municipal affairs; third
the establishment and maintenance of
central bureau of information for the coll
lection, compilation and dissemination of
statistics reports and all kinds of inform
alton relative to municipal government.
Any municipality in the United States
or Canada may become a member up
on the payment of a small annual fee.
Every city holding membership shall be
entitled to send its mayors and as many
members of the general council and its
board of aldermen as it may desire as
delegates to the annual meeting.
The officers consist of a president, vice
president, a secretary, a treasurer and
three trustees, each of whom shall be an
official of city holding membership. ex>
cepting the secretary, and no two of
whom shall be from the same state This
board of officers shall constitute the ex-
ecutive committee.
The secretary is to conduct the bureau
of information and will receive a salary.
John McVicar of Des Moines. Ia, was
elected president: Mayor Collier of Allan
ia. vice president: Mayor Black of Co
Iumbus, treasurer and the following trus-
tees: Mayor Warner of Peoria, Ill
Councilman Walker of Trenton, n. J., and
Councilman Rand of Minneapolis.
During the discussion of the constitu-
ton it was proposed to shut out of the
league all cities of less than 5000 popula>
ton but after hot fight for the small
municipalities, led by Mayor Collier OF
Atlanta, it was agreed to place no restric-
ton on membership as to population.
Thus the smallest boon" city in Idaho
will have the same voting power as
Greater New York.
Detroit, Mich, was chosen as the next
place Of meeting the other candidates be-
ing st. Paul, Niagara Fails, Binghamp-
ton. N. Y. and Atlantic City, n. j.
After the adjournment, Mayor Josiah
Quincy of Boston said he had hoped that
some good might come of the new organ |
ization. but he could not see any chances
of its success on the lines laid out The
city of Boston, he added, could not join
an organization of this sort already !
weakened by an entangling and embar- !
RAISING alliance with private business en- |
terprise. and many other cities would feel
the same way.
other delegates predicted the failure OF
the league if it is to be run as a sideshow |
to a monthly publication. There are !
some. OF course, who are enthusiastic |
over the outlook.