Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-01
MUNICIPAL MEETING.
The Convention to Be Held
This Month at Colum.
bus, Ohio.
OUTLINE OF THE WORK PROPOSED.

Hsttsrs Of Various Kinds p. raining to the
Cause Of Good City Government to Come
Up-Maeh 20 He Gained is b Expected
Through Autusl Discussion and Inter-
course.
Mayor Medill and the members of
the city council have received invi-
tations to attend the national con.
vention OF mayors and councilmen
to be held ct Columbus, Ohio, Sept.
20 to Oct. 1. The arrangements for
the gathering are in the hands of q
general committee composed of Sc
mayors, of which Mr.. Medill is one.
and "a councilmen. representing all
sections of the country. and q circu-
lar letter issued by this committee
sets forth the objects Of the conven-
ton as follows:
First-The formation of national
organization of the chief executives
and members of the councils of Cit
les in the United States.
Second-The hearing of addresses
on important municipal topics by
distinguished speakers.
Third-The general discussion of
all questions pertaining to the ad-
minlstration Of all branches of mu.
nicipal work by mayors anc council
men from all parts of the country.
Fourth-The interchange of ideas
and knowledge on municipal prob
lens, such as will result from the ex-
periencea city officials coming in
contact with each other.
Is will be observed that the OBJ.
| jects of the convention were designed
with view to securing general dis
cussion Of all questions pertaining
to municipal administration by those
who have had the actual experience
in the work-the officials them selves.
Such q discussion bringing out as ii
will an interchange Of original ideas
and knowledge among men expert
enced in city government, cannot
fail to result beneficially to the tax
payers of the cities which will be
represented by their officials at this
convention.
| Topics for DIscussion.
The convention will deal with such
important topics as the granting OF
street railway, gas, electric and 9th
er franchises, and the control of and
revenue derived from corporations
enjoying such special fran hises; the
collection and disposition Of gar bage.
which is branch OF municipal work
still in the experimental stage; the
relative merits Of the various street.
paving materials, including cedar
block. brick, granite. Medina block.
asphalt block and the different kinds
Of sheet asphelt; the cleaning
districts, which lis still o vexatious
problem in many cities; the
municipal ownership of lighting
plants and the cost of street lighting
under the contract sy stem; the mu-
nicipal management Of public water
supplies and the necessity for water
filtration; fire and police protection,
parks and Fairgrounds, municipal
finances, taxation and special assess
ments. the regulation Of the social
and saloon evils. etc. It is not in
tended to make this a municipal
reform" convention. but q meeting
OF experienced city officials for the
dissemination Of facts rather than
| theories.
The local committees at Colum bus
are making elaborate preparations
for the entertainment of visitors,
and the general committee is desir-
Gus Of having every city of any i'm
Portance in the United States sead
its mayor and as large a delegation
as possible from its council to the
convention. The expense of the trip
will be money we'll spent in the
cause Of economical city govern
ment.