The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-01
FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
TOPIC DISCUSSED AT FIRST SESSION
OF THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
Talk of a Model City Charter-Recep-
tiOn to Delegate at the PrOpy-
Iacum Last Night.


ternoon. with large number of men promi-
nent in reform movements present from va
rious parts of the United States and abroad
Many Of the delegates to the conference re-
gard it as the most important in the history
of the National Municipal League, inasmuch
as there is to be discussion of model city
charter, prepared by committee of seven
appointed at Louisville at the meeting in
May, 1897. The report of the committee
embracing a form of charter, was submitted
yesterday. Regret was expressed by the
delegates yesterday when it was announced
that James Q. Carter, president, and Charles
j. Bonaparte, chairman of the executive
committee Of the league, could not be in at
tendance Charles Richardson, of Philadel-
phia, vice president of the league, presided.
He called the meeting to order in few
brief remarks, afterWard introducing Gov
ernor Mount. who extended a welcome to
the conference on behalf of the State. Gov
ernor Mount said:
Gentlemen of the National Conference
for Good City Government esteem it an
honor, aid l assure you that ii affords me
pleasure, to welcome you to the capital OF
our commonwealth. Our people are in full
accord with the motives that actuate your
coming Your purposes, gentlemen are
Good laws for the government of the
whole people are demanded by the gov
erned Wise laws, honestly and faithfully
enforced, are demanded in the general gov
ernment, in the States cities, towns coun-
ties and townships. Wise tax laws, impair
tally executed, laws that will require all
kinds Of property to bear its just proper
ton of the tax burden, is the foundation
principle upon which to build. Then sound
economic principles should be applied and
the same business methods introduced that
characterize successful management OF
business enterprises. Competent men, with
business sense and administrative ability
and unQuestioned honesty, are needed TO
ill official places 1t has been said that
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
In the future, gentlemen, more than in the
past, eternal vigilance is to be the price
paid for good laws and honest administra-
Il commend your purposes, gentlemen.
You are seeking through the multitude OF
counsel that wisdom and safety which will
result in better city government. 1t is the
exercise IF that vigilance that gives abun-
dant fru:tage, secures the best city cnaT-
ter and the best city government. i wei
come you to a State that is fully imbued
with the spirit of progress and reform. In
States. That law is being faithfully exc
cuted. In state affairs economy and hon
esty are being enforced. The benevolent
work of the State is exalted above pohtcal
reward, competency and fitness of character
being the requisites Our institutions are
above reproach in their management We
are now paying our state debt at the rate
of nearly one million year.
This spirit of reform has seized our peo-
pie, and they are now actively engaged IN IN
township government. | can assure you,
gentlemep that Indiana is going to lead the
States in wise laws and in the faithful ad-
ministration of the same, from the highest
down to the township trustee ana road su-
pervisor You have come into the MIDST OF
a people who reciprocate your effortS ana
who will bid you God-speed. Again, well
come you to a commonwealth the patriot
ism of whose people is attested by the great
est monument ever erected to commemorate
the deeds of brave men, and into our beau
tiful capital city, that reflects the prosperity
and progress of al our people.
A WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR.
Mayor Taggart, on behalf of the city, also
extended a welcome to the delegates The
mayor first congratulated the officers of the
league for having chosen what we consider
such beautiful city, for their meeting
place" Indianapolis, he said. could appre-
ciate the efforts Of the league toward good
city government, having gone through the
experience of striving Ior and obtaining a
new charter, six or seven years ago. AT
that time" said the mayor, 1--WE had no i'm
proved streets, very few sewers, and the
city was, in fact regarded as little better
than an overgrown country village. lie
contrasted the conditions that existed then
with those of the present time, when the
city has miles of good streets and side
walks, fine system Of sewers and largely
increased population due very largely to
new charter had made these advanced con-
ditions possible, the mayor said that the
people have learned by experience that II is
not perfect in all particulars. and are anX-
ious to get ideas that will aid them to even
a more perfect system.
D. NJ Parry, president of the Commercial
Club, on behalf of that organization well
coined the delegates. I'VE are happy to
have you as our guests, said Mr.. Parry,
land we are ready 10 make your stay pleas
ity. ng. anu e"'0'"''' - '''' '
Charles Richardson, vice president of the
league responded to the words of welcome.
1t was with regret that he announced the
inability of President Carter and Mr. bona
parte to be present. He spoke briefly of the
cause for which the league IS strlVlnS-the
good government of cities
Good government" said he, cannot ex-
ist under the spoils system, nor can lhe
spoils system exist under good government.
The determination of one or the otner must
come The success of Venal politicians is
sure to be followed by new exhibitions or
corruDtiOn and increase the desire of the
people to reform them. We have no means OF
knowing how many people now taVor gooa
they are in the majority, but we have rea-
son to believe that throughout the Unlted
States there is largely increasing class OF
people who favor reform.
MUNICIPAL REFORM.
'"The Advance of Municipal Reform in the
United States" was the subject of Clinton
Rogers woodruff of Philadelphia, secretary
of the league
Voters in American cities are showing
constantly increasing tendency to disre-
gard national party ties IN the consldeIiao a
tion of municipal questions, sald the
speaker. while many men still adhere 10
the old doctrine of straight ticket, and re-
gard the cutting of ticket as an act little
Short of immoral and treacherous events
of the past five years indicate that adher-
ence to this doctrine is much less general
than at any time heretofore.
I'm numerous localities the demand for
better city government has been mani
tested through the regular parties, and Sc
cured the nomination OF a more competent
and Intelligent lot of municipal oticlals
wears as showing the advance of independ-
ent ideas with regard to voting In munlcl-
pal elections, particularly in New YORK,
where Seth Low polled vote so large
as to surprise the old parties, ana that,
too. without any machine back of him. In
Milwaukee, the speaker said the Reform
league succeeded in getting both parties TO
place municipal questions in the platform,
although they also indOrsed the natonal
platform One of the candidates Tor mayor
devoted his campaign entirely to a discus
sion of local issues and defeated MS opp2-
nent who kept to the national issues. IN
making municipal campaigns for good city
government Mr.. Woodruff spoke OF the
definite ends to strive for as being:
/ A separation of local from state ana
national elections 2. A reduction IN the
number of elective Offices. 3. Tne apou-
tion of the straight party ticket IN the
ssachusetts system. 4. The rescue or the
election machinery from the hands or the
corrupt and inefficient by the election OF
honest and competent men to be elecuoh
officers. e,,.,,
nerforned substantial public service by
judicial criticism of public measures ana
candidates, the speaker asserted. "Ihe Nig-