The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-12-01
ADVOCATES OF
GOOD GOVERNMENT.
The Sixth Conference Of the Ma
tionaI Municipal League
Was Opened Yesterday Afternoon at In
dlanapells, Indiana.
The Most Important Meeting Of the
League Since the Organization
Has Been Formed-A Model Sys-
tenn Of Local Government the
Topic to be Discussed.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 30.-The sixth
conference of the Municipal League
began this afternoon in the assembly
rooms Of the Commercial Club. This
is the most important meeting of the
league since the organization has been
formed. It's purpose is to discuss what
it regards as the first essential of gen.
eral municipal reform-an ideal or
model system of government. The
task of preparing such a system was
undertaken by the organization at it's
meeting in Louisville in May, 1897. A
committee of seven was appointed,
charged with the duty Of preparing "es-
sential principles" and a working plan
or system consistent with American in
dustrial and political conditions.
The results of this work, which has
been constant for eighteen months, are
a set of general State Constitution
amendments and a municipal corpora
ton Act which the committee believe
will accomplish all that is sought. The
orga nization is representative Of many
Municipal Leagues, Christian Govern
ment Leagues, Good Citizenship
Leagues and the like, all over the coun-
try. State organizations are repre-
scented.
Among the delegates are many dis
tinguished students Of political econ
omy, who are known as advocates of
new systems of municipal government.
The organization is comprehensive of
the various elements, from the radical
to the conservative. The conservative
element is largely in control at present
Charles Richardson, Vice President,
is presiding, in the absence of President
Carter Of New York. The delegates
were welcomed BY Governor Mount
and Mayor Taggart.
The Secretary, Clinton Rogers Wood
ruff of Philadelphia, read his annual re-
port, the subject of which was .'The
Advance Movement for Municipal Re-
forms" He said, in part:
Certain definite ends are to be striv-
en- for where they do not already pre-
vail: First, a separation of local from
State and national elections; second.
reduction in the number of elective
offices: third, the abolition of the
straight party ticket in the official bal
lot. and the adoption of the Massachu-
sets system; fourth, the rescue of the
election machinery from the hands of
the corrupt and inefficient by the cleo
ton of honest and competent men to
be election officers.
1--WE cannot too frequently or too
strongly urge the necessity of having
good laws and good men to administer
them, but we must go step further,
and create permanent public senti-
n1ent that will be satisfied with nothing
short of the best, both as to laws and
as to officials.
There has been no abatement of in
terest in civil service reform The eff
fort to secure the adoption of the merit
system in the administration of our
municipal affairs is in form and sense
a part, and a fundamentally important
part, of the movement for charter re-
form.
1T is a matter of profound import and
suspicious augury that there are so
many groups of men and women seek
ing in various ways to improve munic-
ipal conditions; that the Mayors and
officials of our cities are bestirring
themselves as never before to better
the city government; that from the pull
pit and the college chair, from the
forum and the press, there is now
preached a doctrine of no uncertain
sound as to the obligations of munici-
pal citizenship; that men and women
are coming to recognize that upon them
depends the salvation of our modern
municipal life; that no charter no stat
ute, no organization, however carefully
and ingeniously devised, will compen-
safe for the want of deep, intelligent,
abiding interest and participating in
public affairs"
DR.. L. S. Rowe, Professor of Munich
pal Government in the University Of
Pennsylvania, presented the report of
the Committee on Municipal Program.
1t contained a proposed constitutional
amendment treating Of four distinct
classes of SUBJECTIVE relation of the
municipality to the State, the powers Of
the municipality, the procedure in the
exercise of municipal functions. the
electoral franchise and the application
of the merit" principle to the admin
istrative service.
The design, the committee stated,
was to give the municipality a more
definite place in our political system
than it at present enjoys; to give it
that freedom of action which is the
necessary accompaniment of growth
and expansion, and to place within its
power the determination of a local poll
icy whenever such policy is not incon-
sistent with the general welfare of the
State.
The committee also submitted pro-
posed municipal corporation Act, under
the provisions of which, they said, it
would be possible for cities. large or
small, to adopt form of organization,
suited to their need.