Evening star., 1898-12-01
FOR GOOD CITY GOVERNMENT.
Reform Organizations in Conference
at indianapolis Today.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, December 1.-The
second days session of the conference for
good city government was held this morn
ing at the Commercial Club assembly
rooms. The session devoted TO the CON
sideration of the general problem of munich
pal government. The attendance of dele
gates from other cities was augmented this
morning, and there are now about forty
present. The attendance of those of In
dianapois who are interested in reforms
was representative.
Horace E. Deming of New York read Il
paper entitled, The Municipal Problem in
the United States
The sixth conference of the National Mu-
nicipai League began in Indianapolis yes
terday afternoon. Its purpose is to discuss
what 1t regards as the first essential OF
general municipal reform an ideal or model
system of government. The task of pre-
pairing such a system was undertaken by
the organization at its meeting in Louis
vile in May. 1897. committee of seven
was appointed and charged with the tash
without restriction to time or instruction
as to details. The committee was charged
with the duty of preparing essential prin-
ciples" and a working plan or system con-
sstent with American Industrial and politi-
cal conditions
The results of this work. which has been
constant for eighteen months, are a set OF
a municipal corporation act, which the com
mittee believe will accomplish all that i
sought.
The organization Is representative OF
many municipal leagues Christian govern
ment leagues, good citizenship leagues and
the like all over the country. State organiZ-
ations are represented. The organization i
comprehensive of the various elements, from
the radical TO the conservative. The CON
servative element is largely in control IA
present.
Charles Richardson. vice president of the
league, presided in the absence of Presden
Carter of New York. The delegates were
welcomed by Gov. Mount and Mayor Tag
gart.
The secretary. Mr. Clinton Rogers Wood
ruff of Philadelphia read his annual report.
the subject of which was The Advanc.
Movement for Municipal Reform" He said
in part:
Certain definite ends are to be striven for
where they do not already prevail: l. \
separation of local from state and national
elections. 2 A reduction in the number Of
elective offices. 3. The abolition of the
straight party ticket in the official ballot
and the adoption of the Massachusetts, sys-
tenn. T. The rescue of the election machin-
cry from the hands of the corrupt and in
efficient by the election of honest and COM
petent men 10 be election officers.
There has been abatement of interest
in civiLService reform. The effort to secure
the adoption of the merit system in the
administration of our municipal affairs is
in form and essence a part, ana funda-
mentally important part. of the movement
for charter reform. Where it has been in
corporated 1t has succeeded so well as to
lead to frequent and desperate assaults
upon it by the machine; and where there
has been a desire expressed for its adoption
it has been vigorously combatted by the
spokesman.
Step by step the movement for better
municipal methods proceeds. Each year
shows a keener appreciation of the para
mount importance of carefully guarding
and outstanding municipal resources, MOI
only to protect the interests of the present
generation, but of those yet to come. The
people living in the cities are concerned
about their franchises, and are taking steps
to protect their interests
DR.. L. S. Rowe, professor of municipal
government in the University of Pennsyl-
vania, presented the report of the commit
tee on municipal program. 1t contained a
proposed constitutional amendment treat
ing of four distinct classes of subject-the
relation of the municipality to the state:
the powers of the municipality; the proceed
ure in the exercise of municipal functions,
and the electoral franchise and the appii-
cation of the merit principle to the ad-
ministrative service