The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-03

Some 500 city fathers and city officials at
tended today's session of the league. They
constituted on the whole an Intelligent and
conscientious appearing body. The feature
OF the session was an address on Self
Government for Cities" by Prof. Frank
Parsons. OF Boston university. president OF
the National League for Promoting Public
Ownership OF Monupolies.
Prof. Parsons held that the principle OF
self-government, as applied through our
present laws. is deficient in four respects,
viz: First. in area. because. while the
state Is self-governed. the municipality is
the creature of the states enactments:
second. deficient as TO the class distinction.
since women. a part OF the people, are not
yet permitted TO participate in the peo-
pies relief movement; Third. that the
principle of seIf-goyernment is not applied
to industrial it is 10 political life;
fourth. that the soif-governng principle
IS not complete as To method. since the
people ere masters only during election
times while their public servants hold the
sovereignty for the balance of their terms.
The remedies. according to Prof. Par
sons. are the initiative and referendum,
woman suffrage, cooperation In Industries.
instead of monopolleS. and entire self-gov-
eminent for cities. free from private con-
troll The latter point was illustrated. He
said the present charter OF san Francisco
Is the most notable example Of progress
toward the government of cities.
Mayor Young Of Akron o, and Mayor
Evans. Of birmingham. Ala, read papers
OF tHe relative adequacy Of adm!nistra-
tive boards ar commissions. compared
with common cou0c3l committees.
Questions II policy concerning regulation
az saloons developed au interesting discus
sion this afternoon. The principal address
on this topic Was ~ Mayor George II.
Perry. Of Grand Rapids. lie contended
measure calculates % regulate any Of
fense less than crime Itself. which public
opinion will su Tain as applicable 10 city
and country alike Hence he suggested e
forts toward inducing the state to conccde
a wider latitude to municipalities in the
matter of "DaCtigg local seif-.overnment
measures The speaker favored permitting
saloons only In the business parts az a
city ana the taking and regulating ~ clubs
ard saloons alike.
Mayor r. Il FaruSw0rtl. OF New Haven
Conn. stated that his experience has ab-
soluieIy convinced him that prohibition
never dii prohibit T. \. Hammond jr
OF Atlanta. Ca. told about a two years
experiment 81 prohibition in his city which.
20 said resulted badly for all concerned.
Afterwarti the people and saloouists affect
cd a compromise. w1ich regulates TIE
business very strictly. a1d. as t. claimed.
Satisfactorily N3vo- Smythe of Charles
ton. : a.. Outlined :he workings ~ the
3ispons5rv system, lie claimed there vas
more druMH 1uasS ia South Carolina under
the system ,asn formerly.
proc rcn7ts of tR> Kansas safe As~3-
cultural Coiiegf made AT address on ire
present progress ps municipal electric
Nchtfog IL gave results of au exhaustive
inquiry an the question of pihsie versus
private electric ltgNt plants win the -
SILK STAT he CoE~t5cr"t -" former un-
ft4a rt,s.ge4.-