The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-02
Rapid Growth of the American Mu-
nicipal League.
TO PURIFY THE CITIES
LARGE ATTENDANCE AT AN
NUAL MEETING AT DETROIT.
President of the League Favors Mu-
nicipal Ownership Of the Mono
poles, to End Corruption of City
Governments By Corporations
Pingree Arraigns the Aristocracy.

Detroit, Mich, Aug. loving to a
misunderstanding about the place OF
meeting, not all the delegates were
present Wien the second annual meet
ing of the league of American municip-
alties was called to order today. About
200 were in the proper hall, viz: The
light infantry armory, while few as
sembled in light guard armory, three
blocks distant. Governor Pingree was
among those who waited at the wrong
place, but he delivered his welcoming
address later. nevertheless. Up to noon
200 visitors identification cards had
been handed in and possibly 100 more
delegates had arrived. Mayor May
bury cordially welcomed the city's
| guests.
The president, Mayor John McVicar,
of Des Moines, Ia, after a short
response, delivered his annual address.
He said in part:
American cities must be made
wholesome in every sense of the word.
They must, if such a thing be possible,
be made to conserve and not consume
the energies they draw from the coun-
try. They must have no slums to
pollute the currents of their own lives,
and the life of the nation. The garbage
question, the water question, the
tenement question, the franchise ques-
ton, the question Of parks, public
places. play grounds and other means
and instructions of public health and
recreation, must be studied in their
larger relation to the preservation of
the life and health of our great re-
public.
AT the threshold of the agitation,
we are more concerned with the vital
issue of the condition of cities. 1t
seems necessary as preliminary
measure to eliminate from our cities
the private ownership of franchises for
monopolies. The public must own and
operate all plants for the supplying of
light and water. Probably it should
extend its powers so as to take in
street railways, heating plants, tele-
phone and other means of intramural
communications. At all events there
must be an end to their controlling and
corrupting of our city government by
those interested in the manipulation
of public comfort, even if the last
vestige of private ownership in them
shall be uproOted.
IF these valuable franchises, these
splendid privileges We're reserved to
the cities, would not this source of
corruption, which has caused legisla-
tive bodies to become a byword among
the people, cease to exist?
PINGREE'S ADDRESS.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion Governor Pingree welcomed the
convention and characterized it as the
most important which has met in De-
troit, because its object was study of
the great problems of municipal af-
fairs. Said the governor:
The final glory of this country will
be the honest and capable government
of her cities. During my public life I
have always claimed that the great
body of our people are honest and
wish to see the right prevail. The
enemies of good government are to be
found among those who claim to be
the aristocracy, but who use money
and position to corrupt public servants !
and control legislative bodies. Their |
power and influence are so great that I
leagues must be formed to combat I
them and they must be fought to the |
death The most vital question is how |
can you compel those who call them !
selves our best citizens to. take an /
active part in city affairs, in some
other capacity than as mere fault |
finderS?
HOSTILITY OF CORPORATIONS.
The secretary, B. F. Gilkison of New
York, read his annual report. He said
that his efforts during the first ten
months of the leagues existence had
been directed chiefly towards securing
new members. He asserted that the
formation of the league had been per-
sistently and vigorously antagonized
by certain corporations, who believe
their business interests will be men
lced by the association. The report
alleged that these corporations at
-empted vainly to secure control of the
Columbus convention last year, and
hat they have since continued their
warfare against the league and posi-
bly, succeeded in preventing a few cities
rom joining. The present total men,
,ership was reported as being II cities
md it is claimed that several other
titles which are represented in this
but which have not yet
oined, are about to do so. The indi-
7idual membership amounts to about
,000 representing not less than 13 $780,
90 citizens. The expense of the secre-
aTy's Office was reported at 81, 024; to-
al receipts, $3.50.
The progress of the organization dur
ng a time when public interest was al I
most completely absorbed by the war,
would become known as substantial
oundation upon which to build a per-
aanent organization OF American Cit
zens for the purpose of improving the
onditions of American civic life. With
he foundation already laid the organ 8
zation should gather into its member ]
hip every municipality in the United l
tates and Canada.
The report promised that with the {
resent membership of the league. the
Torll of the bureau of information can I
e done more thoroughly and satisfac-
0rily and that its results will be still
lore beneficial than heretofore.
INJUNCTION. !
A preliminary injunction was served
oday upon City Treasurer Thompson
nd Comptroller Blades, restraining
ayment of any portion of the sum of
1000 recently appropriated by the city d
0uncil for entertainment Of the league s
American municipalities. The COM t
lainants are Clarence II. Beck and a C
ozen other prominent citizens. The a
ty charter permits an appropriation \
$4,000 as entertainment fund. The s
1000 which is enjoined is a balance p
,ceived from a lighting debt owed to t
lie city by the county is
The complainants aver that the use Ii
the money for such purposes is I'M [
A similar injunction was e
Gently served upon the city school n
Ithorities. f,
The circuit judge decided that the Il
fprf inment anDrOnriaf ioo bx, a.