The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-13
GOVERNMENT OF CITIES
1T WILL BE CAREFULLY DISCUSSED
AT MUNICIPAL CONVENTION.
Changes i'm Municipal Admit stration
Advocated i'm Report to he Made
by the Committee of Seven.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12--Questions of
vital Importance to American municipali-
ties will be discussed at the fifth annual
meeting of the National Municipal League,
which will be held N the Board of Trade
rooms at Columbus o.. Wednesday, Thurs
day and Friday of this week. More than
two hundred delegates from the various
affiliated organizations In all parts of the
country will attend and the topics selected
for discussion appeal most strongly to all
interested in good government. Each year
increased interest has been manifested in
the work Of the league. The most impor-
tan. business of the coming meeting is the
discussion of the Municipal Programme"
which aims to present a form of government
under which municipalities will be least
subject to corruption and offer most advan-
tages for substantial growth. 1t includes a
municipal. corporations act. which proposes
some radical changes in the present munic-
ipal systems and makes ample provision for
municipal ownership and operation of fran
chises and for the reform of the civil serv-
ice. The programme will be presented as
the report of the committee of seven, which
vas appointed at the Louisville meeting
two years ago. A report was drafted last
year, but was not acted upon and 1t has
since been carefully revised and perfected
1t will be presented for adoption on Friday
afternoon.
When the first session of the meeting is
called to order Wednesday afternoon, an
rual reports will be read, including the
address Of the secretary, Clinton Rogers
Woodruff, of Philadelphia, on results ac-
oomplished by the league during the past
year. Delos F. Wilcox, of Elk Rapids,
Mich, will read paper entitled IAN Ex-
animation Of the Proposed Municipal Pro-
gramme." Wednesday evening will be given
over to Ohio night. James c. Carter, pres
ident of the league. will preside and ad-
dresses will be made by Edward Kibler
member of Ohio municipal code commission,
and Judge f.. J. Blandin and Harry A. Gar
field, of Cleveland.
Thur Sday mornlng municipal Indebtedness
Will be the topic for discussion and adj
dresses will be made by Controller Coler OF
New York. and DIR. Albert Shaw, OF the
Review or Reviews. In the afternoon Hor-
ace 4. Denning, chairman of the committee
On municipal programme. and Frank J.
GoodnOw, professor of administrative law
at Columbia University, will read papers on
phases OF government under the proposed
programme. The annual banquet will be
held Thursday evening at the Hotel Chitten-
den. where ex-Judge Gilbert IL. Stewart
will preside.
Friday morning papers or municipal ac-
| counting will be read by DR.. Leo S. Rowe.
professor of municipal administration al the
University OF Pennsylvania; f. NJ. Hart
WELL of Boston: Walter s. Allen OF Boston;
Prof. G. NJ. Tooke, of the University of ILL.,
nois. ana A. l. Crosby, formerly deputy
auditor of Cleveland. The public discussion
and final adoption of the municipal pro-
gramme will conclude the meeting Friday
afternoon.