Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-11-25
Extracts From Papers Read
Before National League.
Government Of The Cities Calling For
Wide Interest - Activities 10
hiHy States Many Valuable
SVSSesti0nS Made.

COLUMBUS, OnlO, NOV. lO.-The fifth
annual meeting of the National NUM-
cipal League and the Seventh National
conference for Good City Government
opened in this city today Over 200
delegates are present, including city
officials apd municipal authorities from
all over the country.
The meeting was called for the pur-
pose of discussing matters of vital i'm
portance to municipalities. The domi-
nant feature of the discussion will be
the Municipal Program" the report
Of which, however, will not be present.
ed until Friday afternoon. The PRO
gram" will be offered as the report of
a special committee appointed at the
Louisville meeting two years ago.
The opening session or the league
convened at $3.50 o'clock when Hon.
Samuel L. Black, former Mayor of CO.
lumbus, welcomed the delegates. The
reports of Secretary Woodruff and Bur-
than were read. DR.. Delos F. Wilcox,
Of Michigan, read paper on can Ex-
animation of Municipal Problems"
Secretary Woodruff said in part:
Each year find the preparation of
this annual review of municipal hap
penings an increasingly difficult task.
not because of any lack of material, but
because Of its increasing abundance.
II l were to mention each municipal
achievement Of the past year l should
unduly extend The limits Of my review.
There has been no more substantial
indication Of the growing public in
terest in municipal problems than the
discussion during the past year Of the
question of municipal ownership, con-
troll and operation OF municipal fran
chlses. At the Detroit meeting of the
League Of American Municipalities the
sentiment of the officials of the cities
there represented was unqualifiedly in
favor Of the municipal ownership, con-
troll and operation of the principal mu-
nicipal franchises. Since that time the
whole question has been discussed with
a degree of care and thoroughness that
indicates beyond question that the peo-
pie are thinking with view to de-
termining once and for all the funda-
mental policy involved"
The objects Of the organization OF
city officials in the United States are
highly commended by Secretary Wood
ruff, who says: when our city off,
Gals come together for consultation
land conference concerning the interests
committed to their care then indeed We
have an evidence of an aroused inter
est in municipal affairs which is mos
promising. Imagine a meeting Of city
officials ten or fifteen years ago to dis
cuss city affairs, and yet now not only
have we League Of American NUM-
cipalities, but there are at least tel
State leagues Of municipalities all man
ifesting marked degree of activity
In Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
Wisconsin, Kansas, California, Connec
ticut, Florida and Pennsylvania, w
find the city officials meeting in annua
session to debate municipal topics AM
to exchange ideas as to municipal ad
ministration. The evidence Of mum
cipal progress, however, is not confine,
to officials in Office and their activity
The citizens Of the various cite
Throughout the country have not bee,
wanting in intelligence and compre
hensive effort to promote municipa
reform"