The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-20
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE MEETS.
SIXTH ANIMAL CONVENTION N sEs.
SION At MILWAUKEE.

object Of the League u Co Adopt "a
so-Caiied Municipal Programme.
Important speech Made ny secre-
tary Woodruff OF Philadelphia.
Municipal Ownership of Municipal
Monopolies Discussrd-Mnny Mn
Monopoiles Dlscusscd-Many or
Eanisations On the Roll.
Milwaukee, Wis sept is-Thc sixth
annual convention Of the Municipal
League was held here to-day with about
100 delegates present
IN the absence of President James &
Carter of New York. First Vice President
Charles Richardson Of Pm ladclrh pre-
sided
This convention Is the starting point OF
active work len the adoption Of the 30
called municipal programme adopted At
the Columbus convention last year TIE
programme az adopted rccomm, nds three
branches u activity. charging the power
% cities by providing 20 Gar as possible
for home rule. erforc Ing carefully devised
restrictions against the abuses - munlc-
ipal powers. and regulating the granting
OF franchises
Secretary Clinton Rogers Woodruff Of
Philadelphia then read paper on 4
Years Municipal Development
He had as the theme Of his
address a Years Municipal Devel-
his address a Years Municipal n-vel-
opmcnt' After referring 40 the growth
OF the league and the Increased interest
In the work OF reform. Mt Woodruff sup
ported this by statistics showing that
while only forty-nve municipal reform or
ganizations existed when the league was
organized In 1894. IL now has il9 Org tnl-
cations on It's roll OF affiliated member
ship and its records show grand total
of t6a associations devoung an or a part
% their time to the study OF the munich
pal problem.
Mr. Woodruff takes tho stand that there
can be- no complete Transformation Of our
municipal politics until the Offices are re-
moved from the reach OF spoilsmen. The
establishment OF the merit system t. es-
sential 60 the bctterment Of City govern
ments Ballot and electoral reforms are
also fundamentally essential" he contin-
ued and they form paramount issues len
certain states al this time
In discussing electoral reform Mr.
woodun urges nomination boy petition 40
the most effective way TO prevent the evils
Ia nomination which now confront the
people
The machine has had few more valu-
able privileges than trait OF controlling
nominations" he said ~ will need
straight column on the ballot. II will yield
this advantage reluctantly and only after
a prolonged struggle; hut freedom ana
equality OF nomination ana hallotinE must
be secured II the fun measure q Demo
cratic municipal government Is 90 be at
tainsd"
Taking up the subject Of municipal own
ership Of municipal mOnopolies. the speak
~ said: There has been no abatement
Of public Interest IN che subject Of munic-
ipai ownership OF municipal monopoliss-
Indeed, there seems 20 be general ac-
qulescence IN the contcntion that each city
should own an its franchises; although
there Is stlll a great diversity OF opinion
a. 70 whether the city should contfoi or
operate them. There are few. indeed.
who are willing to maintain that city
should give away or soil for al the time
the right 20 run street railways. 10 FUR
nish heat. Hight water. or other municipal
no. kasltes To advocate such policy
would bg 10 sanction the utilization of
city property Tor the bcucit 81 the few
"a the expense % the many. one thing y
perfectly sure. and that b. as a result OF
an this discussion concerning municipal
ownership. control ana operation thtff
has been a material Improvement In the
conditions which tho city has been able
10 Impose. and secondly, the people have
been Interested rs nothing elise has sue
ceeded Ia doing IN questions Of local gov
eminent Matters pertaining 20 water,
heat. Hight and transportation come homo
more directly to the average Htizen ana
any policy affecting them appeals to him
as no others do"
so much has been said concerning the
hopeful tendencies and the various set
backs OF the past year that but little space
Is left for a recital Of the victories Of the
year. In June last Portland Ore held a
most Interesting election. oregon cast
large Republican vote. Yet in face Of this
Portland elected nearly rs entire citizens
ticket. on the platform Hands on IN city
Affairs. All the state senators ana al least
10 Of the u representative were chosen
not withstanding the strength Of the Re
publican organization and the running Of
the political tide IN its favor. So vigorous
lv has the sentiment grown that county
and city Offices are matters OF business
aud not OF politics and should BE- freed
from constant legislative trickery that the
people have served notice that there must
be- an end TO machine Interference
The report OF the treasurer. George
Burnham. Jr.. o. Philadelphia was next