Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
National Conference of Advocates to
Be Held Soon.
MISSION OF TEE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
Gathering in Milwaukee, Wis.,, the
18TH Instant.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

city government and the sixth annual meet
ing of the National Municipal League will
be held at Milwaukee, Wis, the 10th, Goth
and 21st of this month, the organizations to
be the guests of the Municipal Association
of that city The headquarters Of the con-
ference will be at the Hotel Pfister, and
there will be a Wisconsin night, the 10th
instant, at the Pabst Theater and banquet
at the Hotel Pfister Friday evening. the
21st instant
The discussion of papers will be limited
to ten minutes for each speaker, and the
following program has been arranged:
Wednesday, September 10, 2:3O pm, Ho-
tel Pfster-First Vice President Charles
Richardson of Philadelphia presiding: ad-
dress of welcome, Mayor David S. Rose;
response, Charles ]. Bonaparte of Balti-
"a Years Municipal Development" Clinton
Rogers Woodruff Philadelphia, secretary
of the National Municipal League: report
of treasurer. George Burnham, jr., Phila-
Accounting" M. n Baker, New York city,
associate editor Engineering News; discuss
ed by James g. Cahoon. Syracuse. president
National Electric Light Association; H. b.
Henderson. Cheyenne. Wyo., state exam
liner for the state of Wyoming.
wisconsin Night.
Eight pm. Wisconsin night, Pabst Thea
ter, captain i. M bedT, pTeSlulilS- Ihe
Model Charter and Wisconsin Cities" Mr..
Joshua Stark president Wisconsin Bar As
ISOLATION; Improper Influence on Legis-
lation by Public Service Companies" John
F. Burke; Primary Election Laws" DR..
Amos P. Wilder, editor Wisconsin State
Journal.
Thursday, September 20, Hotel Pister-
Meeting of the executive committee, a nj.
Municipal program session. 1890 am.
Charles ]. Bonaparte, Baltimore, presiding.
Papers will be read as follows: Does the
Model Charter Confer Dangerous Powers
on the Mayor" Charles Richardson, Phila-
delphia vice president National municipal
League; THE Model Charter and Small
Cities" Prof. Samuel f. Sparkling, Madison.
Wis secretary Of the Wisconsin League L. ss OF
ent City Interests in the Council" William
Dudley Foulke. Richmond, Ind. 2:O p m,
Vice President Charles Richardson, presid-
ing-Papers will be read on topics as fol-
lows: "The influence of Public Service
Companies on City Government" Rev. Dr.
Washington GLADDEN., Columbus. member
of the Columbus city council, THE Govern
ment of the City Of Glasgow" Rev. Albert
Lazenby. Chicago. recently Of Glasgow;
Municipal Political Parties. DR.. Milo X
Maltbie New York city, editor Municipal
Affairs.
Thursday evening, September 20, at the
Athenaeum. o'clock-Reception to dele
gates by the ladies of the Milwaukee Col
lege Endowment Association.
Friday. September 81, o am, Hotel
Pfister-Meeting of the executive commit
tee. At 1920 am. the reading of papers
will begin. including the following: Local
Transportation and its Relation to the Wei
fare of the Municipality. George f. Hooker,
Hull House, Chicago: discussed by George
C. Skies secretary of the Chicago street
railway commission: the Essential Element
In Good City Government. Charles j. Bona
parte, Baltimore; the Debt Limit, Bird 5.
Coler controller of Greater New York.
Afternoon. social entertainments; evening,
banquet at Hotel Pfister. o'clock.
Mission of Municipal League.
The National Municipal League has been
in existence six years. and is the outcome
of the national conference for good city
government held at Philadelphia January,
1894 a meeting which brought together
from all parts of the country men and
women who had long given special thought
to the municipal problem. Its discussions
is said to have shown that the many and
serious defects recognized in American
municipal institutions are practically the
same throughout the country.
The objects of the league are set forth in
It's constitution follows:
'First-To multiply the numbers, har-
monte the methods and combine the forces
of all who realize that 1t is only by united
action AMI organiZa ton that good citizens
can secure the adoption of good laws and
the selection of men of trained ably and
proved integrity for all municipal positions.
corrupt candidates for public office.
"Second-Te promote the thorough inves-
tigation and discussion of the conditions
and details of civic administration, and of
the methods for selecting and appointing
officials in American cities. and of laws and
ordinances relating to such subjects.
'Third-To provide for such meetings and
conferences and for the preparation and
circulation of such addresses and other lit
erature as may seem likely to advance the
cause of good city government"
Increase in Reform Organizations.
When the league was organized there
were less than seventy-five reform organ
izations in the country. There are now lis
affiliated with the league and nearly 800
are in existence in the different cities Dur
ing the period some of the associations have
lapsed, but their places have been taken by
others, SO that the total has been main
tanned and gradually increased.
One of the most important pieces of work
accomplished by the league is the ''muni-
cipal program adopted by a unanimous
vote at the Columbus conference in 1899.
Each annual conference of the league has
been characterized by it's distinctive fea-
lures. and the municipal program, or mod
ell charter" as it has been designated is
the logical outcome of the preceding six
years of effort.
1t was not until the Louisville conference
In 1887, that the preliminary steps were
taken TO formulate a program for adoption
anu W toHStIucl d platform upon which
municipal campaigns should be waged The
cartier conferences were devoted to a con-
siderstion of actual municipal conditions
aud the papers read at these meetings dealt
largely with the evils and defects of exist
Ing ferns of municipal government At the
meeting in Louisville a resolution was
adopted providing for the appointment of a
committee to report ION the feasibility of
q municipal program which will embody
the essential principles which must under
lie successful municipal government and
Whlch snail also set forth a working plan
or system consistent with American indus
trial and political conditions for putting
such principles into practical operation
Without Precedent.
This work involved task for which few
1t is said, If any, precedents existed. The
committee was working to crystalize the
result of the experiences of European and
American cities, and at the same time to
make the results of its labors practically
applicable TO our present conditions
The final report Of the committee under
the title Municipal Program" represented
the results of two years of unremitting and
pafnstaking endeavor the part of the
committee, which comprised such men as
Horace e. Deming. New York, chairman:
George w. Guthrie. Pittsburg; Charles
Richardson. Philadelphia; Dr. Frank !,
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