Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-02-02
MUNICIPAL REFORM.
OUTLINE OF THE WORK OF THE MA
TloNAL MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
proErHmntc For the Erttrrment of
Town Governments - Local Elrr-
tians should Ee separated From
STATE aud National

fions Should TIE separated From
STATE aud National.
The most important business trans
acted al lhe GfIh annual meeting of
;hr National Municipal league, recent
ly held al Columbus o., was the adup-
tiuu of tie municipal programme.
which in its revised aud perfected
shape represents the labOrS of seven of
the leagues ablcSt minds. COyCTT!g Il
period of two years. The rcSpuns.bili-
ty of providing practical concept of
American municipal government was
not lightly undertaken. Realizing that
the need existed. the committee enter
cd on its work determined Ia present
a bread basis for tar reconstruction of
governments in cities ripe Tor reform,
and To TINS end the members have de-
voted their hest efforts.
The members of the committee.
which was appointed in 1881, are llur-
ace T.. DomiuG of New York, clair
man; Professor Frank j. Guudnow of
columbia university, Dr. Albert Shaw
Of The Review of Reviews, New York:
Charles Richardson of Philadelphia,
Professor Leo ;. tuWr oI the h'\rr-
slty of pennsylvania, 'froi'" w 'uth-
rir Of lHt>huiG, ana 'L''i"h Rogers
Woodruff of Philadelphia.
The COM ittcc was admirably ChO-
sen II represents an unusual group o'
men, FIRE" from political pr"Judlc"s,
but well SrhooIrd N the essential prln-
CtpleS of adequate ami effective mu'
niripaI government, All the research
of the league has been at their us
po.aL They have proht"d by exam
pies and Instances gathered from
every city OF pruminehec III the Unit
ed States.
Unless an ideal municipality should
sprn. up IN night 10 cIty Is expected
To at once ior~akc the uld ordrr of
things and start new era under th"
rule of Tn" municipal corporations act
drawn up 10y the committee. No I"GiS-
latlTc is expected To at once adopt the
constitutional amendment which VIII
change the status of cities within their
bortlrrS. but the reforms outlined in
those Instruments will he gradually in
troducrd. and the whole viii b" the
definite object toward which reform
movements viii bc directed
Every intelligent American knows
that the corruption and inetliCionCY in
the rule of all the large cities Of the
United States are foStcred 10y the form
of government which is calculated to
confuse the people and destroy the et-
fectiycncSS of their protest.
The proposed constitutional amend
mcnt and the municipal corporations
act merit close study, as we'll aS the eN-
planatury papers prepared by members
of the committee. The municipal pro
gramme and all papers relating to il
will he bound in one volume and Will
he distributed wherever good may be
accomplished. The committe" has en-
dcavorcd To he concise and definite. but
has not hurd"n"d the programme with
details that might apply in some cities
and not in others. Wide freedom is
given in the administrative 0rganiHa-
ton of cities, but While any attempt at
this time to outline the features OF the
proposed legislation would he futile a
glimpse of its purpose can he gained
from Il brief reference to its leading
features
The proposed constitutional changes
are intended to guarantee local free
dom ana stability OF government. but
the huhIclpal corporations act is of
more immediate Importance, because
us 'SS'hlIaI features can be more cas-
NY adopled ioIltIcal responsibility is
accepted "S the GliIdlhG prlh"lple OF re-
loflll' ana as logical application Il
unI'alI'F"l H'lhIc'pal "SISlalure Is
Fe'oI'lih"iu"u' Inc advantages OF TWO
cl'ailln'fS OF municipal representatives