Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-22
CIRCULATION.
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
During the fiscal year just closed the
,mem bership of the League OF Americ-
an Municipalities increased " per cent,
The present membership includes 1872
cities, with over 5000 individual ofic-
ials enjoying the privileges of member
ship. The smallest municipality in the
league is Solvay, N. Y, with a popula-
ton of only few hundred; the larg-
est is New York, with population of
+, 6OO,OoO
The league is doing a good work
in supplying, information and the
teachings of experience to cities and
towns all over the United States and
Canada. Hardly proposition can
come up, or a scheme be suggested
that at least one out of these 1870 cities
cannot give some valuable testimony
upon, testimony, too, that comes
from that best of teachers, experience.
AT Ill Nassau street, New York City,
The league maintains a permanent bu-
reau of information, under the charge
/ of its secretary. This bureau fur
nishes replies to all special inquiries
on municipal affairs sent to it by of
fcials Of membership municipalities.
1t is evident that the more members
the league has the more good it will
be able to do. Just now it is making
/ special effort to get members and it
has sent out a list of reasons why
every municipality in the United States
and Canada should become member
of the League of American Municipal
tiles and be represented at its annual
convention at Syracuse. There may be
some advantage to be gained by our
own city joining the. league. Some of
the aforementioned reasons follow:
The league represents the first and
only united effort on the part of city
officials i'll all departments ito study
.sthe various complex questions involved
an municipal administration with a
eyieWl to giving their constituents the
very best of publiesservice by the most
Improved. nethods and at the lowest
cost to the raxpayers.
The league furnishes the organiza-
tion necessary for the proper protec-
ton of municipalities against the en-
croachments of private contractors ane
corporations; thru this organization
for dealing between municipal and pri-
waite corporations may be secured,
with proper protection of the interests
and rights of both.
The league provides for mayors and
council members, most of whom. have
iiouts limited time to devote to their
official work, a ready and convenient
means for securing reliable informa-
stion pertaining to questions upon
which they must act for their munic-
Qualities.
The league provides for the heads of
all municipal departments an econom-
1cal and prompt method for the inter
change of their experience and ideas.
Methods of securing improved public
service are communicated from the de-
5partments of one municipality to the
corresponding department. of others.
The league is composed exclusively
9of city officials, who are in position
to study and discuss municipal prob
lens from a practical standpoint, Real
municipal reform must come thru the
Efforts of men whose experience as
city officials give them a correct view
of the conditions and obstacles that
must be met, and enables them to
formulate practical instead of theor-
etical plans.
1t is a fact that the best municipal
reform SO far realized in this country
is the result of studious work accom-
plished by the officials themselves,
therefore, any organization that has
for its object the mutual study of mu-
B nicipal government by municipal offic-
3als promises good results and deserves
encouragement.
The league is not social organiza-
tion, nor does it exist for the selfish
purpose of advancing the business or
professional interests of individuals;
its work is exclusively to advance pub
lie interests; to improve the conditions
of urban life.
Memberships are held in the name
of the municipality, justly at the ex-
\ perse Of the municipality, and in this
way permanency of organization is
assured. Every individual official of a
membership city is entitled to the priv
ileges of membership. The annual
4 dues are exceedingly low, and the
league gives the officials of every mem
bership city a service unquestionably
worth many times the membership
fee.
The league works not only during
the few days of its annual convention,
but every day turnout the year. 1t
inaintains permanent bureau of in
formation, which is at the service OF
all members at all times. This bur.
eau furnishes reliable replies to all
questions on municipal subjects sent
Il 70 it by the officials of membership
cities.
At the annual conventions of the