New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
GOVERNMENT OF CITIES
THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL MUNICH
PAL LEAGUE.

The proceedings Of the eighth National Confer
ence for Good city Government and the sixth an
nual meeting OF the National Municipal League,
which were held in Milwaukee IN September last,
have been published In bound volume under the
editorshp Of Clinton Rogers Woodruff, secretary OF
the league The book contains a fun record Of the
dongs Of the gathering and the text Of the papers
read These include "A Years Municipal Develop
ment" by Mr.. Woodruff, AN Essential Element In
Good City Government" by Charles j. Bonaparte;
''Some Features Of the New Municipal Pro-
Eramme" by John A Butler; 'The New Municipal
Programme and Wisconsin Cities" by Joshua
Stark: Does the New Municipal Programme Con-
fer Dangerous Powers on the Mayor" by Charles
Richardson: The Small City and the Municipal
Programme" by Dr. Samuel f. Sparkling; An
Essential Safeguard 10 Executive Responsibility.
by George McAneny; Representation OF Different
City Interests In the Council" 10y William Dudley
Foulke; The Improper Influence on Legislation by
Public Service Companies" by John +. Burke;
"The Influence Of Public Service Corporations on
City Government" by Or. Washington Gladden.
.Daneers OF the Commercial Spirit In Politics" by
Controller Coler; Public Policy Concerning Rapid
Transit 10y George r. Hooker; The Government
Of the City Of Glasgow" by the Rev. Albert
I.agenby; Primary Election Laws" by DR. Amos
Parker Wilder; Municipal Political Parties" by
Dr Milo r. Maltbie; Uniform Municipal Account
ing" by NJ. y. Baker and James Blake Cshoon,
and Uniform Accounting and State Examination
OF Public Accounts" by Harry b. Henderson.
Tne present officers Of the National Municipal
League are:
sdent-JAMEs c CARTER, Of New York.
FIRST vice -preslden,-CHAELEs RICHARDSON, Of
Second vice rresiaent-sAMUFI B CAPEN. of Boston.
THIRD vice president-TaoMAs y. STRONG. Z Portland
Four,h vice -presiaeut-H. DICKSON Bruins Of New
orleans.
Fifth vice -presidont-EDMUND J. JAMES. Of Chicago.
secretary-CLINToN ROGERS WOODRUFF Of Phia-
delphia.
rressurer-GEoRGE BURNHAM. IT., Of Philadelphia
Charles J. Ronaparte, Of Baltimore. Is chairman
OF the Executive Committee.
The league. which has been in existence since
1894 has done much toward furthering the cause OF
good city government by bringing together each
year its leading advocates for discussion and the
fnterchange Of views. The organization grew out
of a conference of municipal reformers which was
held in Philadelphia in 1894. the idea Of which
conceived by the Municipal League OF Phila-
delphia and the city Club, 81 NeW-York. The
league has on its rou OF affiliated members
lls organizations. and the promoters declare that
the outlook is fun Of hope and promise Many of
the organizations which work when the
league was formed. in 1884 SIN active and
show sEns Of abandoning their efforts Some
Of these are the city club, Of New-Yorll: the Mu-
niCipal Leagues Of Philadelphia and Milwaukee
the Civic Federation OF Chicago; the Merchants
Association, Of san Francisco. and the Reform
League, OF Baltimore. The report Of the secretary
recounts victories for good government won by
organizations in various cities affiliated with the
league.
The new municipal programme" which Is fire.
ouently referred 10 In the proceedings IS the
scheme FOR city government which was reported
several years aEo by the leagues Committee on
Municipal Programme. II has frequently been
called THE model charter"
The reports of the league Mr.. Noodrun saws in
his report have been very generally used ny the
Havana Finance Board. which IS charged with the
responsible duty of drafting charter for that city
Horace r. Deming and Or Albert Shaw. who were
members OF the leagues Committee on Municipal
Programme, have contributed largely 10 the New
York charter discussion
The secretary says, among other things In his
Introduction 10 the volume:
New lines OF investigation were instituted a,
ANMaukee-n nrst, as TO the question Of instruction.
~ municipal government IN American educational
msutuuonss second, as 10 the question Of uuiforr1
mnnclpal accounting and statistics Roth are mos,
important ana hid fair 10 occupy a large naT1 ~
the leagues Efforts and energy during the coming
two years. ~ i'i''s
Mr.. Woodruff also quotes the remark Of n r,rorrt
nent city official. who, after reading several VOL
umes of the leagues proceedings. said: ..In nv
opinion, copy OF the proceedings wouls proy. -,
great value 10 every public official WHOSE a,,,,os
have connection with the administration % mn,
nicipal affairs" " iiu-