Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-07
CIVIC RETIREMENT 7.

An address on civios was given yes
terdny morning at the New Century
Club by Mrs. Frank Miles Day, who
is vice-ohairman of the Civic Better
ment Association Of Philadelphia and
chairman of the women q committee of
the City or Reform Party. In intro
ducine her the president, Mrs. Kent,
remarked that the reason why
Women'e work is never done" must
be because so many things fall to their
lot TO do that no one else will attend
to, and chief among these has come
to be the supervision of our cities in
that they shall be made more beauti-
ful, cleaner, and more healthful. Al
though the conditions in a large city
like Philadelphia differ somewhat from
ours, a spirit of improvement might be
awakened here by hearing what Phila-
delphia has done. Mrs. Day said that
the Philadelphia New Century Club,
which was founded 80 years ago, had
done much to improve municipal con-
ditions, but they had many other in
teresta besides, so u years ago the
Civic Club was founded. IL has given
all of it's attention to the betterment
OF the city and gained many points
against corruption and worked for
good government in every department
of city affairs, regardless of party or
politics. 1t has worked and triumphed
In matters educational, artistic, social
and purely municipal and brought tc-
Rether a group Of trained, intelligent
women workers, who have spread
throughout their city knowledge Of
and interest in municipal matters
among women OF all classes. About
four years ago il was subdivided into
a City Betterment Association, whose
aim was to form, not only in every
ward, but every division Of a ward,
committees of women working in a
non partisan way to better conditions,
but this aim being accomplished It is
now merg3d again In the original
union. Their work includes schools,
streets, collection Of ashes and waste,
police matrons, probation officers,
drainage, water suplpy-every branch
OF city administration. In the recent
struggle Of the City Party against COR
ruption this organization, ready
formed, and able to 20 to work i'm.
msdiately, gave intelligent, unremit-
ting and invaluable aid till the victory
was gained.
The association has four well-de
fined departments, municipal govern
ment, education, art and social
science. In the past si1 years il has
secured the opening Of 80 school play
grounds, which keep the children of
the streets; ii has established and
suIerintended vacation schools, school
gardens, summer music, when on hot
summer evenings thousands of people
congregate on the large piers on the
/ river and enjoy the music aud cool
breezes; free art evenings at the Aoad-
emy OF Fine Arts, concerts by the
Philadelphia Orchestra in the manu-
featuring districts where people can
enjoy this finest OF music for 10 cents
apiece. This charge is mace because
II Is considered that the people will
enjoy u more than II they felt it a
charity. Through it's municipal oom-
mittee an eye is kept on oity crdi-
nances and councilmen urged to pass
or defeat certain measures.
Not all members are expected to
attend the meetings OF the association,
but each looks after affairs in her i'm
mediate neighborhood and reports to
the chairman of hei ward. Mrs. Day
remarked that in the matter of an
efficient organization they copied that
of "The Gang" but did not follow
it's methods. A useful ciiicer is the
chairman of complaints, - to whom
all dereiiotions, for instance in the
collection OF ashes and garbage, are
reported. When satisfied they are Just
she reports directly TO the Eroper
bureau at the City Hall. giving name
and address of the complainant, and
the offence is rarely repeated, as the
contractor is fined il the offence is
proved. The association issues postal
cards telling newspapers how to divide
and prepare household waste so that it
shall be removed in proper order, and
also the city ordinances regarding it's
removal. The association works in
Conjunction With the charity organi-
cations, juvenile courts, SC. and the
CITY Is being 80 organized that efficient
work IS done. IL also aids in the dis
tribution of information regarding the
treatment and prevention of tubercu-
losis and other contagious diseases; in
short, il ls concerned in oil that it be-
lieves will better the civic conditions.
At the conclusion Of her address,
Mrs. Day was given a vote of thanks,
which was extended also TO the civic
committee who had induced her to
come.