Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-31
CIVIC WORK
HER ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
A CIVIC lMPRo vEMENT CLUB
CAN 20.

BISMARCK SHOULD BE REPRE-
sENTED AT THE STATE CON-
vENTioN.
The organization Of civic clubs has
been taken UP. very heartily in most
& Of the states and is fast gaining foot
hold in this. B In some quarters the
Il formation of such organizations are be-
u ing opposed because they tend to
& arouse public interest III municipal
affairs and lessons the opportunity of
officials to engage in questionable
4 transactions. In other words well
organized civic improvement leagues
n have q large influence in the direc-
ton OF affairs through pressure
brought to bear upon officials SO that.
\ those things the taxpayers want are
carried out IN an efficient and eco
nomical way "a I.
1t has been asked what good would
such anisaiion do in Bismarck.
If It accompl ished nothing more than
getting the people of the city working
with one accord for the beautifcation
of public and private property q great
deal would be gained. 1t might per-
llaps, secure the passage Of the COW
ordinance or milk inspection ordi-
nance It might do q great many
\ things which would help the city and
!. prove valuable adjunct to the Com
3 mercial club. s..
Al state convention has been called
& at Fargo next month to which the
mayors are invited to send delegates.
n It will be a big meeting and much
good will probably come Of It and it is
hoped Mayor Webb will be able to
find several citizens Of this city who
will 60 AS a result Of this meeting
. it is thought a great many clubs will
4 be formed throughout the state, and
B there Is no reason why Bismarck
4 should not be numbered among the
b progressive cities. s, ....$s
The Los Angeles Municipal league,
Il an AFFILIATED member Of the National
Municipal league, has a long record OF
4 useful and effective work. It runs a.
little monthly known as Municipal
Affairs,' and from the latest issue we
take the following striking account % OF
tic racent achievements III 4
Recently an evening paper, speak
ing il a friendly spirit Of the f.nctioa
st the :eagne ii city affairs, said ,a q
1t vas a rover for good, but not g,
I. much iii the matter Of Initiating new
legislation, as IN detecting wrongs and
4 in following up the evil-d doors.
Now 1T is perhaps rather doubtful ttttI
4 taste to look q gift compliment in the
mouth, but Municipal Affairs must
take gentle exception to this theory OF
the proper function of the league. In
eyitably this organization must at
times ind fault with city officials, and
when checking up OF any kind - abb
solutely needed, we are not going 70
\ refuse d duty that Others perhaps neg
Let to perform Still We submit that hat
q body OF $50 good citizens Joined ned for
u the purpose OF lettering acity govern. Il
4 ment should have logically much
higher purpose than that of serving as
B j general detective agency !; and we
maintain that the career Of the organ
\ ization Sup to date exempl lilies the cor COR
rectness Of this theory. Let US name q l'L.e
FOR example some things which the
league has accomp lished, and more
that it has still IN hand--for large
\ things come slowly that are not at
ali III the detective line:
.arhe league gave the city its civil civil
i service system. Nobody claims " is
Il perfect OF complete, but y is 4 vast
improvement over the old spells sys-
q TEN.
The league secured the nomi-
nation and election % a non PARTISAN l
school board Of high cha racter.
.The league prevented the reelec.,
4 ton 81 All unsatis factory street ssl-
permit endent.
1.-THE league has fought succ essfuliyt
against the partic tpation Of city en- en-
ployes In local politics.
he league has secured prompt,
D ness Id city council meetings
And ali to- The work In hand:
s.The re-orga nization Of the city's
systena
The working out Of sanitary
garbage system.
Protection to the rights Of the
property owners u the matter a. q
saloon locations There u only one
ultimate outcome 10 this cont ntion,
10 matter how II may be delayed.
Changing city elections to non
political years. This goes intp effect
Il, ff{lq sss