The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-22

w
both organizations. was the last speaker.
He characterized the dual convention as
one OF the greatest civic events that had
ever taken place In the country.
CITY CHARTER REFORM.
Municipal charter reform engaged the
attention Of delegates and visitors at the
meeting OF the National Municipal league
yesterday afternoon In the auditorium at
Rockefeller hall.
Various phases OF the question. outlin-
| ing experiments tried in such cities as
Newport Galveston, Des Moines and
other PLACES. were presented In papers
furnished by Rear Admiral #. Il. Chad
wick, u. s. NJ. of Newport: DIR. w. B.
Munro of Harvard. who outlined the
Galveston plan, and Silas Il. Allen, ESQ.
OF Des Moines. The programme included
also a paper describing the manner In
which Chicago is progressing along the
lines of similar achievement. by George
| G. Skies. secretary of the Municipal
Voters league OF Chicago.
Charles Richardson OF Philadelphia,
first vice president. presided, and in open
Ing informed the assemblage that At
| torney General Bonaparte had been
obliged to return TO Washington, and
therefore was unable TO preside. as an
nounced
DIR. w. p. Munro OF Harvard university
was the first speaker on the programme
and addressed the meeting on the Gal
weston plan OF government by commission.
He said: "The system OF government by
commission may be fairly said 10 have
established a prima facle case In ats
favor; a sympathetic trial on a sufficient
ly broad scale will alone serve TO demon
strate whether it's superiority to the pres
ent regime Is as substantial as its sup
porters assert"
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
The committee appointed at Wednes-
days meeting to consider a resolution
favoring the exclusion OF national par
ties from municipal elections at this point
recommended the adoption OF the same
substantially in the form suggested We'd
nesday. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
The Des Moines plan of municipal gov
ernment was described in detail in a
paper by Silas b. Allen OF that city.
who was active in the preparation OF the
bill The paper was read by Charles NJ.
Howard.
Rear Admiral r. L. Chadwick, u. s. N,
read paper on THE Newport Plan," de-
scribng the measure OF success with
which the new Representative Council"
plan OF local government had met. He
said:
THE system developed in this charter
legislative power I'm a single body, and
establishes a small committee to carry the
authority OF this body into effect. II
brings back to the people in a very ef-
fective degree the authority which has
been taken from them by political rings
and combines. II separates the municipal
from state and national elections. II sepa-
rates the power authorizing the spend
Ing of money from the power which ex-
pends. thus vastly increasing the diff
Guilty OF vicious combine.
IL would desire to say, with all possible
emphasis, that the Galveston system ap-
pears TO me step backward TO the DARN
ages OF government. Its general adoption
would be a move to an entire disruption
of our American polity. More and more
does experience show the necessity of in
cessant oversight and criticism OF boards.
The whole country has rung with the
subject for the two years past.
81 believe that I'm Newport we have
taken the better way
CHICAGO'S STRUGGLE.
How Chicago is Winning Good Govern
ment' was the title of a paper ny George
G. Skies secretary OF the Municipal
Voters league of that city. The paper
was read by Elliott H. Pendleton.
Admitting that the Chicago method OF
government by council had received some
thing of setback. the paper adopted
an optimistic tone, Mr. Skies declaring
that he had implicit belief In the power
OF the progressive forces now at work in
that city. and entertained full confidence
I'm their ultimate success.
Public opinion was certain to assert it.
self. he declared, and even today one man
could not control Il nor could a group OF
men restrain II when II is fully aroused
TELEGRAM TO PRESIDENT.
The following telegram was sent to
President Roosevelt proposed by Vice
President Harlan +. Kelsey OF Salem,
Mass.
''To the Honorable Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States, Wash
ington. d. c.:
Learning with qualification of the
proposition OF the Federal Forest Service
TO hold as a great national monument the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado: believing
II the duty OF the United States TO keep
inviolate and free from desecration this
stupendous work Of nature: and realizing
fully the effectiveness of your appeal TO
the country through your messages to the
fiifty-ninth congress for preservation OF
Niagara Falls. the American Civic asso-
citation, In convention assembled. respect
fully urges you to use TO the utmost the
power of the federal government in sup
port OF such action as will forever insure
the continuance In awe-inspiring grand
eur OF the Grand Canyon and its sur
roundings.
(Signed)
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
~ Horace Mcfarland. President; Clinton
Rogers Woodruff, secretary"
Resolutions indorsing the work OF the
McKim-Saint Geudens-Olmsted commits
sion for the beautifying of Washington,
ID. c., were adopted as follows:
whereas. The American Civic associa-
tion. feeling the pride that all Americans
should take In their national capital feel
| ing that Il should be an example and pre-
cedent 10 all cities in the country. appre-
ciating the great ability OF the commits
sion which has made an exhaustive and
enthusiastic study for the future devel-
opment OF Washington city. strongly de-
precates anything which might halt this
development; therefore be 10
Resolved, That the American Civic as
sociation heartily indorses the plan for
the development OF Washington city pre-
pared by Daniel Ii. Burnham. Charles T.