Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-30
WEATHER PLEDCE MADE GOOD
City Keeps Promise Made to Secure
L. A. M. Convention.
TOLD DELEGATES IT WAS COOL
Distinsuished Men from various Cor-
ners of America Are Captured by
King Ak-SRr-Ben aud the
Festival Display.

Omaha has made good and King Ak
Sar-Ben XIV is the greatest living mon
arch"
This is the unanimous opinion Of the dele
gates to the convention OF the League Of
American Municipalities who are arriving
hourly. Fewer than leo delegates had ar
rived by noon Tuesday, but all are en-
thusiastic over the reception being accorded
them. appreciative Of the magnificent
decorations and full Of rejoicing over the
weather which suits them. even though
some Of the delegates are from the sunny
south or from portions Of the country
where the zephyrs are rot as strong and
healthy.
Keep cool and come to Omaha was the
slogan OF the boosters from this city at the
Norfolk convention one year ago, where
the weather was swelteriug hot. The
Omaha delegates at that convention pro-
vided fans i'm the convention hall on which
were printed the injunction to come west
where It is cooler and the electric fans on
the excursion boats bore the same legend
on account OF the promises that cooler
weather would be found in the west and
because it was so unbearably hot in Nor
folk Omaha got the 1903 convention. And
true to. these promises Omaha is dishing
up cool weather for the delegates.
See the wind blow. isn't that fine re-
marked Thomas c. West Of Gloversville.
n. Y. This breeze is fine and | am 90
ing to trade my silk hat for a skull cap
and get out in it and enjoy myself We
don't have wind like this back in staid
old New York"
Ak-SRr-Ben Next to Ed.
It remained for w. II. Evans Of winni-
peg, Manitoba, to pay the first compli-
ment to King Ak-Sar-Ben.
81 thought this was a republic. not a
monarchy, but | find that you have a king
who stands next to King Edward" said
the delegate from Canada. king Ak-Sar-
Ben must be a great and worthy monarch
IL all these decorations are put UP in his
honor. | feel like shouting AN hail to
King Ak-Sar-Ben, the ruler Of the
O~mahans.'"
John MacVicar OF Des Moines. secretary
of the league. would not bring himself TO
believe tina. The thousands of flags flying
across the streets and the myriads of cleo
trio lights strung along and across the
pincipal thoroughfares of the city were
placed there TO celebrate the coronation of
the king, but said that they are for the
delegates to the convention Of the league.
The Rome hotel has been de as
the official headquarters for the delegates
and Assistant City Comptroller Cosgrove.
in charge OF the bureau of information, a
corps Of assistants and members of the re-
ception committee are kept more than busy
there. Most Of the delegates go to the
Rome first and the commit e there as.
signs them to other hotels where they are
escorted. Everyth' ng is beng done to make
the welcome to the delegates warm-even
though the weather is chilly.
MahooI's Frst Trip West.
This is the first time l. have been west
of the Mississippi river said MAY or j.
Parry Mahool Of Baltimore, president OF
the LEAGUE, land l did not know what west
ern hospitality was, But you people in
omaha certainly equal, the far-famed south
erners when it comes to welcoming the
stranger within your gates" Mayor Ma
hool then went on to state that he be-
lieves the convention which will begin
Wednesday morning will be as good as any
held, II not the best.
'"rhe purpose of the convention of the
league is, of course, to afford a sort II
clearing house OF Ideas" said the presi-
dent. 1T is not so essentially different
from a convention Of manufacturers We
shall discuss every theme of interest to
men engaged in the conduct of municipal
tiles and learn by the experience Of others.
1t might even be called a trade conven-
ton. for city administrations Cas they are
conducted today are strictly business prop
ositions."
Mayor Mahool says that today the people
Of Baltimore look back four and one-half
years and see that in the great fire OF
February, 1904, the metropolis Of Mary
land receiCed a God-send. lie says that
the city has improved remarkably since
the great fire and that It is much sounder
than before. In the last four years 25,COO.-
nm baa haau spapt I'm nnb1iC mnrOyanautg
Before the fire the docks were owned by
private individuals and the streets We're
|, narrow. The city bought the land where
the docks were situated and has built three
: docks. five more being under course OF
: construction. Land was bought and the
streets widened and a new system of sewer
age installed. The sewerage system has
9 cost 81 ,OO0,O 600; the docks 100000, additional
5 engine houses 100000 and additional school
{ houses 81 100000.
BaltimOre's Famous Charter.
Discussing Baltimore's famous charter,
Mayor Mahool said that it continued to
work to the satisfaction of everyone.
} Under it," said he. you know that two
commissions. the Board Of Awards and the
Beard Of make all appropriation
and let all franchises. We have a city
council, but its functions are merely legis.
lative.'
II find almost everyone is interested IN
the Des Moines plan said John Mac
Vicar, secretary and treasurer OF the league
and one of the Iowa capitals commits,
sioners. MANY questions are asked me
about this system Of city government
which was first adopted by Galveston, fol.
lowing the great storm eight years ago
It is a fact that all Des Moines is now for
commission government and many OF the
original DIRECTORS are now the plans strong,
est supporters. II is generally admitted
that every department Of city administra,
tons has been bettered and far faster prog,
ress has been possible than under the old