The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-20
NEW GOVERNMENT FOR MILWAUKEE Social Democrats Assume
 Control of the City MAYOR SE|DEL'S POLICIES New Executive Will Be Backed Up By a Majority of the City Council and
 Declares for Reforms in Rum
 ming the City
MAYOR SE|DEL'S POLICIES

rule. has been controlled by the dem-
 ocratic party. today passed into tho
 hands of the social democrats with
 Emil Seidel as mayor. The old com
 mon council had its last session early
 :his afternoon and after transacting
 unfinished business gave way to the
 new members.
 Mayor Seide1 will have back of him 21 supporters. all members of his party.
 The minority consists of 10 democrats
 and 4 republicans.
 In his inaugural message Mayor Sci
 del said:
 Before all things, home rule, the right of self-government should be se-
 cured for the city of Milwaukee" Other measures advocated by Mayor Seidel included the promoting of well being of the working class. enforce
 ment of sanitary measures. the estab- | lishment of bureau of municipal re- search with view to placing the finances of the city on a sound basis, and the combining of various offices to save expense. He asked the coun- cil and city attorney to report as to
 the feasibility of establishing a mu-
 nicipal lighting plant.
 The Mayors Address Mayor Seidel. addressing the new | common council, spoke in part as fol- lows:
 "The eyes of thousands stricken cities are today directed toward Milwaukee
 and millions of good wishes and God
 bless you' are on the four winds to
 the western shore of Lake Michigan,
 l cannot too strongly impress upon you the sacredness of the trust placed upon you.
 Tt has been your good fortune 10 be placed in a dominating position and you could follow your purpose
 with an untiring will.
 Tn your policy the promises con- | tained in our platform should have a prominent part. Such measures as can be carried out under the provisions of
 our present charter should be taken up at once. Where the charter inter-
 feres proper bills should at once be
 drafted to be presented to the next llegislfxae 7s,.S
 nels,re an things, home rule the right of self government. should be se-
 cured for the city of Milwaukee. "The workers of our city are it's most valuable asset. Your attention should be directed to the passage of
 such measures as will promote the well
 being of this class of citizens, safe
 guard health, check any tendency to encroach upon such few rights as the
 workers still enjoy. and wherever pos sible extend for them the opporttun- ities of life.
 Steps to Be Taken '1n this direction number of steps can be taken. The administrat tion sh ould constantly watch over the con- ditions prevailing in factories, work shops and places of employment with regard to sanitation. There should at all times by full and hearty co-opera- tion with state factory laws be in- dividual cooperation in the enforce | ment of measures providing for in- dustrial hygieneJ,
 Contracts to be let by the city are | awarded to the lowest bidders. ''The contention that the city cannot.
 as an economic precaution, specify the treatment of labor. is a violation of the right of free contract-a right enjoyed | by corporations and individual employers Therefore, In contracts to be let by the | city, the specifications should provide for hours of labor that are not exhausting, | that leave a margin of time for rest and development Such specifications should also provide for sufhcency of light and ventilation they should prohibit child labor and properly protect women labor, | and prevent the imposition upon work CTS of degrading conditions" The city ordinance which makes the carrying of concealed weapons unlawful, said the mayor, should be strictly en- | forced, and the practice of bringing
 armed "hirelings" into the city of Mill | waukee. to mingle with population that | is peace loving, he added has cost some
 loss of life and should be estopped. Basis of Taxation "Fix a more nearly equitable basis of | taxation and arrive at basic cost units that will be of great service" he said. Rigid enforcement of cleansing street | cars. to prevent the spread of contagious disease was suggested and he declared | the state railroad commission should be appealed to compel the installation of airbrakes, lifting jacks and other appar- atus essential to life saving, and an in- | creased number of cars should be had during busy hours
 | As to saloons the mayor said | The question of the saloon is one that has been and is extensively agitated. Tn our city the saloon is regulated under | the license system. The saloon-keeper who conducts a clean and respectable place should be protected No trickery | to entice him into traps should be con- doned.
 "On the other hand, the issuance of a | license to sell liquor cannot carry with 1 it the permission to maintain a house of | i'll fame, or in any wise to abet lcen- tiousness. I have been informed that in
 many instances in which licenses to sell liuuor have been refused to keepers of houses of i'll repute. intoxcants are nev-
 ertheless dispensed. This informa tion also states that the practice prevails in
 assgnation houses to include in exchange for the price of room a supply of liquor. Your attention is called to the
 subversion of the law in this natter Financial Report He then suggested that the comptroller
 of the city of Milwaukee make by July 1, 1910, a complete report to the mayor
 and the common council of the financial condition of the city of Milwaukee, and
 the city attorney by that time giving an opinion as to when and how i've can
 establish a municipal electric lighting plant"
 Mayor Seidel concluded his address as | follows:
 "The inauguration of & new regime into municipal administration has generally been considered in the nature of a pri- | vate triumph, and the feeling of per-
 sonal victory and personal exultation was predominant On this occasion such feeling, I believe, is entirely absent, and
 the whole spirit of this day here and
 now is one of resolve and conservation
 to the task of making Milwaukee a safe
 place for its men, women and children i, --rS fe- ,f- ne e'','