The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-14
SAYS FRANKFORT
IS TYPICAL CITY.
Head of Municipal League
Demonstrates Its Form
of Government
IMMENSELY SUPERIOR
TO AMERICAN PLANS
Mayor Regrets That There Is
Not More Chance for Home
Rule--COnvention
Opens

Frankfort on the Main, a city OF
between 100000 and 5000 inhabi-
tants. comes nearest being the ideal
city Of the present day in the opinion
Of MIR William Dudley Feaike, Of
Richmond. Ind, president OF the Ma
tonai Municipal League. whose adj
dress on Effective Municipal Gov
eminent" was the principal feature OF
the opening session of the seventeenth
annual convention OF the association
al the Jefferson last night.
No man., he said, can drive
through Its admirably paved and per-
.fscIy clean streets, lined with beau
tifu1 and stately dwellings. and trim
gardens teeming with flowers, or
thanked with business buildings. no
one can visit It's exposition hall. or the
great theatre or opera house bnilt by
the municipality. or walk through the
numerous city parks. shaded BY arch
Ing trees. no one can use Its excel
lent cab serSic or ride upon its cleo
tri~ railway whose ears glisten with
the newness of perennial youth. no one
can observe the we'll clad and thrifty
condition of the people. the absence OF
great masses of unemployed. the order
and general comfort that everywhere
IievaI without feeling that here is Il
city which has approached the high
water mark OF municipal excellence"
Mr.. Fisher Prcsides.
IN the presence of municipal experts
snd prominent students of civic af-
fnirs from many parts Of the coun-
Try, including MIR Charles j. Bona
parte, OF Baltimore. the meeting was
called to order by MIR Walter l.
Fisher. Secretary of the Interior, for
merry secretary and later president OF
the Chicago Municipal Voters League
In the assemblage were also mum
her Of men and women of Richmond
Interested In such affairs
Mayor Richardson was first intro
duced, delivering the address OF vel
come. In which he expressed the opin-
ion that the people should have been
left free to choose their own form OF
government. He thought IL nnfortu-
nate that THE trainers of our consti-
sntian should have legtslated too
mach with respect 10 the government
OF cities and towns in our State
Following q brief response by Mr.
Fisher. who outlined the purposes OF
the league Mr.. Foulke was introdue-
ed. At the close of his address.
reception was rendered the delega-
ton by the local reception commit
tee.
Will Eject Officers.
This morning the first business
meeting will be held, with Mr.. Bona
partc. member OF the executive COM
mittee and former president OF the
league. in the chair. Following the
report OF The executive committee
and other business Of a routine and
special nature. the body will hear q |
report from the nominating commit |
tee. Election of officers and the coun- |
Gil viii then follow. The remainder
reading of papers ON special topics. I
Has Funeral Department.
In his paper last night. Mr.. Foulke /
examined the framework and opera |
ton of the city Of Frankfort. going /
into the matter TO an exhaustive de- |
gree. The principle OF municiple
ownership he showed II far ad- |
vanced In this Prussian city. which |
even operates n burial and funeral I
II also owns and
operates a savings bank. with twelve
branches which pays ) l.: per cent
and has upward of $5.oo0.00o de-
posits. municipal pawnshop IL an /
other industry which the city operates.
Mr. Fouike said in part:
THE State supervision over the
rised by our own State Legislatures
who alter charters and make new
for the municipalities Al
almost every session. In Prussia the
charter In rarely altered. but each
particular act OF the city government
.omes under the supervision OF state
- illustrative board. composed IN
part OF experts and invested with
he special function OF experimenting
the more important acts OF thc mum
cipality The Prussian plan ~ I'M
superior to ours This spe-
cial body IL far more competent TO
correct the unwise action OF q city
than an indoctnm parliamentary. COM
posed largely Of representatives from
other parts Of the State who have
little knowledge OF a city's needs, or
wen Of what it's Inhabitants desire.
Has Municipal Board.
The charter Of Frankfort pro-
vfdes that the city Is to he represent
IA through a municipal board and a
represe ntatfve assembly. Ordinances
not Inconsistent with existing laws are
made by the concurring resolution of
these two bodies with the approval
81 the "Regierung'' or district COM
mittee.
1 president appointed by the king,
II, expert member also appointed, at
Ter examination, and four lay menu
bers chosen by the provincial assem-
bly,.
Who May Vote.
''All Inhabitants except soldiers be-
onE to the city community, are en-
titled to the benefit Of its public Is.
and bound to share Its
burdens. Every Prus1ban twenty four
years OF age. capable OF managing his
1wn affairs. may vote If he has been
'or one year an inhabitant. has re-
,eived no support from public char
~. has paid his municipal taxes and
either possesses dwelling in the city
y permanent industry with at least
hree assistants. or has an income OF
1900 a year. The wife's income or
,oaaessien Is attributed to the hus-
,Anti; that Of the child 10 the ia
her. Every clti1en II Obliged to ac-
.ept an unpaid place In the admins
sation or In me representative AZ
16o9tiausA - Gseond PASel