The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-17
NATIONAL LEAGUE
MAY GATHER HERE
Representatives Of American
Municipalities Likely to Meet
in Richmond.
CRYSTALLINE sENTlM EN-
Organization Stands for Home
Rule for All Cities in
the Country.

Clinton Rogers Woodruff, secretary
of the National Municipal League, spent
yesterday in Richmond on invitation
OF the Chamber of Commerce and other
organizations looking over the posi-
bilities Of Richmond as a meeting place
for the league next November The
executive COMMITTEES will meet in April
to determine on the place Of meeting
and. according to MIR. Woodruff, the
choice lies between Richmond. st.
Louis and Memphis, each of which
cities has presented an invitation
MI Woodruff was entertained ut the
Commonwealth Club. and during his
stay met Henry w. Wood. president
Of the Chamber Of Commerce; l.. Nick.
,'udkins. Of The civic Improvement
League. and others lie looked over
tho jefferson Hotel and expressed his
satisfaction With tho facilities afforded.
and said he fclt certain that the or
Gani@ation would meet with a warm
welcome should the committee vote
10 come 10 Richmond
CrystnIlizc Local Sentiment.
Members OF the Chamber OF Com
merce ascrt that it would he Of great
benefit to Richmond to have such a
meeting here. as tho lea que is COM
posed Of several hundred OF the most
eminent authorities on municipal man
aEcment. The public addresses by pro-
fesors of political science at the lead :
ing universities and other experts
might serve 1t is believed, 10 crystal
lie the growing popular sentiment In
Richmond. both within and without the
Council. for q simpliiication OF the city
government.
1T Is a most significant fact" said
Mr. Woodruff yesterday. that every
state in the Union is now considering
in one form or another, tho commits
sion plan OF city government Every
State Legislature now In session has
some such bill pending. Our league
stands for simple and effective gov
eminent. but VIC do not believe that
the commission is the last word In city
government.
Stnnds for Home Rule.
What tho league stands for IS homo
rule-somc plan which will allow each
city TO determine for itself how II
shall be governed, and to govern itself
without having IN go to the Lcgisla
tire Under the old method Richmond
fell hack on the State in emergencies.
Boston went to the State house, Chi :
cago to Springfield. and New York to
icnn cities have lost faith in their abil-
ty to govern themselves. and arc con-
stantly appealing TO the States.
1T seems to suggest that there is
something wrong with our methods
OF city government I do not moan
corruption or graft but an ineniciency
or lack Of adaptahility 10 modern con
ditions. We arc coming to EXPECT more
and moro of our cities. and the old
styles, patterned after State Leglsla
lures. are not meeting the require
ments.
Designed to Make LAWS
5 1T Is significant that ten years ago
when your Virginia constitutional Con
vcntion met, no other plan was con
sidered than he branch lcgisla
tive council The scheme was devised
SO that the cities might make laws
Little thought was given TO the fac,
that the main business Of city is
administrative. not Legislative Like
other cities, 7 take 1t that Richmond
passes in the course OF n year very
few laws of far-reaching Importance
probably not more than two or three
that will be observed a few years
hence nut your government Is charged
daily with the responsibility of admin
istering a trust fund OF s3.Ooo.ooo i
year. 1t must sec not only that there
IS no graft. but that there Is no waste
that the city gets dollar for dollar
This lack Of accomplishment is ccn-
cral among cities Of this country. The
old forms of government are showine
an Inability to meet new conditions
that arise. and 1t Is TO meet this nroh.
lem that our league has been formed
Uniform Accounting.
we have organized In many cities
uniform system OF accounting which
gives basis for comparisons OF oper-
ating cost between cities Of the same
general conditions Our invited speak
ers at the annual meeting will be
among the most eminent thinkers ana
leaders OF the country and they VIII
discuss modern ideas Of government
pointing to defects and Offering rene.
dies
With plan by which each city car
determine for itself how II shall be
ruled and shall proceed 10 rule itself
With an efficient plan, designed 10 pro.
duce results in administration Of IN,
business enterprise, with less empba
sis on legislative functions, we belinv,
that the cities OF this country can hr
made to take the front rank. rathe,
than the place of greatest criticism
among American institutions.
u have been delighted with nv sta,
In Richmond. and with lilo rocentior
given me. here. and hope that the cor.
vention will see ut to come here ~
the fall" =
Mr.. Woodruff left for his home T.
Philadelphia ut SEQ o'clock last night