The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-18


Grand Forks Herald: With the
election Of the above oficers and the
selection of Fargo as the next place
Of meeting. the North Dakota Munich
pal league brought its first annual
meeting to a close. During the session
here many important issues were dis
cussed and many laws recommended
to the Legislature as being for the
welfare of.the cities OF the state.
One Of the important subjects which
was taken up yesterday afternoon was
that Of giving the city council super
visory power over the tax levies of the
school board and the park board.
While there appeared to be an unan-
unity among those present that the
council lis un5nstly held responsible
for the high taxes, it was conceded
that the difficulties In the way of Civ
ing the council supervision where it
did not control the expenditure of the
money, the mourning of debt and in
some instances of all the territory
which is included within the limits of
the school district,
Interesting Issue Raised.
An interesting discussion arose over
III 1O5OAuGhOh UGGAoI lie a.
giving cities the right to own and OPP
crate various publicS utilities. The
resolution favored merely increasing
the power of the city so that they
might go into the lighting business
and a few other of the public BUSH
nessesJ on a commercial basis. Some
of the ~officials present favored giving
the city the right to go into any bust
ness, including the sale of wood and
coal and various other industries.
Charges of socialism and financial
ruin were made against this scheme
and the meeting decided to adopt the
original motion.
Al resolution was passed declaring
for a law giving the cities the added
right to build and maintain municipal
slaughter houses and public markets.
Another would change the law govern
ing the liability of cities for accidents
caused by defective sidewalks so that
there would be no liability unless the
city had written notice Of the defec-
tive condition at least ten days before
the accident occurred.
Giving to sheriffs and the warden of
the penitentiary the right to take the
Bertillion measurements of prisoners
was another object sought by the reso-
buttons adopted. The proposition had
been brought up by the chiefs of POI
lice Of the state and Chief Lowe de-
clared that such a provision should
apply to the police chiefs more than to
the other officers because it is the POI
lice who arrest most of the criminals
and it is the police who pick up vags
who may be wanted for offenses ms
other cities. But the delegates felt
that the many who are arrested by the
police for petty offenses might be Inn
properly Inundated by being placed
in the roEues' gallery.
It was recommended to the legisla-
ture that a law be passed giving cities
the right to name officers who were
not residents of the city. Al need of
such a measure has arisen I'm the m
ployment of experts in various lines.
Endorse Uniform Accounting.
The league also endorsed a resolu-
tion declaring In favor of a system Of
uniform accounting for municipalities
and other governmental organiza-
tions.
The league voted an appropriation
of $3.50 to send the Legislative commit
tee to Bismarck to carry ON a fight for
the measures which have been en-
dorsed. IT was also urged that if a
fight were made on any OF the meas
ures that the various cities should
send their ago to Bismarck to help
the cause.
Nh HlOIlOu Ln6 pAONlstOH III tHS
maintenance Of a bureau of informa-
tion at the university under an asso-
ciate secretary named by the presi-
dent Of the university was continued.
There was considerable discussion in
regard to increasing the membership
OF the league and the point was made
by several that If the various munich
palities realized the amount of benefit
which might be derived that practic-
ally all of them in the state would
join.
All Of the officers elected were
named by reclamation. In the selec-
ton of the place of meeting for next
year both Fargo and Minot issued in
vitations. Fargo was selected.
The number of delegates who have
been in attendance at the meeting
were: Fargo, Z; Grand Forks, 6; Will
~liston. q; Wahpeton, Langdon. Minot,
Fordville, Mimic and Grafton, each !.
We Buv SCRAP Iron.
Also sell second hand sheet roofing.
write for prices. Carload lots q spe-
- 4 s. ~-AA-~AAa~-~ -&~x-~ $500