Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-23

rotary Pierce Presents Annual Report
With Welcome l. L. ~" blazing
from an electric syn on South Third
avenue, and with It's city offices dee
GRATED and gay wi,n bunting. the city
today extended tbs glad hand et hos
pital:ly 10 the sixteenth annual convea-
ton OF the League OF Iowa Mun:capili-
ties. The opening session was held
this forenoon. and other meetings of
the convention Will De held this eve
ming. WEDNESDAYS forenoon. afternoon
and evening and Thursday forenoon
and afternoon.
Give Delegates Welcome.
Mayor !. $. M.iiard and Ceuncilnlen
Lamb and Nicholson. a:ded by S ere
iarA F. G. Pierce Of tn league. re-
csived the delegates in the mayors Of
ice and supplied them with yellow
badges on which were printed "S.x-
leenth Annual Convention, Marshall
town. and c!asped with the bronze
button OF the league Delegates regis
tered in the MAYORS Office. and il and
he adjoining city cfTtars w-re re-
splendenr with new floor coverings
furnishing and decorations.
Seventy Five Here.
Fifty MAYORS. councilnlen. commits
sicners, and heads OF nunicipa! de-
partments had registered up TO noon,
but when the opening session Of the
convention was called 10 order by
Mayor 4. s. Smith. OF Sioux City. pres
idenr of the league. seventy five had
arrived. It is expected this number
will be doubled by noon Wednesday.
Altho very large pp.t OF the dele
gates time in the city viii be taken NJ
with meetings OF the convention. dis
version has been provided by the Mar
sha!ltown Club. 1t includes an auto
mobile ride Wednesday afternoon and
luncheon. 10 be followed by the
leagues banquet at the Pilgrim in the
evening
Mayor Welcomes League.
Formal addresses and reports filed
the two hours the league was in ses-
sion this forenoon. Mayor L S. Mill
ard warmly welcomed the delegates in
behalf Of the city. and President "A.
a. Moore extended 10 them all OF the
Inequalities and privileges Of the Mar
shalltown Club.
In his response 10 the welcomes.
President Snita. read his annual ad-
dress, in which he briefly enumerated
the accomplishments of the lea que dur
ing the last year. He thanked the
legislative committee for its work in
tia general assembly last winter. H
touched on public utilities. taxation.
rates for public service. and devoted
much time to legislation that is need
ed for the benefit of cities In clos
ing he advocated four-year terms %
office for mayors and councilnen OF
cities having the commission form o.
government.
Reviews Judicial Work.
Mayor Parlev sheldon. OF Ames.
wired that he cold rot get here until
Wednesday, He VAS 70 have read a re
port OF tia committee on legislation \
review ot The cour- decision touching
litigation involving cities was contain
ed in the report o. the committee on
judicial opinions which was read hy
City Solicitor Ben P. Poor % Burling-
ton. II dealt with decisions Of the SUI
pren7e court relating 20 se7-er build
ing. assessing abutting properties for
paving, tfe repair and repaving OF
streets. constitutional debt limit. hitch
rack problem, tne Des Noines street
railway case, and othe- cases
Secretary Pierce's aerort.
L was with q source OF satisfaction
that Frank g. Pierce. Of this city, sec
retsry and treasurer of the league,
presented his annual report to the or
sanizaticn n MS home city. where the
league was organized fifteen years ago
this fall.
Mr.. Pierce referred to this being the
first meeting Of the league in Mar
shaltown since lis organization here
in 1898, anG to TIE year just closed as
one of the most successful in the
4 leagues history.
IN legislative matters. we We're es-
pecially successful this past year" said
Mr.. Pierce, and great credit is due 70
the chairman and members Of the leg
islative committee for the laws that
they were able TO secure and equally
SO for the bills that they were able 10
J defeat. The league has accomplished
I more in the past year than in any one
I years in its history. but when we con-
( slider the accomplishments Of the past
. fifteen years, we can certainly feel that
! the League Of Iowa Municipalities has
| made a wonderful showing. In the
| past fifteen years. the municipal law Of
/ Iowa has been almost completely re-
! written and this largely as the result
! Of the work Of the league"
i LAWS LEAGUE INTERESTED IN.
| Secretary Pierce followed with re-
hearsal of some of the laws that the
league is responsible for, either directly
or indirectly. These laws are uniform
accounting, law permitting cities and
/ towns to buy or build water works.
electric lighting plants, and other util-
tiles; law providing for the condem.
nation Of a utility plant where the
franchise has expired; biennial election
laws for second class cities and towns;
law permitting cities and towns to Sc
cure bids on more than one kind OF
paving and decide on the kind to be
i laid after the bids were received; law
authorizing cities and towns to create
park systems; law providing for the
short ballot In municipal affairs; law
/ permitting councils to fiji vacancies II