The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-28
CITY ACTIVITIES
NOT CURTAILED
American Municipalities Have Not Been
Seriously Affected by the War,
Says Secretary Woodruff of
the National Municipal
League.

Baltimore, Nov. 28-The European
war is having no serious effect on munic-
ilal activities in the United States ac-
cording to survey made by Clinton
Rogers Woodruff, secretary of the Ma
tional Municipal league, who delivered
his annual address before that organi-
zation here last night.
With inquiry among many of the rep
resentative cities of the country, Mr..
Woodruff learned that municipalities
were going ahead without the slightest
abridgcmcnt in their plans for such inn
provcmcnts as lad already been author
lied, and although some cities were ex-
through the usual channels, municipal
periencing difficulty in placing loans
through the usual channels, municipal
credit did not seem to be jeopardized
indeed he said, "the opinion pre-
walls among financial authorities that
the European situation viii in a short
time make municipal securities the most
desirable in America"
He reports no recession of interest in
the commission or commissions manager
forms Of city government.
What is aptly called the vanishing
systematic bicameral form of city
government he said, SIS to be found
now in only nine of the largest fifty
cities Philadelphia, Baltimore, Kansas
City, Providence, Louisville, Atlanta,
Worcester, Richmond, Va, and Cam
bridge. Mass
I'm the light OF the events of the past
five years he continued. 1T would not
be hazardous TO predict that five years
- -. L
risking its business and its future to the
evils OF a form which affords such
abundant opportunities for ineficiency,
and waste and Encouragement"
Hand in hand with this advance he
notes the progress of municipal home /
rule (which in the course of the coming |
generation is destined TO become the set /
tied policy with regard TO the relations
OF the states 10 the cities"
Nine Iowa cities operating under the !
commission form OF government had. Re |
noted lived within their income for the 1
first time in 1913 A federal census
also showed that out Of 90 commission
cities, 81 were found 10 be running at /
less per capita than the average head ex-
pense Of the 1915 metropolitan centers Of /
an classes considered
There was notable Improvement in
housekeeping accounts. ne
found The happy 20 lucky way" was
being superseded generally by scientific
lmdgcts which made both ends meet
Both the demand for municipal owner
ship and that for effective control OF pri. /
Nately operated municipal utilities con-
finucd undated Wyoming and Utah.
D. said. were the only states in the union
Waich had 10 form 81 control 20 regu.
late. IN some Wav 0r another. the public
utilities There was still much discus.
ZION throughout The country a. 20 wheth-
~ such control should b. by state or
local commissions. with the developments
d the past year seemingly more IN favor !
1f state action IN these matters Il
lie concluded gith q reference 20 social ,
problems uha fear that Interest IN
aoTk alouu theae lnes would BE- abated :
% account 81 to great war. ne believes
4 b. uuuarramed alhr very greatness /
n to- European cataelvsn Wiil ompha
zr thr nsri far greater social and ctic /
G0rf hp said A. increased migration
Isfu Tur0ne 20 Ameriea Was 20 b. eN-
sttei a. result - the ser and tiis e /.
d souif reouire - little attention