The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-07
TO INTERNATIONAL
CONGRESS ON CITIES
MANAGING DIRECTOR OWENS, OF
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL BODY.
CALLS,
NJ i NICIP AL REFORM
AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS TO
LEAVE NEW YORK July 1s ron
SESSIONS IN
EUROPE.
NJ i NICIP AL REFORM

Washington, D. C., June e.---An.
nouncement was made today by DR..
Clarence !. Owens managing direc-
tor Of the Southern commercial con-
gress, that arrangements for the Am
ertcan commission. which has been
embled by the congress and which
Will participate in the International
congress Of municipal executives and
civic leaders TO be held in London be-
CHING July goth, and the International
urban exposition TO heheId in Lyons.
France, under the patronage Of tbs
French republic. have been compiet-
ed
+ The commission will sail for Lon
dor July 8. It is composed of many
mayors Of large cities of the United
states, officials of civic and CONNER
ciai organizations. and representatives
Of various States appointed by COVER
n0rs
he tfft efifatienaf congress In Lon
don will be presided over by the lord
mayor Of London and will be parti-
cipated in by municipal executives
Of Great Britain. Europe and the
( United States program thoroughly
! mprehensiyely and covering the en-
tire scope of municipal problems and
aChieVem ents will be presented
The report of the American commits
sion will be presented at the sixth
annual convention Of the Southern
commercial congress TO be held at
Muskogee, Oklahoma, next November,
and will form the basis of municipal
reform as distinctive as the results
achieved by the American commission
on agricultural cooperation of the
Southern commercial congress that
made An exhaustive investigation in
- E4ro.3e- d1r4a : - a. 3 -----
The state department is eo-opera-
ting with the Southern commercial
congress to make the American COM
mission a big success. The following
letter has been sent by Secretary Of
State Bryan to all American diploma
! tic and consular officers In Europe.
( The department is informed by
the director general of the Southern
! commercial congress that, at the re-
quest of the British committee the
Southern commercial congress has as
sembled the American commission Of
municipal executives and civic leaders
+ 10 leave New York July ., for the
purpose of participating in the inter-
national congress of municipal exc
cutives and civic leaders TO be held
in London beginning July 90. There
after the commission will visit Lyons,
France. and still later will make an
investigation of the urban problems
and achievements in Italy, Austria
Hungary. Switzerland, Belgium. Ger
many and Holland The itinerary Of
their tour you will find incIosed
I'll is the desire of the Southern
commercial congress that this tour be
made the means Of rendering a speci-
fc service tn the municipalities of An-
erica through a comprehensive re-
port To he submitted to such munici-
palities upon return of the commis-
sion. The department Is in full SYM
pathy with the object of this tour.
and desires that you extend to the
commission such assistance and cour-.
tesies as you properly may consistent-s
" with your official duties. It would
see no objection 70 your making
known informally TO municipal exc
cutiyes and heads of civic organizA-
tons within your respective turis-
z dtctional districts, the purpose OF the
commission and TO your requesting
for the mem hers OF the commission
such courtesies and cooperation a.
may he consistently rendered. Hotel
and other accommodations for the
tour are being arranged by the South
ern commercial congress
The department would further be
glad to have YOU prepare In advance
of the commissions arrival and for
their use after arrival. as thorough
statements as possible of municipal
achievements and organization In
your respective jurisdiction. and Of
the possibility Of the adoption to this
municipalities Of America OF the plans
followed in European countries. Tho
department is Of the opinion that such
information is of public interest to
TN United states and It therefore de-
si,~s that duplicate copies Of your re-
port he also transmitted TO 1t