The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-11-22
i d ClvlU
PROBLEMS
DISCUSSED
National Municipal
League Opens COnven-
ton In Statler


tionai Municipal league. made ~
OF agc national civic societies
opened 10 The Hotel Statler with q
luncheon an noon Wednesday Rep
resentafivea were present from al
parts OF the country 10 participate
In one OF The most important con
vontions this league OF civic socie
ties has ever held Unusual inter
est Is being manifested THIS year
because Of the many problems these
bodies are called upon 10 face
The Increased cost OF living and
the increased cost OF government
problemg due largely 20 The war
have made conditions that are eN'
cepuOnal and as result have cree
ated more interest than IN times
when everything was floating along
smoothly for municipalities rs Wei
az for individuals
The big topic discussed I'D me
first session was "Will the city man
ager form OF government ~ all
cities large cities--machine con
frolled clties7" Hon. Lawson Purdy
81 New York city, presided Al me
meeting and the subject was dis
cursed by Richard 5. Childs, New
York: Gaylord G. Cummin, Grand
Rapids. George 3 Harris, Cleve
land Lent y Epson, Detroit %. =
Carr. Niagara Falls; Henry N
Waite. Dayton. and GeorEe w
knox Niagara Falls
Following the luncheon came
formal opening session presided
over by William Dudley Foulke. 81
Richmond. Va Mayor Marx deliY-
cred the address OF welcome aftef
which addresses were made by tne
most noted civic experts In Amer
Zee
Just before .his session opened
Tho CITY Managers association neid
rs final meeting before Joining win
the bic main body Of the join con
yention. when W = Invett. execu.
tiyc secretary OF the Detroit Cit
gems league, made the principal ad-
dress on our citizen bosses. Mr.
+. Iotcft spoke. in part. as follows
.Tot George do it, has been the
explanation Of the rise and power or
1n0sf ~ tho corrupt gangs ot pcii-
"patfiatism by proxy" Is what We
.paf whom tho voter casts his uaNot
.nnd .frolghtway f9rEsts "nAt man =
.uer ~ government be has. The voter
-t4 thn sovereign The ballot ~ MS
s.cputcf But there is no royal ROAD
40 good government nner p@a
rgstefu the indifferent voter i~ tenn e
"a 10 lnt things alone because te
feels that his Interference would do
10 good Bur under good system.
eeven 80 good ss the city manage
flan. we etin ,ase rne pro biaW arts
ms when we try 10 keep awake our
'cltizcn bosses" who arc the final
arbitors on All questions 90 policy.
Mere efficiency viii never solve fhe
problem ~ municipal government
tEfncienc1 carried 20 the innUmnn tA-
ttrerne IL what We are hghting la the
great war Too much cfhciency ana
too little humanity explains the Qo-
feat uf many good movement 10Y
. better things Ia lily Ire. IN we hft
truthfuliV Informed, tlte recent fiff
ton 30 New York city proved how
sfficionrp may be- ovcrdone al The cA-
peusp uf rubicity cf kefplng p
toucH with the people There
SUCH tNing as governing q peorie
Ii IS r6t truS that Getty govern
insnt N mere matter ~ nusinref
II 81 matter also = peuple ~
fp keep IN mind the people Who are
the taxpayer
Everybody reads the newspapers
EVERY successful business advertise
in Tho newspapers a Fecosnizrd na-
tionai authority has said that The
public press ls an unofficial. hut Vital
arm o. the government Tn the CITY
MANAGE form ~ government how
much CONFEDERATION i- gwen ~ ina ii-
tanning cordial relations with the
people thru the daily press and ~
using the press as the best posi- hle
agency 81 Tuhiic Information ifavn
Ygu a publicity director on your Sta
~ government
How does your government SECURE
organized action, when needed from
among the majority ~ good citizens
who az heart believe In tho systew
Must this b. done thru volunteer and
private organizations? HaNc tou
such agencies Working IN harmony.
IN your city2 What about city clubs.
boards ~ commerce. voters leas lfs.
etr
Detroit - now framing new char.
ter The city manager tyne ~ gov
ernmrnf is under discussion "Ncfrait
81 TOO big for this form ~ govern
mont the crltirs say. What has Soc
cts managers association done cI
what can it 90 % sho wthai this FORM
~ government may wineiy ur nuliird
90 D city such a. Tetrnifr
tifY manager plan is au nttfmpi
f. To NAf NfffNfaf FfNflNnHN WIN flN 'iNf||
Iacy % prevent tho abuse ~ lth-
crty nA tho cunning. and itr m ar
hy The Incompetent THE rif' uan-
eEcf ulnu ls the h0pe ~ deunrfat ir
local government " is sflii h crude
piece ~ machinery which must Doe
developed before 30 can bo used exc
tcnFyeiy. particularly in large cities
and counties
Dangers 81 letting ths public DO
satisfied with tho creation ~ now
tVTc ~ government
tn5 q new charter viii not aufo-
nantienily secure good men e. admir-
istrr thc machinery of city govern
mcui. Z e. men with vision. energy
and keen sense of fhe nigh resuOn.
sibilitlcF which public office thrusti
upon them
90 A new charter wilt NOT auto.
fnnticHlly insure sound methods III
conducting public business. ft vii
NOT prevent defaicntion in public of
fees viii not provide sound bulge
system nor an adequate account iui
system. nor cost records nor yuY
chasing procedure. nor prevent dis
ensr nor enforce law. nor iuaprr
building construction. ~ can authnr
tle those things ana make them pos
sihic. bot ~ cannot bring them int
htlng unless the public wishes ,it 81.
trb a now charter win not pro
vide city program Tor building sew
cla. ur water pipes. or streets %
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