Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-01-25
Head Of Municipal
League Endorses
City Manager Plan
Speaking at Convention, An
drew Moran Of Grand
Island, Likens City to
Big Corporation.

Endorsing The city manager plan
oil government, Andrew T., Moran
"a Grand Island addressed the thif-
trenth annual convention OF the Ne
masks League OF Municipalities az
Hotel Rome yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Moran is president Of the league.
The PLAZA has been tried out in
Nebrasts and is proving successful
In all cities where the plan has been
given . fair test !, has been SUGGEST
iul." President Moran said.
"city Like Corporation"
after all. city is only a corpora
lion. iunctioning just like other huge
corporal ons. Every corporation has
a manager and il Is usually success
iul. The city government should be
opersted on the same business prin-
eiples ., . corporation. | hope 70
see the plan have wide extension ~
Nebrasla." he said.
In tis address President Moran
criticized the legislature for the char
ters 81 en- 10 cities.
Advocates Home Rule.
lies should have home rule and
portuni,y 10 handle their own
SIS. The charters given by the
kture are not practical. No
tiiics have the same problems
Mhy should the legislature al
I to solve them by laws. The
nee Of many cities has actually
prohibited because OF the re-
tons placed upon them in their
tiers. This is especially true
en special bond issues are neces-
y for improvements.
Cities should demand the right &c
bvern themselves and to make their
wn laws. There are very few mem.
Lcrs OF the legislature who know
|anything about municipalities, while
il is very evident that city officials
soon learn a great deal about them.
We must keep up our fight TO.
home rule"
Raps Railway Commission.
President Moran declared that the
Fight against the fixing OF public u,l-
tiles rates by the state railway COM
mission was being opposed by utii.
ties that were against the control OF
Utilities by city governments. He
scored the state method of fixing
rates and declared that in the smaller
cities the rates were actually oppres-
sive. He urged the convention 70
make concerted efforts to find way
ior relief, either in legislation or for
the complete repeal OF obnoxious
laws.
Tells Church's Position.
A. A. Brooks. Fort Dodge, Ia,
was to have delivered an address on
1.-The Church and Municipal Govern
ment." Early in the afternoon he
telegraphed he would not be presen.
and DR.. Frank G.. Smith. pastor of
the First Central Congregational
church. filled his place.
There arc two extreme views re-
plrding the place of the church III
city government" DR.. Smith said.
Zone is that the church and its repre-
sentative in the pulpit are to be set
aside with no active part in the CITY
government. The other is that the
church should have its finger in
everything going on. Both are
wrong. There is happy medium
where the church can build charac-
ters by guiding the spiritual and
moral welfare of the congregation
and ultimately make good citizens.
Should Oppose Lawlessness.
81 do not mean that minister
should not say something when the
occasion is apparent. Every church
man should raise his voice against
lawlessness. but he should not be
continually sticking his nose in other
peoples business. Taking an active
Part in city affairs and NEEDING are
different things" he said.
Last night R. f. Mcdonnell, Kan
sas CITY, gave an illustrated lecture
on why Municipal Ownership Of
Waterworks Is Becoming Univey-
sal"