Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-16
WILLIAM G. DEYER
On the National Municipal League

Convention
THE National Municipal League, which
L Is to hold its twenty .eighth annual
convention in this city beginning November
%, hos n long record of usefulness in pro-
noting better government In our cities,
counties and States. says William G. Boyer.
assistant director Of the Bureau Of Munich
pal Research.
coming annual meeting are Of peculiar IN.
terest,' said Mr.. Boyer. 1T was here tint
this nation wide organization was launched
more than a quarter Of century ago ana
this meeting will be the first to be held
in Philadelphia since the initial gathering
Objects of the League
'"rhere is no better way Of stating the
objects Of the League than to quote from ITS
are enumerated rs follows:
" First. TO multiply the numbers. har.
monize the methods and combine the forces
Of those who are interested in good munci-
pal. county and State government.
" Second. To promote the thorough in
vestigntion and discussion Of the details of
governmental administration ana OF IN"
methods of selecting and appointing officials
and Of constitutions, laws and ordinances
relating TO such objects.
Third. 70 furnish data for public in.
formation and discussion BY the publications
Of the proceedings Of the meetings. reports
Of committees and other papers, books and
periodicals bearing upon the subject OF gov
zone Of the concrete activities OF the
League has been to serve rs clearing house
of information on governmental proplemS'
To il new developments ana experiences IN
different communities have been reported. and
from il information with regard TO th"S"
developments has been distributed to indi.
viduals and to groups interested in i'm
proving civic conditions in their respective
localities.
National Municipal Review
perhaps the Leagues, most important
vehicle for the dissemination OF facts and
ideas is it's monthly periodical, the Ma
tional Municipal Review. For many years
it has been n veritnble mine OF useful in.
formation. 1t has not only mirrored ia ith- :
fully the current tendencies In American
government. especially in our cities, but II
has helped to blaze the way OF entirely new
reforms. Such movements as the commits
sion form Of government, the short ballot
proportional representation. the city.man
agcr plan and the initiative, referendum and
| recall owe much to the Illuminating discus
| siOns that have appeared from time to time
| In the pages Of this valuable monthly.
"The technical supplementss Of the Review view
deserve special mention: These have been
prepared by specialists in different fields OF
| administration and contain authoritative
| statements in regard to the subjects treated
| "AmOng the more important supplements
| issued during the last few years are those
on The Assessment Of Real Estate. 'Ad'
ministratve Consolidation in State Govern
ments.' Modern City Planning and Pen
sions In the Public Service The value O
these pamphlets to citizens, legislators ant
! administrators is inestimable.
| Works on Government
| Another contribution of the Leagu,
! to the cause OF better government Is a serie
, of books devoted to various aspects Of com
munity life. This series, which now com
prises more than II dozen treatises, includes
such subjects as a New Municipal Pro
gram Experts in City government 'TOwi
Planning. The Social Center City Gov
ernment by Commission "rhe City Man
ager.' Regulation of Municipal Utilities,
'Woman's Work in Municipalities an,
County Government
| ''But the dissemination OF Information 1
by no means all that has engaged the ut
tentlon Of the League. 1t has done con
structive work OF n pioneer characto
through committees. Among.the most note
worthy efforts Of this character is the repor
Of the Committee ON Municipal Program i
1915 on \ Model City Charter and Munici
pal Home Rnle,
'"This report Is more than discussion q
the problem. 1T contains an actual druf
Of legal provisions intended to 10 into eli
charters and also draft of provisions 10
incorporation into State constitutions I