| Show THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Henry V Lawrence Accepts the Presidency of Organization FINANCES OF THE CITY COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE IN-VESTIGATE THEM Hall and Corum Clash on the Formers For-mers Free Water SchemeJohn Stubbs Declares Himself Unequivocally Une-quivocally For Free Water and Joins the Leaguer Reverend Mc Niece Eulogizes Chief of Police I PaulDr Lockwood and Others I Speak The most important things which happened at the meeting of the Municipal Muni-cipal League last night were that I Henry W Lawrence accepted the presidency pres-idency of the league and John Stubbs filed his application for membership in the organization The meeting was held at St Marks I hall Mrs Lillie Pardee presided and II I there were 3G people present about a I j I dozen of whom were ladies Mrs Nellie Little was elected as one I I of the trustees and then L E Hall J of the committee appointed to secure rooms reported that the chamber recently re-cently used by the house of representatives representa-tives in the capitol building could be had free of charge but there was no furniture in it and it was on the top I seat than John Stubbs jumped to his feet and announcing that if there was anything in the world he wanted real badlyit was free water and John was proceeding to deliver an oration on the beauty of water when Chairman Par dee ruled him out of order and John very reluctantly resumed his seat The resolution was then put and carried car-ried and the chair appointed Messrs Orem Corum and Hall as a committee to obtain the financial statement Rev R G MeNiece was called upon for a few remarks The reverend gentleman gen-tleman stated that although he was not a member of the league he fully recognized the necessity of reform in municipal affairs American cities were according to Prof Brice and he was right the worst governed cities on the face of the earth The worst governed gov-erned city in Europe was better governed gov-erned than the best governed city in the United States Salt Lake was a shining example of a badly governed city The laws are not enforced funds are not wisely expended and taxes are too high The present municipal government gov-ernment is a disgrace to the city said Mr McNlece CHIEF PAUL ALL RIGHT The speaker could not see however that the chief of police was to blame Chief Paul is a most estimable m nand n-and said the reverend gentleman it would take a great deal of evidence evi-dence to make me believe that Mr Paul will not do his whole duty as far as the obstacles placed in his way will lIn lInThe The league could do good work by showing to the public the corruption which existed in the city government and when the public understood it no official would dare take the position that any law on the statute books should be ignored MR CORUMS ORACULARREMARK J J Corum referred to leagues of a similar nature which had done good work in eastern cities The people had the power and they ought to wield iL There are some men in the city coun s 7 1 1 < t c 2cird LJ I I i cfcL L i STUBBS DECLARES FOR FREE WATER I floor of the building and the elevator did not run after 530 p m so that room was practically unavailable It was finally decided that Mr Hall and Mrs Emmelme Bv Wells be instructed in-structed tomeet the managers of the Womens club and if possible make some arrangement for the use of the club room on the first floor of the city and county building Several members of the club were present who intimated that a satisfactory arrangement could be made Rev Clay one of the committee appointed ap-pointed to labor with Mr Lawrence with a view of inducing that gentleman to accent the presidency of the league reported that Mr Lawrence had been seen and that although he was very much averse to taking the office if mcre time were granted that gentleman gentle-man would probably come to the conclusion con-clusion to accede to the wishes of the members WANT A FINANCIAL STATEMENT A J Orem presented a resolution to the effect that a special committee be appointed to obtain a full and detailed statement of the receipts from all sources and the disbursements of all kinds of the municipality during the I I year 1596 A statement of this kind was thought absolutely indispensable to I I show the corruption and dishonesty which the league asserts permeates every branch of the city government It would also come in handy Rev Clay thought to prove that the saloons and gambling houses cost more to regulate and to deal with crimes incidental to them than the revenues derived from them by the city amounted to If the league was to accomplish anything it must show to the taxpayers that reform re-form would lighten taxation HALL ON FREE WATER L E Hall launched into a discussion discus-sion of the advantages of free water and said to give the citizens free water I I would only add 2 mills to the tax levy J J Corum thought free water was a very nice thing so was free rent free meat free bread free coal and lots of other free things but there was just as much sense in asking that all or any of these be free as in demanding I I demand-ing free water The city owned the waterworks they cost 1500000 and I were worth 3000000 Here Mr Corum was interrupted by a suggestion that the question of free water was not pertinent to the resolution resolu-tion before the house and that both Mr Hall and Mr Corum were out of order The chair sustained the point of order and the prospect Qf a lively discussion dis-cussion was thereby nipped in the bud MR STUBBS WANTS FREE I WATER I No sooner had Mr Corum taken his J < J 0 cil said Mr Corum who ought not to be elected again there are others who ought to be reelected and we ought to find out those who deserve reelection John Stubbs None of them should ever be elected to anything not one I of them CHICAGO IS TRANSFORMED Dr Lockwood read a short paper on the work of the city federation in Chicago Chi-cago which had transformed Chicago the most wicked city in the world into a fairly decent sort of a place The federation had been in existence for four years and by scientific treatment of the social evil had wrought a great improvement in the morals of that city and had worked wonders in a relentless crusade against gamblers It had also rid the city council of the desperate thugs and cutthroats who hitherto formed the majority of its membership SALVATION ARMY WITH THE LEAGUE Captain Egner of the Salvation Army pledged his support and cooperation in the work of reform Other speakers thought it was only necessary to let the people know of the horrible state of affairs which existed and the people would do the rest HENRY W LAWRENCE ACCEPTS Henry W Lawrence in response to a call by the chair said municipal government gov-ernment was just what the people themselves made it The government of a city was like any other business and the public should see that it was conducted on business principles and by honest and capable men The people peo-ple can do so if they will Taxation was increasing and the worse the government gov-ernment the higher the taxation The hulk of the citys revenue at the present pres-ent time went to pay interest and salaries sal-aries Chairman Pardee as Mr Lawrence closed urged him to say something about the presidency of the league and yielding to the importunities of the audience Mr Lawrence said he had seen movements of this kind started again and again without their accomplishing accom-plishing anything because as soon as the officers were selected the members seemed to think that was all that was necessary and took no further Interest In the organization INSISTS ON PRACTICAL WORK He was afraid It would be so in this case and realizing that no good could be done unless the league and its officers of-ficers were backed by the public he was loth to accept the office of president presi-dent If the members would agree to support him in laboring for reform and to control existing evils on practical sensible lines he would go In along with them and work with them to that endThis This announcement was greeted with applause and Mr Lawrence took the chair A collection was taken up to defray the expenses of the frail and blank application forms for membership were distributed among the audience John Stubbs and several others filled up the blanks and handed them in and an adjournment wasrt ken until next Thursday evening at the Womens clubroom club-room in the city and county building 0 |
