Show In Behalf of Better Government LAST week an important me meeting ting was held at Logan Logan important important not so much because of what actually took place there although that was important enough but important chiefly because hundreds of men and women were gathered together there because of their common interest in better government That after all is the fundamental purpose of the Utah Municipal league which held its annual convention at Logan last Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day Friday and Saturday It is an organization tion of the municipal officials of Utah established established established in order to facilitate the exchange of information information in in- formation and experience the circulation of technical data and new ideas and to secure the coop cooperation ration of all the municipalities of Utah in order that local government in this state shall be more efficient nt Robert H. H Hinckley Utahn who was recently named assistant secretary of commerce sent senta a telegram expressing regret that he was unable to attend the convention congratulated the league on its work and commented Good government begins at home If that is true then certainly Utah ought ought- to be well on the way to having good government government gov gov- government from the tM highest to the lowest office in the state for the Utah Municipal league has already accomplished much in the interests of good government in our cities and will accomplish accomplish accomplish still more as it carries on with its pro pro- gram It is impossible to enumerate all the work the league has done toward the end of better government It has h held ld educational schools for newly elected city officials to acquaint th them m with their duties and powers It has promoted the establishment of sound uniform acc accounting sy systems in smaller cities and held schools for training finance officers of these cities It has organized a municipal waterworks waterworks waterworks water water- works and sanitation section to get the latest and best information on direction of these important important important im im- im- im city services to city officials It has helped these local units of government on a hundred and one municipal problems which otherwise they would have had to solve by bythe bythe bythe the c costly trial and error method Right now the league is concentrating on two very important matters affe affecting ting the nation nation nation na na- na- na tion and the state Of first importance and the theme of the 1940 convention is city cooperation cooperation co co- co operation with the national defense program Second is municipal cooperation with the state traffic safety program Mark Anderson mayor of Provo and president president president dent of the league stressed the national defense defense de de- theme in his opening address It was likewise the subject of C. C W. W Shelley president of the League of California Cities chief speaker speak speak- er at the convention Mayor Anderson stressed the need for willing willIng will will- Ing sacrifice by individuals as well as communities communities communities com com- in the interest of national defense He said a reduction of federal aid to local governments governments gov gov- can be expected as a result of demands demands de de- de mands on the federal treasury for ment Cooperation in the defense program in inthe inthe inthe the construction of airports and in W P A projects projects projects tying in with defense needs was also stressed Certainly there are many ways in which municipalities can strengthen the defense pro pro- gram The urgent need for local government economy to offset the drain on the nations nation's finances for rearmament is of the greatest importance We must concentrate our energies energies energies ener ener- gies our productive capacity and our financial capacity on national defense and if we are to todo todo todo do that it is essential that local governments curtail all unnecessary spending during the emergency Another important phase of cooperation cooperation co co- co operation is in bolstering national morale and unity Local governmental officials must be truly American encouraging a spirit of patriotism patriotism pa pa- and sacrifice and opposing all sub subversive influences or sabotage activities The league is proving of valuable assistance in the states state's traffic safety program It is encouraging encouraging encouraging en en- cooperation of local officials and peace officers and urging the adoption of uniform uniform uni uni- form traffic laws and regulations throughout the state The fact that this program is getting results was proved in the interest shown by officials attending the convention in ina ina ina a traffic safety picture shown by Herbert B. B Simpson executive secretary of the Utah Traffic Traffic fic fIe Safety council and in a round table conference conference con con- ference on traffic safety held under the direction direction direction tion of Commissioner John B. B Matheson of ot Salt Lake City who incidentally was elected president of the league at the convention The league is doing a splendid work Almost Almost Almost Al Al- most every municipality In the state belongs and most of them were represented at the convention convention convention con con- with almost persons registered and attending the various sessions That attendance attendance at at- attendance and the interest shown is a tribute to the league its officers and directors and to its executive secretary Tom McCoy The Telegram congratulates them all on their fine accomplishments |