Assemble To Learn

In a few weeks the League of Ameriloan Municipclities will hold its annual meeting in Detroit. We mention this because it is quite possible that a part of our city government, if not all, will be glad to grasp the opportunity to learn something about running a progiesive city. It must have occurred to some of the older men in the council huw ancient and useless our city charter is. It Is n:i more than a guide te ward politics of the worst kind. The idea. of having ward funds. That an alderman must be a sidewalk inspector or that be must govern over nis own Httle ward like a lord under a king, is fast passing into history. The tendency of the times is to concéntrate the power and all authority in all municipal governir.cnts. The council is more cf a legislative body and the mayor the executive. This necessitates that the mayor shall in most cases make his own appointments without having them cunfirmed by the council. In this way the responsibility rests in one place and not among a crowd of politicians who trade votes so as to satisfy the want of some constituent. Municipal government is a study by itself and no layiv.an can feel that t kr.f . ws much about the subject until he has given it his time and study. one of the principal studies in the l'niversitles, and a tojjic whieh is enexhaustives in the magazines. lf the council will attend the meeting in Detroit, there is no doubt but what they could vote the city's money to pay their expenses, just as Aid. Van Fossen's bill was allowed last Monday night for his expensrs to Ann Arbor and Detroit while looking up the paving question. If Ihe aldermen do go, there is no question but what the charter of Ypsilanti wiil be changed at the next meeting' -of the legislature so as to conform with those of some of hei wide-awake sister cities. At the meeting in Detroit there will be several thousand city oSicials, who will come to learn, hear papers read upon different subjects and poat thems ir. various ways on how to run a first-class city.