ALATE UNIVERSIT ROCEEDINGS OF THE PR CHICAGO CONFERENCE FOR GOOD CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE Held April 27, 28 and 29, 1904 CLINTON ROGERS WOODRUFF, EDITOR PHILADELPHIA NATIONAL MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 140. 750 PREFACE The present volume of Proceedings adds materially to the sum total of the League's information and literature on the various phases of the municipal problem. The several papers on the subject of uniform municipal accounting and statistics show not only the extent to which the League's schedules and work in this field have been availed of; and the experiences incident to their actual installation; but extend the careful consideration that has been given to this most important subject and prepare the ground for a volume, similar to "The Municipal Program," which will be at once a guide-book and a manual for all engaged in the study or administration of municipal affairs. The review of "The Municipal Program" by Dr. Wilcox shows how useful that volume has been and how widely used. With each passing year the appreciation of its value increases, and this is true of each line of work which the League has taken up and furnishes the strongest argument for its continued support. There are many things of a spectacular character which might be taken up and a more brilliant though brief notoriety achieved, but the League has always preferred to build solidly and for the future. It is, therefore, both pleasing and encouraging to be able to record the fact that there is a growing appreciation of the substantial character of its contributions to the cause of municipal development and progress. The series of papers on the always present and always pressing question of nomination reform constitutes a striking addition to the discussion of this subject. The papers are fundamental, striking at the very roots of the difficulty. There (iii) |