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MUNICIPAL
~AR
SERVICE
RESOLUTIONS
{Adopted by the Unanimous vote of the Executive Committee
League of Kansas Mmlicipalities, January 17, 1918.
2/12/18
X-716
\.'HERE.AS, The supreme need of the time is the concentration of the
energies of
.
a~ru
individuals, organizations, and units of government upon
Wdrk necessary for the winning of the war; and
IIHERFLS, It is the desire and determination of the municipn.l
aut~lor].ties
and citizens of the cities and towns of Kansas to aid in every pC'sr>5 b.le rnr.nmer in the c ondua~ and success of this struggle for the honor a11.d.
our Natl on
a!ld our
allies~
r:af8t~t
(Jf
and for l:umanity and democtacy; and
WHEREAS, Jt is desirable that a statement of groper war-time pclic.f
for the municlpalities of Kansas be formulated and submitted on beh:3.l:'
o:
the organized citles a11d towns of the state, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED .T3Y THE EX:ZCUT IVE COMMITTEE OF THE L&.GUE OF
:K.~ NGA~
MUNICIPALITIES:
RECOMMEND~",.TION
1.
That it is recommended that during the period
of the war each and every city government in this state shall
under~ake
only eucb. paving nn.d other :improvement work as may be actually nccA.Ssary
to be undertaken at this time; therehu releasmng men and money for the
service of the National gove~eht.
lt i~ understood th~t adequate local pub!in
utility sei'vice must be zmintalned and that to that end the municipal
operation 3lld ownership of any privately owned public utility may be or
become a matter of vital public need and necessity.
RECQMl\flEND.-..TION 2.
Municipalities should make themse:i.ver. efficiP.nt
agencies of -publicity and education in matters relating to
~he
war and
war problems; and should set a good example to their citizens, as :for
example in the purchase of Liuerty Bonds for sinking funds.
- 2 -
RECOMMEND.u.TION 3.
Cities should :place at the Nation's service
such municipal property and such time and energy of their officers and
..
employees as may be utilized vrlthout detriment to the safety and welfare
of the city.
RECOMMI.lifD.'..TION 4.
Municipalities of size should organize and train
their police and fire departments for
render all
po~si ble
·emergency riot service; should
and proper ai.d to the home guard companies; l:}nd
should cooperate loyally and efficiently with the federal authorities
for the discovery and suppression of sedition, treason, incendiarism
amd sabotage. A vigorous and just enforcement of the law,
~entive
ot arime and disorder,,
is
a duty of the utmost
a~
a pre-
importana~ in~
cllinbent upon the tesponsible city au~horities•
RECOMMEND.~TION 5.
Cities should strictl~ observe the principles
of efficiency, rationdl ecor.omy and the elimination of waste, tl1rou:Jh
the
~erfecting
of their organizations, the constant study and improve-
man.t of municipal methods., and the utilization of community wastes such
as garbage and paper, in such manner as may be possible and practicable
under local conditions.
RECOMMENDA.TION 6.
For any family or person within the borders of
a city to suffer unjustly from want of fuel or ;rood is a disgrace to
that connnunity and its municipal government ..
We eommend the initiative and efforts of the
city of Lawrence in establishing an emergency municipal wood yard, supplying families of that city with wood for fuel, when coal was unobtainable, and furnishing and delivering such fuel at reasonable prices based
•
X·~yt
16
- :3 -
not on the privateering principle of all that could be obtained, but
upon cost; and we cornrrend this example to the cities throughout the
state ..
It is earnestly to be hoped the next legislature cf
l{ansas wi 11 see fit to grant to the cities of this state the legal
authority and financial power to establish municipal fu8l ya.rds for th3
sale of coal and wood to citizens, and likewise to p3rmit cities to
establish municipal ice plants for the
·
~e fur~er
ben~fit
;of their peopleo
suggest to interested cities and
citizen~
the advisability of their pubUcly questioning all candidates for
governor of Kansas and d£ ali candldates for the leglsla tu-re, as to the
stand of all such candtdates
on the question 'df r:e rr:tJ.itting ci'Gies to
estabiish municipal fuel ya:tds, ice plAnts and ~rkets fer the 'benefit
of their people ..
RECO:MMI:ND.'>.TION 7.
MunicipaHties must now put forth unusual efforts
to protect the public healtl:.
Efficient local health departments should
be supported loyally by 0ities and citizens.
Inefficient health officers
should be relieved of their duties, and through a reorganization of their
departments the public be better
protected against disease. Increased
attention to child hygiene and welfare is also undoubtedly a vital
necessity; and municipalities should h8artily cooperate with
an~
support'
the work of the state board of health in this service.
RECOMMENDATION 8.
The production and conservation of food being
essential to victory in the wa;r,we recommend as touching our obligations
_L
X-716
. "
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and opportunities in this connection:
{l)
..
That the cities and city officers lead wnoleheartedly in the
campaign for war gardens and vacant lot cultivation. Cities
should throw open to cultivation all available unused land
owned by them, and should either rent other vacant lots for
the purpose or lend their support
obtain the donation of
the use of such land by their owners.
to
( 2)
The looal authorities should aid in seeing that the ground
is plowed. If necessary, hiring the plowing and harrowing of
lands '~ich could not otherwise be gotten ready for cultivation.
( 3)
Seeds should be supplied at oost or less, and water for
garden use should be supplied by the city at very low rates.
( 4)
Expert advice and demonstrations should be provided to aid
first-gardeners in carrying out their good intentions.
Municipalities Should aid in the enforcement of food control
orders and requests of the federal government. For this purpose the c.i ties may· well stretch to the limit every power
tbey possess. In the same manner,
( 6)
It is the duty of the cities to see that there is no suffering of families for want of food. Municipal food kitchens
ma.y become necessary in Kansas cities as they have in the
land of our ally whose navy is one of our greatest protections.
We would, however, especially recommend to city officials
earnest consideration of the establishment of munidpal markets;
and of the purchase of needed staple articles of food, in
quantities, for sale to their people. Especial credit and.
distinction will come to those cities which work out this
problem intelligently and courageously.
REOOMMEND~ . . TION
9.
It is recommended t.llat for thd purpose of co-
ordina.ting the patriotic work of individuals, societies and organiza·.
tiona in the various cities of Kansas, the municipalities arrange for
ei ty war committees or war councils. in which the patriotic agencies
.referred to may be directly or indirectly represented. and through
which their e:fforts may 'Qe coordinated ;a.nd unified in the service of
the Nation •
•
- 5-
.....
It is recommended that this suggestion first be su11-
mitted to Hon.
1~rthur
Capper, Governor of Kansas, and if the same meets
with his approval he be requested to issue a statement urging the mayors
of
•
the
various cities of the state to proceed with the appointment of
city war committees or war councils •
RESOLVED,
Tha. t we a:pprove the Bdys • \V'Orkirtg Reserve
plaxis of the
federal government and urge all city officers in Kansas to cooperate
with the federal state <iirector of this work, Mr.
w.
L .. Porter, Commis-
sioher, Topeka.
RESOLVED,
Tbat we heartily approve the action of the President
of the United States in taking over the control and operation of the
J&il~&J'~Of
}~
urge'the
the Nation, under the act of August 29, 1916;
Repreea~t$tives
and we earnest-
and United States Senators of Kansas in
CotJg;ress to provide by legislation that goverrumnt operation of the
railroads shall continue until changed by act of Congress ..
RESOLVED,
That free labor employ.xe.l:lt service should be established
in the cities of the state, and th.a.t we recommend that such service be
established by the munidpa.lities.
R!CHXRD J. HOPKINS
CR:i.S. E. B.'J-TKER
\.'. L. PORTER
J. L .. MORRISON
P. :!:.- \?ALL
HOMER TALBOT
••
@FedFRASER