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 MUNICIPAL REVIEW, 1908-1909

CLINTON ROGERS WOODRUFF Philadelphia, Pa.

Excepting only Boston, there have been few if any notable municipal events occurring in New England during the past year. True, there has been a steady growth of local sentiment in favor of material improvements, but none of special political significance. Boston, however, furnished several contributions of sufificient moment to offset the lack in the other parts of New England. There was a long-continued and very animated de- bate concerning the recommendations of the Boston Finance Commission resulting in the action to be noted in connection with the charter developments of the year.

The Good Government Association played a conspicuous part in municipal politics. It was successful in electing all of its candidates by very handsome majorities. There were thir- teen places in the board of aldermen to be filled, although each voter was entitled to vote but for seven. The seven men in- dorsed by the association were elected in the first nine places. In other words, there were only two men who received higher votes than the seven candidates advocated by the association, which has also taken a conspicuous part in backing up the recom- mendations of the original Finance Commission and in securing their enactment into law at the hands of the legislature.

Providence is, generally speaking, fairly well governed. A correspondent who has seen much of municipal politics in various parts of the country, claims that Providence has much upon which it may properly felicitate itself. For instance, it has not had a liquor dealer in the city council for many years. This may be due to the restricted franchise, only taxpayers having a vote for members of the council. Although there has been more or less petty graft, mostly in connection with the awarding of city contracts, there has been no gross corruption. A board of

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