The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-27
The Way it Works In iowa.

Over in Iowa the law requires the elcc-
ton of city marshals and the result 10
cities like Davenport, Dubuque and Coun-
Gil Bluffs, has been everything but salts
factory. So strong has become the senti'
ment against electing city marshals that q
bill is before the legislature of that state,
making it optional with city councils to
appoint if desired. and the Dubuque
Herald. commenting on the bill eays:-
This bill should pass. If it does it will
afford the city council of Dubuque an OPP.
portuuity to elect marshal who will be
one in fact as we'll as 10 name. The mar
shal of this city is charged with the execu-
ton of most of the ordinances. 1t is his
duty to see that they are vigorously en-
forced. yet the fact is notorious that in a
long series of years no marshal has ever
performed his full duty in this respect.
The season is that our marshals have been
elective by the people. that almost every
candidate to success himself. and that
rather than ieopardize his chance Of fu>
ture success at the polls by enforcing the
ordinances against certain individuals or
classes, he has resolutely shut his eyes to
20 uncorrected. No marshal who per-
forms his duty impsrtially and with strict
regard for the letter and spirit of the or
dinances, can ever hope to become popular
and it is because of this fact that none Of
our marshals who have been ambitious of
political preterment have ever enforced
the ordinances as they should. To correct
this evil the election of marshals BY popu-
lar vote should be abolished, aud as the
above bill opens way for its adjustment
we favor its immediate passage. 1t the
marshal is chosen by the council he will
no; be compelled to favor this, that or the
other mau for the sake of retaining friend
ship and votes. He can 20 straight ahead
performing his duty and owing no respon-
sibility to any one save those who appoint
hin. The better he performs his duties
the more generally and heartily he will be
despised by the public and the more GER
tain will become his chances for reappoint-
ment. The legislature should pass the bill
by all means, and incidentally provide Du-
buquers with the phenomenon of a mar
shall Who dares to live up to the require
ments OF his oath. and who, If he fails of
duty. will have his official head severed
without ceremony"
TINS is about as clear showing as could
be desired of how the change would work
if adopted here, for what is true Of Du-
buaue, Council Bluffs or Davenport, is
equally applicable to Rock Island. The
same influences which govern the political
machine in Iowa would be potent here, and
the office Of city marshal be degraded into
E1achine dummy, if the same were made
elective instead OF appointive. What is
true Of tho marshal is as potent with the
other subordinate city officers ard shows
clearly that they should be appointive and
not elective officers: So long as they re-
main appointive SO loux will they be rigidIy
careful. bat once the political machine is
the power behind the throne, when the
caucus steps in between the people, their
independence will cease. Keep the mar
shall and other officers not mandatorily
elective, under control of the mayor and
COUNCIL that any overt act, or inatteution
to duty can be summary checked, and
the iaoom potent official at once dismissed.
La this way only eau the independence and
efficiency of rhe city officers be maintained.