The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-08-03
ar reforms or changes in policy. The

lar reforms or changes in policy. The
commissioners are a law unto them
selves, within the broad lines of the
federal statutes, and do as they please.
The president is the only person who
can call them officially to account, and
he is so busy with weightier matters
that it is exceedingly difficult to reach
him. On the whole, however, the
commissioner form of government, as
it is exemplified in this city, is not
bad. Whether it would bring as good
results in the Philippines is a ques
ton which cannot be answered at this
time. Some one has wisely said that
the ideal form of government is the
despotic form, provided proper care
is taken in the selection of the despot.
That statement proves true to Wash
ington. The president is always care
full to appoint persons to the Office OF
commissioner who are strongly in
dorsed by the people, and whose repu-
tations are guarantee of their will
lingness and ability properly to per-
form the duties of the responsible
trust. And besides, the president is
always here, and congress is here one
half of the time. A commissioner of
the District of Columbia would find
the way very rough and rugged If he
were to attempt any serious Interior
ence with the rights and privileges
of the people.
On the whole the commissioner
form of government works very we'll
here. It is highly satisfactory from
the point of view of the weightier mat
ter with which every municipality has
to deal. Expenses are held down, all
money set aside for public improve
ments is honestly and intelligently ex-
pended, the law is enforced without
fear or favor, and the city is policed to
perfection. What complaint there is
arises from the fact that some of these
things are rather overdone at times
than otherwise. The police regula-
tions, in small type, would fill a big
book; there is too much red tape
everywhere, and in the little matters
Of every day occurrence, the average
citizen, in his contact with the city
authorities, is subjected to petty an
noyances of various sorts for which
he sees no need. AS one comes to bet
ter understand the technical and
sometimes absurd police rules, and the
regulations which are insisted upon in
the office of the city engineer, these
are merely sample departments, illus
trative of the general policy-he is re-
minded of the figure which is cut by a
magnificent railroad engine as 1t tries
to go up grade on slippery rails with
no sand in it's box There is consider
able progress; the engine is going on.
ward, perhaps, at the rate of ten miles
an hour, but it's wheels are revolving
at the rate of sixty. It is so in
Washington. These are not legitimate
matters of serious criticism, however
and are offered only to indicate to
what lengths in the multiplication Of
regulations" people will go who are
in office for an indeterminate period
and are unrestrained by aldermanit
threats and the fear of a political up
heaval.
How such a form of government
would operate in Manila nobody cal
tell It is favored for that city be
cause of the heterogeneous and unevel
character of its population. The sui
, frage could hardly be sufficiently re
stricted, it is said, to insure satisfac
tory results at the polls, while an.
form of restriction would provoke ur
: ending criticism. It would be an in
} teresting problem for the student Q
municipal government to have tn
, Washington experiment tried at MI
Mia. If it were to work we'll there
: under the numerous and obvious di
!, advantages it would encounter,
would probably work we'll anywher
:. in the world. A successful trial in tn
- Philippines might lead the intelliger
Thought of this country in the directio
of governing all the larger cities al
tocratically, as remedy for the eve
n increasing corruption and extrav'
n gance which have seemingly come
p. stay wherever the municipal budget
are large enough to amount to
strong temptation to the evil dispose