Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-13

be protected and encouraged, neverthe-
less the country and the poultry farm
is the right place for her activities, and
not the city garden, lawn or flower bed.
An ordinance should be passed in ev-
cry municipality making 1t misde-
meanor for any person to allow a
chicken or any animal owned or con-
trolled by them to run at large within
the corporation limits.
Centralized Power.
There is a growing belief among
thinking officials that the responsible
ity for municipal policies should be
more centralized, that the mayor should
be given more power, and that he
should then be held strictly account
able for the defects Of administration.
The city council should be made the
legislative body and the mayor should
have absolute control over the enforce
ment Of the laws. Many believe that
better results would be secured If the
term of the mayor was changed to four
years, with a provision that he would
not be eligible for immediate re-elec-
! ton. Under our present plan, mayor
is no sooner elected than he almost OF
/ necessity, decides many of his actions
with the view of the effect they will
have on his reelection. Many of the
abuses allowed are the result of this
feeling. If he were not eligible for I'M
mediate reelection he would decide all
questions for what he considered the
best interests of the citizens. My eX-
perience is that every official naturally
desires to give the very best admins
tration possible and that where bad
decisions are reached it is usually the
result Of political expediency.
City Officers.
Under the present law the treasurer,
assessor and attorney are elected by
popular vote. The duties of these Of
! ficials are in no sense political, neither
are they subject to alteration In order
to carry out some policy decided by the
voters. Their duties are absolutely
fixed and they should be absolutely
free from political influence. There Is
hardly mayor or councilman IN the
state who has not at some time or an
| other found incompetent men elected
to these positions. Where thoroughly
| competent men are elected, 1t quite Oft
en- happens that they let policies die
tate their decisions and actions. They
should be absolutely free from political
pressure. If these officials were APP
pointed by the mayor, subject to the
approval Of the council, it would result
in more competent officials. and more
| independent action. 1t would result IN
llonger terms of office for competent
| officials, as every mayor would want
competent help. 1t would also do away
with that greatest evil of our present
system, an assessment for taxation
made for political purposes
| Another change that many believe
would result in much good is in re-
ducing the number of councilmen. AT
present we have too many, the re-
sponsibility IL too scattered. Three or
four councilmen held strictly account
able and receiving salaries that would
Justify them in giving their time to
the public service would result in
vast improvement. The old saying,
.,roo many cooks spoil the BROTH" was
never so true as in connection with
municipal affairs.
Public Utilities.
The present plan in cities Of the sec
ond class Of having the public utili-
ties under control of the council is
wrong. The board of trustees pro-
vitled for in cities of the first class,
results in better service and more con-
secutive policies. At present what one
council builds up the next tears down.
This is not so with board of three
trustees appointed for six years, one
going out each two years. The law
should be changed and cities of the
second class should be given the board
Of trustees to manage their public
utilities.
The work Of the league during the
past year has greatly increased and
has been appreciated by municipal
officials.
The League.
Every municipal official attending
this convention should, if he is sat
isfied that the league is worthy. make
himself a committee to secure new
members. If we would all tell of the
work of the league whenever the occa-
sion presents itself, many a munici-
rality that has never been identified
with the movement would become an
active member and add greatly to the
influence and value of our organiza-
tion.
The appropriation asked by the
league of the last legislature met with
Il friendly reception by all those who
Investigated the subject carefully, but
the idea was a new one and while
recommended by both the municipal
corporations and appropriations COM
mittees in the house, it failed from
passage largely because 1t was not
fully understood. With a more gen.
eral knowledge Of the facts the bill:
should pass next winter with little or
no opposition.
In this connection it is interesting to
note that the legislature is liberal to
private or semi-private organizations
working to improve conditions in the
state, making appropriations to differ
ent objects, some Of which are not one
hundredth part as important to over
one-half the people in the state as is
the work of this league.
These appropriations are worthy