Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-24
Some Agitation For a Law
Making Creating Commits
sion Instead of Council
CIVIC LEAGUE FAvoRs
Des Moines Organization Would Have
the Change Made, But Many Favor
Elective Instead Of An Appointive
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Some
Cities Where 1t Has Bsen Tried.

Des Moines, Oct. 2i.-RequeSt for
Iowa cities to be governed by a COM
mission, instead of CITY council, VIII
probably be presented to the general
assembly during the coming session.
The visit of James G. Berryhi,l to dali
weston, Tex, and the attitude which
the Des Moines Civic league is taking
upon the matters are factors in the
we'll substantiated rumors which have
been put atloat.
The Civic league which has been ac-
tive in Des Moines is said to favor the
passage of laws which make 1t pos
sibe to rule cities by commission.
The commission which will be sug-
gested to the state legislature is one
elected by the people and not appoint
ed by the governor Of the state as in
the case of the Galveston adaninistra-
ton.
For some time 1t has been known
that the Civic league favored a radical
change in the administration of Des
Moines. The present system has re-
ceived many aspersions on the part of
the members of the league because 1t
provides no means of check upon the
members of the council and other city
officials. The commission system is
now being investigated for the express
purpose of discovering whether 1t will
fill the needs of a northern progress
sive city like the capital city of Iowa.
"Home Rule" Says Macvicar.
"The successful city government is
home rule" saidEx- Mayor John Mac
Vicar yesterday, the secretary of the
American, League Of Municipalities
ad one of the best posted men on mu-
nicipal affairs in the country. "A COM
mission will be successful If it has the
right men and they are elected by the
state appoint the municipal commits
cipal politics would at once be-
come a part of the state machine. just
what we do not want it to become"
Philadelphia and st. Louis both are
cities where the governor of the state
once exercised control over the APP
pointment of the administration. These
two places are pointed out by support
ers OF the elective commission as ex
amples where the state control of mu-
inequalities is not a success.
The report which James G. Berry
hill will make on his return on the
condition of Galveston, is being antici-
pa,ted with much interest. His find
ings there will be of extreme import
ance and will undoubtedly have much
to do with the formulation of the re-
quests which will probably be made
of the general assembly.
Memphis is Cited.
There is but one other city in the
country besides Galveston which now
has system of commission admins
tation and that is Memphis, Tenn,
There it is reported that the conditions
are almost ideal and the public is
more than satisfied with the result Of
the change from the old form of gov
eminent, that of a city council, a
mayor and a lot of important and pet
ty offices.
While no official action has been
taken by the Civic league concerning
suggestions for the change in the
forms of city government for Des
Moines, the matter has been discussed
in a general way Mr. Berryhill is a
member of the league and has been an
important factor in its deliberations.
His report is expected to start things
and if the matter comes to a head suf-
ficently early to cause a campaign for
legislation to be started it is conceded
that the Civic league will take an inn
portant part in the demand for more
legislation on municipal subjects.