Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-17
BOISE ALSO IN LINE.

The campaign Lewiston is making |
for q new charter has a parallel in |
the effort that the city Of Boise is put |
ting forth to secure practically the |
same end and the Lewiston plan is
almost identical to the Boise plan.
Both contemplate the abolishing Of
the ward system ana Of the election
Of alderman at large and the creation
of commissioners who will have charge
OF the several departments. In Boise
the matter of dAarter Improvement is
having wide discussion and the Boise
Statesman is voicfng the sentiment of
those who favor the change. The fol-
lowing is an editorial giving well d.
gested review Of the merits Of the pro-
posed changes:
IN amending the city charter with
the view of securing more efficient adj
ninistration, we should aim to eradi-
cate evils Of the present system and
substitute something better, not to
merely change the proportions Of the
evil.
It must be apparent to all that the
ward alderman system is entirely
wrong and menace always TO the
welfare Of the city. 1t leads to I'M
necessary expenditure and often to
favoritism. What we need is to have
the city governed with due regard for
all sections all the time. but under the
alderman method. with the members
elected by wards. this cannot be Sc
cured. since the underlying idea of
that system is that the alderman will
work for his ward, 1t follows that he
will trade with other aldermen and
ahus the council, like a legislature,
win become a og-rolling body. Per-
haps this is not highly developed here
yet, but that is the inevitable tendency
Of such q system.
There is no legislative body COM
rposed of men each representing some
section that does not fall into that
habit 1t is that rule that makes II
-cos, the government millions of dol
lars more than 1t should to improve
rivers and harbors. Each member
voting for bill must be permitted
IN get a share for his state IL there Is
any possible excuse for an appropria-
ton. Thus appropriations are made
for unnecessary projects. while money
needed for others is partly divert
ed and the work dragged out at grea'
length to the detriment of public in
lferests
another vital objection to the ward
ladolduI sslqeus u asul S! WeasA
men to get into the council. That ma!
been true in every city of the CONT
nent. Men who could not secure seat
by general vote are retained yea
afr year because they are unscrupu
lous and always manag to get none
for their respective wards. If the
had to go before the entire people q
the city for election they would enve
get inside the city hall
In Boise we need a small body G
men elected by the votes of all tn
people to take charge of the city's af
fairs just as board of directors TAX
charge of the affairs of corporation
The best government can be secure
by making that body smaller than
proposed by some. by making it elec
tive at large, and by giving it author
ity to go ahead and do the bushes
The idea of appointing commission
to take charge of the business ma
have merit. If it were necessary
retain the old system the plan wou
nave particular merit; but 1t is jul
because the appointment of such
commission seems necessary under OF
existing system that II is desirable
Iaave the system itself changed.
u we establish a small governir
rpoay elected by all the people al
give 1t all needed authority. We Ct
accomplish all purposes. Organic
in the proper manner. such a SIN;
body of representative men would
able to give the needed supervision
the expenditure of the city's rvenu
and, generally attend to all the bus
ness of the CITY.
Able men could be enlisted in su
service whereas IL might and pro
ably would be very difficult to indu
representative men to work on col
emission such as is proposed. It's a
fhority could not be-. complete. a q