Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-14
CHARTER SUGGESTIONS


IT N view Of pending charter reform in
Los Angeles it is timely to review
= the so-called Des Moines, Iowa,
plan, newly installed in that graft
ridden and hopelessly corrupt munich
'pality, as the result of an awakening of
public opinion through continued evil
doing on the part of bosses.
The most salient feature is the CEN
tralization of power in five men who
are made responsible to the public for
their acts. They are elected without
regard to wards, districts or other
limits and are held in control by the
people who have the right to initiate
any desired ordinance on petition by %
per cent of the voters, and who may
demand a referendum upon any act
passed by the council by petition of a
like percentage. The recall is an addi-
tional guard in this plan.
Describing the conditions of things
which exist in Des Moines, a recent
writer in the New York Herald says:
Many of the best people had been so
engrossed with business or so pharisai-
cal in their attitude of superiority to-
ward everything savoring of politics
that they had given over the business
of government to the professional poll
ticians, the ward leaders and the vari-
Gus elements which are always found
leagued with the interests of the fran
chise public service corporations This
partnership of politics, pelf, privilege
and pharisaism with the whole vicious
section of the community year after
year proved itself too strong for the
better element. Things finally reached
such pass that after years of struggle
the reform element secured the neces-
sary enabling legislation to permit the
confirming of a charter for Des Moines,
which is the most democratic ever
known.
The Oakland Enquirer, summing UP
the method, says:
The five commissioners under this
charter are empowered to appoint all
subordinate officials, direct every de-
partment, to levy and collect all taxes,
to direct all expenditures, make all con-
tracts, administer the fire, police and
other departments. A comprehensive
scheme of civil service is, however
made part of the system so that COM
paratively the patronage is reduced to
a minimum. The commissioners will
receive $4,000 each per annum, except the
mayor, who is paid $4,000.
An elaborate system Of publicity is
provided through reports of the COM
mission in addition to the requirements
that all business shall be done in open
session of the commission. The initia-
tive provision of the charter assures
that the city's administration shall re-
spond to public sentiment Any desired
ordinance may be submitted, with the
request for its passage; thereupon the
council must pass the ordinance with
out alterations within twenty days OF
a special election shall be called within
ninety days at which the people shall
vote whether the ordinance shall be ac-
cepted or rejected. If the majority
favors it. it forthwith becomes a law
The plan of enforcing responsibility
goes still further by providing that nc
ordinance passed by the commission
shall go into effect until ten days after
passage. Within that period the filing
of a 25 per cent petition protesting
against It serves to suspend the ef-
fectiveness of the ordinance pending ar
election by the people which the COM
mission must call to determine whether
the ordinance shall be approved or re-
jected rejection by popular vote nulli'
flying the ordinance.
The Des Moines plan further requires
that all franchises after being passed by
the commission shall be submitted tt
the voters for approval, and no fran
chise shall become effective until i
shall have received a majority vote.
The right of recall provides that II
case Of public dissatisfaction with the
act of any of the commissioners upoI
petition of 25 per cent vote cast at tn,
preceding municipal election, demand
ing the election of successor, it shall
be mandatory upon the commission t.
call an election at which the voter
shall pass upon the proposition to re
move the offending commissioner ant
substituting another for him. The in
cumbent against whom the recall is in
voted may be candidate to succeed him
self, and unless he recalls otherwise hi
name shall be placed on the ballot to
gether with other candidates. The can
didates receiving the highest vote shal
be declared elected, and If some othe
person than the incumbent receives tn
highest vote the incumbent shall there
upon be removed; If the incumbent re
ceive the highest number of votes h
shall continue in office
AS a safeguard against party politics
bossism this plan elects mayor fror
any number of names placed on tn
ticket by request of twenty-five voter
ten days before the primary. The coun
cllmen are arranged and elected in lilz
manner The mayor is a general man
ager for the people, and the plan is be
lieved to have secured responsibility
efficiency and true democracy in cit
government.
If you are not too busy you Nigh