East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-05
DES MONIES PLAN
REVIEW OF EXCELLENT
MUNICIPAL REFORMS
Modern Plan of City Government Re-
viewed by Magazine Writer in Able
and Concise Manner-Recall OF
Corrupt Officials One of the Main
Features.

The following article by Sidney j.
Wilson in the National Magazine for
September on the "Des Moines Plan"
of city government will be of much
interest to Pendleton where there Is
much sentiment in favor of municipal
reforms The article is as follows:
The most important, and perhaps
the most startling innovation, is the
safeguard known as the recall, de-
signed for the purpose of placing all
officials within the absolute control
of the people.
Although officials composing gov
erning board are elected for a defi-
mite term of two years, yet, under this
provision of the "Des Moines plan"
their continuation in office is at all
times subject to the will of a majority
of the electors.
The history of practically every city
is disgraced with names of officers
who have proven unmindful of the
trust imposed i'm them, and who could
not be removed before the expiration
| of their term of office. Under this
provision Of the new charter, such
situation could be met by prompt
recall of the offending member.
Recall of Corrupt Officials.
| petition signed by 25 per cent
of the voters, and stating in general
terms charges of incompetency or dis
honesty, would be filed with the city
clerk. The offending or guilty Off
cial would then, without further de-
lay be required to stand for reelection
with any other candidate whom the
people chose to nominate, and the
one receiving the highest number of
votes will be the officer for the re-
mainder of the term.
This recall feature of the law will
undoubtedly have tendency to keep
public officials in the straight and
narrow path of their duty, ever faith
full to the trust of their constituents.
The highest form of democratic gov
ernment is not attained by electing
a multiplicity of city officials, each
official to act as a check upon the
other. but popular liberty is more
certain of attainment where fewer Of
ficials are elected and the proper ia
cilities are made for impressing up
on these officials the popular will and
making them responsible to the whole
people for the execution of that will.
The desirability of having the men,
bership of the governing board made
up of the strongest men of the city
has not been overlooked by the franz
ers of the "Des Moines plan" Not
only have they made the office one
of honor and opportunity attractive tc
the honest and capable of every COM
munity, but they have so changed the
manner of choice that the election Of
this type of men is less difficult, and
the election of politicians without
business ability less possible.
Elections are Non-partisan.
The primary, as well as the elec.
tion, has been made non-partisan, 81
that candidates can no longer depend
for their election upon party affilia
tions, but must go before the people
upon their own merits. Ward line!
have been removed, and with tn,
people voting at large, the evils o.
ward politics are abolished, elector!
, are freer i'm recording their choice o
candidates. and the business man IL
better able to secure his election
without STOPPING to the low practices
of the politician.
The new charter certainly has al
inviting appearance, especially from
the viewpoint of theory, yet it re
mains for the citizens of Des Moine
to demonstrate that its provisions ar,
, as practical in operation as they ar,
, beautiful in theory. Des Moines,
city of 100000, offers a good field II
which to try the plan; she Is enter
, ing upon a most interesting and in
, structive experiment In government
, reform, and the eyes of the American
municipalities are upon her, hopinj
! that the "Des Moines plan" will prov,
a practical system, under which tn
public affairs of our cities can b.
wisely and economically administer
ed.