The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-17


Moines' on the operations OF the Des
Moines plan. In this letter Mr. Beck
man describes the plan, and shows how
the officials are elected. Evidently the
neople of Tacoma are taking great in
terest:, in this series of letters. The
News has received a number of inquir-
les regarding them, and several import
ant questions have been asked regard
ing specific features of the system
These questions will be submitted to
Mr.. Beckman, and the replies will be
embodied in some of the future letters.
Simplicity, and fixed, definite re-
sponsibility for honest and efficient adj
ministration of the city's atfairs-these
were the essential purposes of the man
Who drafted the Des Moines plan
The salient features of the new sys-
tenn of government which was thus
prepared are as follows:
lit provides for commission or
or council of five men to whom is given
all power of government and upon
whom is fastened full responsibility for
the proper exercise of that power.
1T provides that these five men
shall be nominated and elected through
the operation of a non partisan pri-
mary, and that they shall be chosen by
all the people of the city, and not by
wards and other districts.
st provides for civil service and
the appointment OF all subordinate Of
fcials and employees possible on basis
Of fitness and not political pull
Alt provides the right of recall and
given to the people the initiative and
referendum.
The creation OF a commission OF five
men with full power to govern the city
was recognition of fact which every
body accepted-that the chief defect OF
the old system of government lay in its
Lace Of a single, responsible admins
tering body, and its failure to rec
ognize that a modern city is more like
Q great business corporation than
political organization. Under the old
system, responsibility for clean and ef-
fclent government was so hopelessly
scattered among numerous independent
officials and boards that nobody felt
really responsible. Moreover. b
city's work of public improvements,
protecting property ard life, safeguard
ing health, collecting taxes and dis
bursting them, granting franchise and
special privileges, was not treated ike
matter Of business, but altogether like
like matter of politics. The trainers
Of the new system were convinced OF
the truth Of Seth Lows statement:
Americans are only now learning
after many years of bitter experience
that cities are not so much little states
IS large corporations. Many of the
mistakes which have marked the pro
gress OF American cities up to this
point have sprung from that defective
conception.
NO POLITICAL INTERVENTION.
So under the Des Moines plan the
people elect five men to govern that
city without the intervention of politi-
cal parties and say to them: Here is
the business Of the city and all power
to do 1t. Do it. We will pay you
salary so you can afford to give your
whole time to the work Stay on the
JOB. The whole matter is up to you
and you will be held responsible for it. "
There are no other elective officers
besides these five cOuncilmen or COM
missioners, one of whom is elected
as mayor. The treasurer, auditor, city
solicitor, city assessor marketmaster,
city engineer, police Judge, and other
omcials once elected, are now appoint
60 by the commission, aud subject to
removal by it, as are all the old APP
polntive officials. The board of public
works and the board of park commits
Aoners are abolished, and the board OF
library trustees is made a creature OF
tne commission. The new commission
resembles nothing else so much as a
BOARD OF directors of great business
institution, with full power to act upon
every matter of business likely to arise
Asawhole, the commission combines
executive, legislative and judicial pow
ers' For the convenience of admins
Matlon, the work of government is
u'Veo into five departments or bureaus,
escn IN charge of one member of the
commission. These departments are
are as follows:
FIVE DEPARTMENTS.
. department of public affairs.
a. Departments of accounts and
finances.
department of public safety.