Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-29

A
1 While for the most part the changes
! wrought by the new commission have
not been spectacular. they haye been
along the detailed lines where most
needed. Little savings here and there
have been accomplished, while the
Increase of municipal improvements.
suca as paved streets. extention of
lights and water mains, replacing of
old sidewalks and other matters
which comes directly home to the tax
payer, has been phenomenal.
Best OF all, the Des Moines plan per
mits one to locate responsibility. II
the residents want TO make a comp
laint or a request. he knows just whore
to go TO do it, Under the aldermanle
system, he went first TO the alderman
| OF his ward; then he was sent else
| where TO a member OF the board of
public works or the city engineer, and
/ from him TO another and thus it went
mo responsibility, no satisfaction.
Nowadays he walks into the city
hall. and without difficulty finds the
man he wants. He has easy access
to the superintendent, and lays his
troubles before him. If the superin-
tendent fails to do as he promises,
the citizen knows exactly Where 10
lay the blame.
The abolition of the ward lines nas
also proven a great municipal bene-
mt. The oidfasbioned ward jobbing
has gone into history Where former
ly one alderman would trade on his
influence to another one In exchange
for favors, now the superintendent OF
4
entitled to, and does 1t, considering
the entire city. There is no place for
combinations and conspiracies, ana
consequently no complaints that any
set of men control the city council,
such as is too often apparent under
the old ward system.
So much for the general benefits.
which the city has received under the
new Des Moines plan. To specify
more in detail Just what eacn commits
sioner or councilman, as he is called.
has accomplished is a more difficult
task
Without doubt the most noticeable
change accomplished is in the depart
ment of public safety, including, OF
course, the police department.
John l.. Hamery, superintendent or
this department, had scarcely entered
his Office, before he placed the police
under military discipline The men
were put to work drilling, under skill
full drillmasters, Who had seen actual
army service. New uniforms were
put upon the men; the old slovenly
manner in which beats were covered
was eradicated.
Then Mr. Hamery established
night school, to which all policemen
were forced to go. The men were Civ
en- sort talks upon police duties, city
ordinances, state statutes, and along
such lines as would be of greatest
benefit. Police and firemen had al
ready been chosen by civil service.
and in this the new law made no
changes.
Mr.. Hamery's next reform was to
cut out the slot machines from the
cigar stores. He then declared war on
speeding automobiles, and for these
two crusades. the first attempted use
of the right of recall was invoked. By
the right of recall, as provided in the
Des Moines plan, a commissioner wno
fails to do as the people wish, may be
forced to call a special elect on. Then
if the majority vote to GUST him, out
he goes. The attempt of the cigar
men and the automobilists to GUST
Hamery was never put to the test,
but died a natural death before the
election was called.
Mr.. Hamery's latest and most sen
sational exploit was the eradication o.
the red-light district He closed ey-
cry resort in the city, and placed evil
dence before the grand jury, which
showed a sensational white slave traf
fic, and resulted in three indictments.
The result of this crusade upon the re-
sorts is being awaited with much in
terest, the women's clubs and auxin-
aries having joined in the fight.
Other reforms have been wrought
in the police department. but these
/ are the police department. but these
stand out most prominently.
Superintendent Charles Scnrsmm,