Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-20
COMMISSION Plan
PROVES ITS WORTH
Citizens of Des Moines Endorse
it After Sew i'al Months
of Trial
REFORMS HAVE BEEN SECURED
Actual Saving in vaious Departments
Made-Machine Politics Given a
Death Blow and Ward "Heeler" Has
Disappeared for All Time-Respons-
Utility Fixed.
Special to r,me.-Hepuplican.

Special to Times-Repuplican.
Des Moines, Noy. 2O.-No ward lines
nor ward heelers, improved streets,
sidewalks, and lights. reduced water
and electric light rates, all city funds
drawing interest, the city on business
basis-this in nutshell is Des Moines
after more than half year Of govern
ment by commission.
Ask any man you meet on the streets
if the &C omission form of government
in Des Moines has been a success.
Nine out of every ten will answer
eyes" most emphatically. Ask the tenth
pin him down. You'll find he was an
officeholder or q friend to an office
holder under the old mayor aldermanic
system.
The fight to shelve the old style Of
city administration and substitute for
1t the Des Moines plan, abolishing ward
lines and political parties, and putting
the entire government in the hands of
five men chosen at large, is too recent
to be repeated here. The change was
fought bitterly by every politician and
ward heller in the city. But the people
arose in their might, tired and sick
Of mismanagement, and graft and the
"Des Moines plan" was adopted by
an Overwhelming majority.
II 1t were to be put up to the people
today, after seven months of expe-
rience, the majority by which it car
ried last March would be quadrupled.
This general satisfaction is the best
indication that the Des Moines plan is
success.
Five Men Rule.
Since April last, the Des Moines
city government has been admins
tered by five men. They are Mayor A.
j. Mathis, who has general supervis-
ion; John MacVicar, superintendent of
public improvements; Wesley Ash, SUI
perintendent Of parks and public
grounds; Charles Schramm, who has
charge Of finances and accounting, and
John L. Hamery, in charge Of the de-
partment Of public safety.
vi IuS50 i've 1NCN, 1AdyOI INdlllS
q democrat. His co-laborers are repub-
licans. But the Des Moines plan abol-
ishes parties completely and the poll
teal complexion of the candidates did
not enter into their selection. The
five were elected over five other men,
the ten being selected ia primary
held two weeks before the election.
Dire things were predicted by the
outgoing Office grabbers when the city
should pass from the old form into the
new. But the transition was effected
without difficulty Of any kind. And
when at the very first meeting of the
newly elected councilmen, two dozen
useless inspectors and superintendent
were Tapped off the city payroll, resi-
dents Of the city began to see that
affairs were getting on business
basis.
From that time on, improvements
have been made all along the line
While for the most part the charges
wrought by the new commission have
not been spectacular, they have been
along the detailed lines where most
needed. Little savings here and there
have been accomplished, while the in
crease Of municipal Improvements
such as paved streets, extension of
lights and water mains. replacing of
old sidewalks and other matters which
hAs been phenom email.
Responsibility Fixed.
Best Of all the Des Moines plan per-
mits one to locate responsibility. If
the resident wants to make a COM
plant or a request, he knows just
where to go to do it. Under the al
dermanic system, he went first to the
alderman from his ward; then he was
sent elsewhere to a member of the
board of public works or the city en-
gineer and from him to another and
thus it 'wen--no 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 trou-
bies before him. If the superintendent
fails to do as he promises, the citizen
knows exactly where to lay the blame.
The abolition Of ward lines has also
proven great municipal benefit. The
old-fashioned ward jobbing has gone
into history Where formerly one al
derman would trade off his influence
to another one in exchange for favors,
now the superintendent of each depart
ment knows what he is entitled to and
does, it, considering the entire city.
There is no place for combinations and
conspiracies and consequently no COM
plants 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 each commits
sioner or councilman, as he is called
has accomplished is more difficult
task.
Police Department overhauIed.
Without doubt the most noticeable
shangs accomplished is in the depart