The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-24
CUMMISSIUNPLAN
How 1t Works at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa.
Money in Treasury; Bonded
Debt Avoided.
AN ASSURED SUCCESS.
Mayor and COunciImen Give
Whole Time to City.
MI eet Daily as General Manager
and Directors.

consummation of a long cherished
dream and the acquisition of an island
five acres in extent in the middle of
the Cedar river and in the heart of the
city, heretofore occupied by second
hand stores, laundries, and rubbish
heaps, hereafter is to be the site of
the city hall and other public build
ings. This is the crowning achieve
ment of the first seven months of gov
ernment under the commission plan in
Cedar Rapids
The old city hall, a red, ragged ruin
which did duty as a hotel in the pio-
neer days of the town, three-Quarters
of a century ago, and has been the
butt of ridicule for the last decade,
will be vacated early in January, and
the city councilmen will move into
temporary quarters on the island until
the new city hall can be built.
The city hall property has been sold
for $66,5Oo-it was purchased ten
years ago for $27, ,0OO-and the pro-
ceeds will be applied in the purchase
of the island. The rest will come from
economies practiced by the council
men, and it is promised that no bonds
will be issued nor will the tax levy be
increased.
Under Government by Commission.
Cedar Rapids and Des Moines are
the only two cities of the state under
the commission plan. The new form
of government was substituted for the
old last April. Until then Cedar
Rapids had been a special charter city.
with wards and aldermen. The plan
was adopted by small majority.
There We're many prophecies of fail
Ure. But the commissioners are held
to have made good" If a vote were
ably 80 per cent would be cast in favor
of the commission plan.
Under the old plan Cedar Rapids
had a mayor and ten aldermen, one
of he iOI7 dc fT1rn
aldermen at large. The aldermen re-
ceived 500 a year for their services, |
and gave to the city's affairs such
time as they could spare from the T. !
business. The councilmen served on I
various committees which had charge |
of different branches of government.
Each councilcf1man was the chair
man of one or more committees and |
had membership on several other COM
mittees. There was much friction, |
much allegation of wirepulling and |
waste of money. 1t was complained |
that the city did not get value for the |
money which was expended. The |
council met twice a month, and petit
tions read at one council meeting were |
referred to committees to be acted
upon at the next-if the committees
reported.
Machinery of the New Plan.
Under the new plan there are five
councilmen, one of whom acts as
mayor. The mayors salary is $2,50o
Gilman is $1,8O0. There are more
clerks employed than formerly and
just as many superintendents. The
salary list is larger and the amount
greater than it was under
the old plan. But the city's business
is kept written up, checked up, in
dexed like the business of a bank, SO
that it is always at the commissioners
fingers ends, always ready for fnSpec-
ton.
The mayor and councilmen are all
business men, but when they entered
office they cut loose from their own
their time to city affairs. They meet
every day. The property owner who
presents a petition is heard at once
and he gets a definite answer the same
day his petition is presented, or at
least a statement as to when he will
be given a definite answer.
Ward Lines Are Wiped Out.
Ward lines were abolished when the
commission plan was adopted and ward
politics, likewise partisan politics, was
abolished at the same time.
The business of the city is divided
nto five departments; the mayor is the
1ead of the department of public af-
airs, the other departments are fin
ance, public safety, parks and public
and streets and public i'm
orovements.
The business of the city is managed
much as corporation is managed, the
mayor being the general manager and
he councilmen directors.
Each councilman has full authority
md full responsibility for his own de-
,artment His orders cannot be coun-
and he cannot shirk the re- ,
for errors. He is free from
he annoyances of selfish, small ward
politics. He was nominated by ma
ority vote of a city-wide primary and
elected in the same way. He went t
through the sieve twice. Il
He knows that if he gets a re-elec- {
ion it will be in the same manner, and I
therefore, he is not harassed or cajoled
w ward politicians. The result is that :
III parts of the city get just treatment {
n the expenditure of public moneys.
Plan Pleases Cedar Rapids.
So far there has been brought to light Z
much to praise and nothing to depre- s
ate in the working of the commission
,lan in Cedar Rapids. More paving, ;
urbing, and sidewalks have been built !
n Cedar Rapids this year than ever I
,efore The streets, 1t is claimed, have I
,een kept in better condition. So have
he parks. The civil service system has
,een installed in the police and the fire
The municipal water /
liant has been greatly improved and c
,eing erected, and 1t will be the first
permanent building that the. city, as a !
.ity has ever built.
Within a few weeks the contract will
,e let for a handsome new concrete
,rfdge over the Cedar river.
The council started on the plan of !
,ayfng cash for everything purchased :
he end of the fiscal year, notwithstand- {
ng unusual improvements, there will
,e a surplus in the city treasury. Z
One of the first acts of the city coun- {