The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-22
Commission Plan of Govern
ment for Topeka.
Mayor Green Would Have the
Movement Revived.
NEED OF A PETITION.
Then Proposition May Be Sub
mitted Next Spring.
Plan of Government Proving a
Great Success.

II Topeka wants to try the commits
sion plan Of city government next year
now is the time to get busy on the pro-
position. The next city election will be
held next April and as at least 70 days
time must be consumed in holding the
special election to vote on the PROPOSE
ton after the petition has been acted
upon by the mayor and council. it can
be seen that there is no time to be lost
in the matter. The petition must be
secured and presented to the council
before December 1 of this, year This
would enable the election to be held in
February, only few weeks before the
primaries for the spring election.
The matter of commission form OF
government for Topeka is not new
subject here by any means. In fact,
the plan was first proposed in this city.
Since then Wichita and Coffeyville have
both voted on the proposition and re-
jected II and Leavenworth has adopted
the plan. While Topeka, the first Kan
sas city TO agitate the scheme, has
taken no further step in the matter.
When the commission plan was pro-
posed some two years ago 1t was Kill
ed by the friends of the new admins
tration. The time to Introduce the
plan is before and not after city cleo
ton. The present city administration
could be endorsed and continued IN
power and the commission plan adopted
all at the same time.
Mayor Favors 1t.
In speaking of the matter today,
Mayor Green said: I think the COM
mission plan of government Is a good
one for the reason that 1t tends to CEN
trallze the responsibility for the pub
lie acts OF those in power It Is gem
eral principle that legislation spread
out among a large number of officials
"a r,frhliC less rhanCa TO FIX the
responsibility for blunders and negh-
gence Under the commission plan OF
government the responsibility will rest
upon the mayor and only four commits
sioners. The chief executive and each
commissioner will have supervision
over a branch of city government and
each individual will be responsible Tor
all the things pertaining to that depart
Tnent. There can be no lodging behind
committees or the sessions OF coun-
ell. A man in any line of work or
business, whether for firm, corpora
tion or a city, must feel individual re-
sponsibihty to do his best work
'"I am interested in submitting the
plan to the people because I think 1t
the best thing for the city at large.
Now Is the time to push 1t before the
city election. not after. and thus 7es-
cape a direct fight with the friends OF
the administration. If the people de-
sire to endorse the administration they
can do so under the commission plan
as we'll as the present plan OF city gov
eminent. There will have to be con-
test for city offices anyway.
IT have been approached recently by
a number of heavy taxpayers OF the
city who favor the commission plan OF
government. Michael Heery, an ex-
councilman, who has been in Leaven-
worth recently where he studied Ne
workings of the commission plan. is
strongly in favor of it for this city
Also P. I. Bonebrake and others.
Petition Is Needed.
II believe that it is only necessary
at this time for some one to. start 9
petition to get this plan before the peo-
pie in the form OF a special election
The signatures of 10 per cent Of the
electors at the last city election are
necessary in order to have the mayor
call the special election to vote on tbs
adoption of the plan. The petition
could easily be secured and believe
Topeka will vote to try the plan. Ter
per cent of the vote for mayor in 1870
would be about $50 voters"
The state law providing means BY
which all cities of the first class In
Kansas that desired could try the com
mission plan of government was passed
at the last regular session of the legis-
latIre. BY it's provisions a mayor and
four commissions, elected from the
city at large are vested with all the
rights of the present mayor and coun.
of the police and fire departments. Ont
commissioner would have charge of the
streets and alleys, another of the finan
NvcesT another of the parks and public
property and health, and another D
franchises and miscellaneous matters
The new office of a city auditor woult
be created The mayor would receive
a salary of $4,000 per year and the com
missioners $1,000 each. They woult
have to devote all their time to city bus
i - -
the lines that any big firm or corpora
ton would follow. If the commission
ers elected are good business men an
give all their attention to city affair
the city business generally is sure t
profit under the workings of the pro
posed plan.
1t Works Well.
The commission plan of government
was first adopted at Des Moints Ia
and later was tried successfully by sew
eral Of the larger cities of Texas Inde
pendence, Kan, has recently called
special election to vote on the com
mission plan
The principal argument against til
commission plan of city government
that II reduces representation. This
a sentimental rather than a bushes
reason. County business. transacted b
three commissioners, has always bee
better handled than city business an
with more economy and less expens
The commission plan of city govern
ment is a business proposition pure an
simple. 1t simplifies the machinery
government, centralizes responsibilit
and it is claimed will make the ord
nances more effective, get better result
from all contract work and reduce e.
penses all around.
Now is the time to begin work If IL
commission plan of government is
be tried in Topeka in the near future
Meeting of Accountants.