Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-26
DIES MONIES PLAN
PROVES ITS MERIT
STRONGLY ENDORSED BY CITE
zENs AFTER MONTHS OF
RIGID TEST.
DAYS OF WARD HELLER GONE
FOREVER IN IOWA
CAPITAL CITY.

Des Moines, Nov. 23.-No wardlines
nor ward heelers, improved streets,
sidewalks and lights, reduced water
water and electric light rates, al city
funds drawing interest the city on a
business basis-this in nutheI is
Des Moines after more than half
year Of government by commission.
ASK any man you meet on the
streets if the commission form Of GOV
eminent in Des Moines has been a
success. Nine out Of every ten will ans
wer yes" most emphaticaIly. Ask
the tenth why he objects to Thea new
system and pin him down. You'll
find he was an oHiceholder or q friend
Of an office holder under the old mayor
aIdermanic system.
The fight TO shelVe the old style Of
city administration and substitute for
it the Dcs 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 10 be repeated here The
change was fought bitterly by every
politician and ward hccler in the city.
But the people arose in their might,
tired and sick of mismanagement and
graft and the "Dcs MOines plan" was
adopted by an Overwhelming majority.
If it were to be put up to the people
today, after seven months Of expert
ence, the majority by which it carried
last March would be quadrupled This
neral satisfaction is the best indtca.
ion that the Des Moines plan is
success.
Five Men Rule.
Since April /, last, the Des Moines
city government had been admins
tered by five men. They are Mayor A.
ion; John MacVicar, superintendent of
public Improvements; Wesley Ash,
superintendent of parks and public
grounds; Charles Schramm, who has
charge of finances and accounting, and
John l.. Hamery, in charge of the de-
Dartment of public safety.
OF these five men Mayor Mathis is
q democrat. His cO-labOreTs are repub-
leans. But the Des Moines plan abol-
shes parties completely and the pOIiti-
al complexion of the candidates did
IOt enter into their election. The five
we're elected over five other men, the
en- being selected at primary held
wO weeks before the election.
Dire things were predicted by the
utgoing office grabbers when the city
hould pass from the old form into the
ew But the transaction was effected
ithout difficulty of any kind. And
hen at the very first meeting of the
ewly elected counciImen, two dozen
seless inspectors and superintend-
uts were Topped off the city pay.
oil, residents of the city began to see
nat affairs were getting on a business
asis.
From that time on, improvements
ave been made all along the line.
While for the most part the changes
TOught by the new commission have
OF been spectacular, they have been
long the detailed lines where most
eeded Little savings here and
ere have been accomplished, while
e increase of municipal improve.
ents, such as paved streets, extern
If lights and water mains, replac,
old sidewalks and other matters
/ come directly home to the tax
yer, has been phenomenal
Responsibility Fixed.
Best of all the Des Moines plan per-
is one to locate responsibility. If
. resident wants to make a COM
lint or 4 request, he knows just
lere to go to do it. Under the alder.
anic system. he went first to the al
rman from his ward; then he was
Mt elsewhere to member of the
ard of public works or the city en-,
neer and from him to another and
Is it went-no responsibility, no sat
action.
Nowadays he walks into the city hall
without difficulty finds the man
wants. He has easy access to the
)erintendent and lays his troubles
fore him If the superintendent fails
do as he promises, the citizen
ows exactly where to lay the blame.
The abolition of ward lines has al
proven a great municipal benefit.
o,d-fashiOned ward jobbing has
le into history. Where formerly one
erman would trade off his influence
another one in exchange for favors
the superintendent Of each depart.
mt knows what he is entitled to
I does it, considering the entire
r. There is no place for combina
rs and conspiracies and conse
,nty no complaints that any set oil
n control the city council, such as
too often apparent under the OLD
d system.
O much OF the general benefits
ch the city has received under the
Des NIoines plan. To specify more
o-ail just what each commissions
councilman. as he is called, has &C
olished is a more difficult task.
Room For Improvement.
DOM for Improvement So far, twt
cities have adopted the charter
HOines and Cedar Rapids. But it:
has spread and in other parts o
nited States. the Des Moine'
rpiUU a10D+01 Cfo,,x- Tolls q ~