The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-21

The Des Moines plan of city gov
eminent following is taken from
q copy secured from the city clerk
of Des Moines by Mayor Moore.
Nothing is here omitted except
few passages making necessary
local provisions local to the state
OF Iowa.
The Des Moines plan Of city gov
eminent is summarized as the best
and most advanced system yet de-
vised. 1t Is the most representa-
tive, since 1t places the entire
power Of government in the hands
of the people. Lincoln said: ours
Is a government of the people,"
And In the Des Moines plan that
idea is,carried out to its fullest ex-
tent, as is illustrated by the initia-
tive and referendum and the power
of recall. In the past the politicians
ruled in Des Moines as elsewhere.
Under the new plan the people re-
tain the balance of power.
No franchise or other valuable
right can be given away by the city
council until the people vote in
favor of it. The people can COM
pei or prevent the passage of any
law or ordinance. Under the Des
Moines plan the city official is un-
der the control of the people.
Under this plan all councilmen
are elected from at large. Each
citizen votes for all candidates III
stead Of voting by wards, as in
Spokane.
BY this rule the councilmen Sc
lected, having to depend upon votes
from all portions Of the city, will
consider the needs of the whole
city rather than the needs of
particular section which they de-
sire to benefit for the purpose of
securing political support as a
means of keeping themselves in Of
fee, or from an honest and natural
prejudice in favor of their particu-
lar districts.
The Des Moines plan fixes re-
sponsibility by placing one men,
Der of the city council at the head
of each of the five departments,
thereby doing away with confusion
and responsibility which exists
under the present system.
The councilmen receive such
salary that men of ability and hon
esty will devote their whole time
to the affairs of the city. They
cannot, while serving the city, be
interested directly or indirectly in
any contract with the city or with
any public service corporation, such
as water, telephone or street car
companies. This last considera-
ton insures due consideration for
the rights of the people and pre-
vents corporations from obtaining
by any indirect method an in
fiuence over the action of the city
council. r
Civil service is made prominent
feature of this law; honesty and
ability are the qualifications de-
manded of employees. The ques-
ton of their political strength will
= not be considered.
The new plan provides that all
candidates for Office shall be Sc
lected at a nonpartisan primary,
and also a simple method by which
a citizen may become a candidate.
Under the Des Moines plan a
severe punishment is prescribed
for attempting to form political
combination, or for using directly
or Indirectly, political influence in
the interest of person or measure.
This makes machine politics I'M
possible.
All officials must, after election,
publish a sworn itemized state
ment Of their campaign expenses.
All persons are prohibited from
accepting any money or other COM
pensation for services rendered
candidate.
The Des Moines plan was author
lied by an act of the Iowa legisla-
ture comforting the power to adopt
1t upon cities of or exceeding $4,000
population. The question Of adop-
tion is submitted to special cleo
ton upon petition bearing 20 per
cent of the city's latest vote for
mayor. If a majority vote favors
adoption and there is no regular
city election within one year Of the
adoption, the mayor, 10 days after
the special election, issues call
for special election on 60 days
notice to elect mayor and four
councilmen.
All state laws not in conflict or
inconsistent with this law remain
In full force and effect.
All contracts, rights and liabili-
ties remain the same as under the
present form of government.
All bylaws, ordinances and reso-
buttons in force under former or
ganization remain In force until
altered or repealed by the new
government. City territory limits
A. l-r-A \