The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-16
BY HARRY G. FARMER.

plan, of city government now for
six months, and the average citizen
will describe it's workings thus:
Have you seen our streets-how
clean they. are? Have you looked
down any of our alleys? Have you
read about our new garbage plant?
Have they told you what we are
doing to our water company? Have
you been to look at the new site
for our city hall? Have you OBJ
| served the absence of slot ma
chimes in our cigar stores? Have
you seen the new scheme of put
ting street names on the side
walks? Anybody told you about
the proposition for public mar
ket place? Did you hear about the
grating public works concern that
has gone out of business?
If you haven't. he will tell it to
you. And he will show you. And
his enthusiasm will lead him on
and on until you have material for
a book on the workings of the COM
mission plan of city government.
For it is a new experience-this
feeling of the average citizen that
he really has good government;
that he is part and parcel of it;
that what he says counts for some
thing; and that he can actually
show results. 1t fills him with en-
thusiasm and a desir eto let the
whole world know. Here is a tri-
umph in which he has helped. Here
is a way out for other cities carry
ing that hopeless burden of alder
manic inefficiency and graft. II
Come on in" he says, "the
waters fine 81
Is the sentiment unanimous?
No, not quite. vi
Up in that office in the center of
the town, that office with the ORR
entail rugs and the mahogany fur
niture, there is smooth spoken
gentleman who hands out is cent
cigars and well worded opinions
smattering Of the la wbOoks, who
can find several things the matter
with the Des Moines plan. He is a
corporation lawyer and he repre-
sents the holders of the local street
car franchises.
And in another office similar in
it's furnishings and it's atmosphere
is another gentleman similar in his
brand of opinions and cigars. And
he does not care particularly about
the Des Moines plan of city govern
ment; because he represents the
private corporation which sells
water to the city.
And in another lawyers office is
another critical opinion born of the
fact that it's possessor does bust
ness for the private gas company,
the electric light concern of the
Welsbach company, which has haa
to go to the court to find out about
an overcharge in the citys lighting
bills.
And then there is the gentleman
with heavy Jaws and cunning looks
who turks about saloons which
were once the aldermanic hang
outs" who will denounce in I'M
measured terms the kind of city
government that has eliminated
him; and with him, bribery, incom-
petence and all the incidents of
them good old days when there
was a chance, now and again, for
wise guy to pick up a piece of
coin"
This is the unvarnished truth
about the workings of the commits
sion plan in Des MOines. 1t is a
simple story and may be simply
told. 1t is all right for the hon
est people, and all wrong for the
grafters-whether of the rough
neck or the ut-best-citizens"
variety.
The esMoines plan is that of
a mayor and four commissioners,
charged with full powers and full
responsibilities: and checked by
the recall, the referendum and the
initiative.
These five men estimate, appro-
pirate and spend the citys money.
The people who elect them hold
them responsible for results. And
these five men. by plain majority
vote, dispense all franchise grants,
street car, gas. water, telephone
the whole thing.
But as to this, too, they are re-
sponsible for results. And If they
do not do what the people want,
the franchise is submitted to a
popular vote. That is the test. II
majority of the people say mo"
the attempted action of the mayor
and four commissioners becomes
null and void. That is what a
referendum" means.
Likewise If the commission
fails to pass some franchise that
the people want, this plan pro
vides a way by which the people
may initiate; or, if a member
of this ruling body becomes in