The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-23
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SPOKANE
ocAL CIVIC REFoRMERs ARE
STUDYING DIES MONIES NEW
PLAN FOR PROPER CONTROL
OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Considerable interest is being
Manifested in Spokane in the Des
Ioines plan of city government.
he new method will be voted on
It Des Moines next March and if
,dopted, as now seews certain, will
ne watched with interest through
the country.
The plan provides for the cleo
ton of a mayor and four council
men, who are nominated and elect
ed at large. They shall hold Of
fee for two years. In case of a
vacancy occurring it shall be fill
ed by the remaining members
making the appointment.
Nominations are made by direct
primary and are nonpartisan. The
two candidates receiving the
largest number of votes in the pri-
mary are the nominees. and their
names go on the official ballot.
Any person or candidate accept
ing from or giving money to any
candidate for Office to secure cleo
ton or appointment shall be pun
ished by fine not exceeding $500
or 80 days Imprisonment
Anyone accepting or giving a
bride to influence voters can be
fined $500 and imprisoned 80 days.
The city is governed by the
mayor and four councilmen. a ma
jority vote being necessary to pass
an ordinance or other measure.
The city administration is d.
vided into five departments. con-
sisting of departments of public af-
fairs, accounts and finances. pub
lie safety, streets and public i'm
provements and parks and public
property. Each member of the city
council is made superintendent of
a department The mayor will he
superintendent of the public af-
fairs department
Every ordinance, franchise and
contract must be open to public in
spection for at least seven days
before its final passage. and does
not go in force until 10 days after
its passage.
All franchises to public service
corporations must be submitted to
a vote of the people for approval
Any city official or employee at
tempting to influence any other
city official politically, or attempt
ing to control or influence appoint
ments either directly or indirectly
shall be subject TO a fine of $500
or a term in the county Jail.
The creation of a civil service
commission is provided for to sub
stitute personal merit for political
pull in holding office. Complete
publicity of city affairs is made
compulsory, the council being COM
PEELED to publish monthly state
ment of all receipts and eXpendi
lures. The statement to be item
lied.
The recall of dishonest or incom-
peient officials is provided for, a
petition signed by 25 per cent of
the voters at the last election be- |
ing required to call special cleo |
ton
The right of the people to initiate |
legislation is provided for, as is also
the right to referendum vote on
any ordinance passed by the cOun-
Gil, the people at all times having |
the power to remove from Office of
ficials distasteful to them and to
pass on their official acts, thus
placing the control Of the city in
the hands of the voters.
At the end of six years, should |
the plan be found failure the peo-
pie can return TO the old method, |
The Des Moines plan is finding
many supporters in Spokane and it
is not unlikely that effort will be
made to adopt some of the best fea-
lures of the system here in the
course of civic reform.