The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-05-10
AFFAIRS ARE HANDLED
IN BETTER MANNER
Plan Has Been Especially EtfsC.
tive In Financial and
Police Matters

Dcs Aiolnea, la., Mey 10, iowaa law
authorizing the establishment Of a
commission government IN cities Of
rs 600 or more population, which
has been very successful In lts nrst
year 81 .ial by Des Molnes. accord
Ing to reports from that city, was on
acted hy the legislature m the spring
OF 1907. Applying to eight cities by
virtue OF the population clause, 4 was
instituted IN Dos Molnea, e city Of
10000 inflbitants soon after the su'
preme court Of iowa IN February, 1908,
upheld ,s censtliutlonality without a
dissenting opinion, and has become
widely known as THE nes M0lnes
PLAN IN IT'S general features the
plan provides for method of clly
government that has been tried WHY
good results, for several years ~
Houston and Galveston Texas
Governing Power.
Instead OF mayor and q board
lof aldermen OF c0uucllmen, ghc "Dca
Molnes plan makes the governing
mower ng clty commission oout
sisllng Of a mayor and -four council.
men. Large powers are combined IN
the commission. which makes the local
laws aud executes them through \
division OF authority whereby each
membe Of the commission becomes
lthe he1d of ihe department. Thcse
departments afe as follows
puhAu affairs
Accounts mud finances
puhlie safety lncludlae igs and
health
Parks aud public pr0patg
| Public improvements.
At tho fisl meeting Of the com.
mission now IN onlce year ago-
Mayor a. J. Mathis was asslgncd 70
tie department oi public affairs, anu
each Ol the four councllmen took one
af the Cther departments, IN accord.
auee with the law The eltq council
lmakes appropriations for eaeh depart
mont as body 1917 this division Of
the work lhe voters know who Is
/ Responsible for any act ur duty OF
1.-The city government Harmony seems
/ "a have existed between the dlhpient
departments IN The year iusl ended.
Length cf Terms.
The mayor aud comcilmen hold ni.
Zee FOR two years, but any one OF
them may be recalled by the voters
i All are elected by the city AZ large
there being no wards or other sub
divisions of the city for representa-
ton purposes. The mayor Is elected
IS such. but the four couneimen arc
the four whose names stand highest
III tho record Of votes for the office
af councilman. All names on the bal
lots for mayor aud councilman are ar
fangea rluhahetically without part,
designation Of any sort Out Of an,
number OF candidates whole namei
may be Of the ballot the voter mus
/. pick his choice and mark tie ballot q
many times IS there are Offices 10 b.
alled to vote complete ticket
| Law 10 Adaptable,
The Iowa law may be adopted b
/, Iany city within the state having sul
/ nclent population. which makes II elie
! lible Tor eight elites. Cedar Rapid
+ has followed the example OF De
: Molnes end elected to try t. II I
per cent Of the voters for IN ellgihl
!. lefty petition for the purpose an eles
/ ton must be held 10 decide whethe
+ lha city sball adopt The law A m'
: iorily Of the voters mas adopt Il Q
may drop Il aflef trial.
4 Initiative snd refcrenanm pgoyli
i ions form an important part of IN
!, law. Al the demand Of . per cen
/. 81 the voters there must be a fefe
: ondum on any action Of ihe commi
/ slon, positive or negative. aud tb
4 decision oi the majority Of the voter
!. Il the referendum election r. mad
\ binding on the mayor and council
i men. All ordinances srantlna frat
! ehlses must be submitted @ the vote
y fof adoption d rejection. Sessions
the commission must be public.
! Especially EAactlye,
E TO Judge from the FeparlH trul
pea Molnas. lbc plan nas been eap