Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-30
RULE BY COMMISSION
Kansas Cities Try 1t With
Great Success.
METHODS OF BUSINESS
Leavenworth Saved From Ruin by
Adoption Of Scheme.
IMPROVEMENT IS MARKED
Responsibility Fixed - Purity in
Election-Promptness in Public
Business Exacted.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

! that the agitation for it is sweeping tn,
state.
| II is predicted that within another two
! years there will not be one city of tn,
| first or second class in the state operat
ing under the old ward government.
| Only two cities have thus far votet
against it. One of these. Kansas City
Kan. the largest city in the state. hal
reconsidered its action and voted two t.
one forit- The new rule will go into effec
| in April.
| Winfield, the other city, may vote agail
| in time to elect commissioners in April.
| Topeka, the capital of the state; Par
sons. Manhattan. Junction City. Law
renee. Ottawa, Salina, Abilene. Concordia
| Ford Scott. Arkansas City, Chanute ant
several smaller cities will vote on tn,
commission form between now ant
| April.
Atchison an d Pittsburg, the only othe
| f1rst-class cities in the state are likel,
to fall into line before another year ha:
passed. The first and second class cite!
| which already have adopted commission
government, in the order In which the,
voted. are Leavenworth, Anthony, indie
pendence. Hutchinson, Wichita, Kansa!
City and Coffeyville.
Leavenworth First to Try.
The Kansas legislature passed the ell
abling act for commission government IL
1907. There was so little interest at thai
time that defects crept into the law which
prevented any general movement at frs
for the adoption of the new rule.
After the legislature adjourned, how
ever, Leavenworth. which was In sac
straits, awoke to the act as an oppor.
tnnity. to reorganize its city government
The town was at the losing end of a
long. hard fight with the state over the
enforcement of the prohibitory law. II
had been forced to give up the 100000 a
year which it had been collecting from
Illegal saloons, and which had been saw
ing it from bankruptcy for many years
and found itself deep in debt.
No improvements had been made, the
street lights downtown were being paid
were not always forthcoming. The story
Of the towns distress was giving it a
reputation abroad which stopped all de-
velopment.
alton and decided that some business
methods were needed In the city govern
ment. They did just what they would
do If their own business was in the con-
dition of the Observation-Disclosures re-
organization under commission govern
ment-and at the election carried the plan
almost unanimously.
Then they elected board of commits
sioners composed of practical business
men who had never before sought office
because it meant mixing in partisan
politics. There was no politics in the
first election and there has been none
since.
Benefits That Have Resulted.
Leavenworth today as the result of
the change. is the liveliest city in Kan
sas with so many public improvements
fn hot
send out a call to other cities for labor
ers. Population has come steadily
more than 1900 in two years: floating
debts have been paid off. old bonds re-
funded and more than 100000 paid off.
several miles of streets paved and the
town generally spruced up.
The biggest thing about 1t is that taxes
have been reduced despite the cutting off
of 100000 in illegal revenue. The reason
is that the city is run as the commits
stoners run their own private businesses
Not cent is wasted and 100 cents In
service is exacted for every dollar spent.
The result OF the change In government
in Leavensworth was SO surprising that
other towns In the state sat up and took
notice. The last legislature remedied the
defects in the law with the result that
other cities are adopting the commission
form or government so fast that the old
debt-creating, inefficient and cumbersome
ward government is passing, out Of ex-
istence In Kansas.
Not one city has found the new gov
The only opponents it still has are the
politicians. who were put out of business
with its coming.
Features Of State Law.
The main features. of the Kansas form
of commission government are the abso-
lutte elimination of politics from the city
sibility and accountability which work in
evitably toward higher efficiency in ad-
mnistration ard economy. which means
lower taxes.
In order to obtain a vote on the ques-
tlon Of adopting the commission plan a
petition signed by 10 per cent Of the
voters Is required. and the petition. if
found sufficient, makes 1t mandatory upon
the council to call an election. If the
commits ion form is adopted a primary
is held In the March following to select
candidates for the board of commissioners.
The two candidates for each member
ship receiving the highest vote become
the candidates at the election in April.
All candidates at the primaries are nOmi-
mated by petition.
For cities of the first class five COM
missioners, one Of whom is designated
as mayor. are elected every two years.
In the smaller cities there are three COM
one every year thereafter. No mark, en-
blem or party designation of any kind is
to be printed on the ballot.
Each commissioner is required to give
bond of $4,000 to protect the city
against financial loss by reason of in
competence, neglect or dishonest prac-
tees.
The commissioners are subject to recall
at any time their conduct does not meet
with the approval of the voters. To force
a recall election a petition Is necessary
At the election the officer recalled may
stand for reelection against any other
candidates.
Revenue Limits Expenses.
The people are further safeguarded by
a provision prohibiting the commission.
ers from exceeding the actual revenue
Of their departments. For any commits
sioner to draw a warrant for a sum
exceeding the amount of cash actually on
hand is an ipso facto vacation of his Of
fee All appointments must be made from
civil service list.
No franchise may be granted by the
commissioners under any consideration
for q period longer than twenty years OF
without first submitting the franchise fol
popular approval of 10 per cent Of the
voters petition for such an election. Be-
sides the right of referendum the people
have the, right to initiate such legislatio
as may be desired.