The Washington times., 1909-03-15
THE LONE MAN RULE" FOR
PROGRESSIVE CITIES.

A little while back there was a great
hubbub over a change in the form of our
government. The discussion was not
clean cut. 1t was a drag-net sort of
an affair, made up of kicks. But the
District government went right on
and today those who stood by it have
the satisfaction of knowing that three
more cities, responsive to the spirit of
progress, are earnestly discussing a dis
card of their existing zone man rule"
and the creation of board of COM
missioners.
The Augusta Herald leaves the ginger
in an outline of -man-rule when it
says:
The inadequacy Of the antiquated
form Of our city governments, as they
obtain at present throughout the
country, under modern conditions, has
led TO abuses which are nothing short
of a great national scandal In every
city the municipal administration has
become a political machine, more or
less pronounced. Men are elected 70
Office not because OF their htneSS to
MI the position, but because they are
adroit politicians When they get in
Office their chief concern is TO look out
Tor their own interests sometimes by
downright grating and in all cases
TO provide for their future influence ,,
and to take care of their friends It
Is no wonder then, for it is the natural
and fneVfta bic consequence, that our
cities are shOckingly miSgOVerned-
The revenues OF the city are wasted.
The city taxes are high. Public
morals are given a setback which af-
fects private character. The city is
demoraliZed by facuOnal lights for the
spoilS OF Office. often the best ener-
gy in a city is prostituted to such
cause, and its true interests suffer.
This in more or less aggravated form
is the condition Of all our cities under
the old form OF political government.
Then it cites this new illustration OF
the tendency among cities to adopt a
government like that of the National
Capital:
The latest Of these is Huntington,
w. Va, which adopted the commits
sion plan by a law effective on
differs in some details from others,
and is worth studying because IL rep
resents the latest plan for escaping
from the evils CT political and ring
government, without placing too
much power in the hands of a single
individual.
II includes a commission OF four
ncers, and another commission of six
teen, who have the right TO veto any
ordnance or order OF the executive
commission, and TO try and depose
from office either Of the cOmmis on
ers who may not give satisfaction
Both bodies are elected every third
year, at the same time. To guard
against the formation OF q ring II is
provided that no political party OF
faction can nominate more than three
candidates for the board Of commits
sioners, nor mos than eight for the
citizens board, S11d not more than
Two candidates COR commissioners can
be elected from the same ticket I'm
der sucE an arrangement il IS believed
TO be impossible for a political ring
10 secure control OF the municipal
government.
Richmond is now considering the lead
Of Washington, Galveston, Austin
Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth. Des
Moines, and Huntington. The Even
ing Journal Of that city speaks of the
project as now live topic in Rich
mond as well as in other cities of the
State" Then it performs a real serv.
ice by reprinting the whole OF a long
editorial from the Atlanta Georgian OF
last Thursday 1t viii pay Washing
ton readers TO glance over these selected
paragraphs from the Georgian's re-
view:
Sound business sentiment in various
parts OF the country seems to be rap
Idly cryStal1Zing, especially govern
ment by commission, especially in the
administration Of local affairs News.
paper and magazine articles have
been written galore. More than fifty
American cities have adopted tho
plan, and, TO quote the views Of rep.
resentauVe men who have watched
the experiment. this modern measure
OF reform is likely to become one OF
the distinguishing contri buttons oi
of the world.
And, before we proceed one ster
1erther, We wish 10 tip the editoria
hat 10 the city OF Galveston.
For, while Tlan somewhat similar
trict Of Columbia. il was reserved fol
this remote town OF the Texas sea.
board 10 test IL under circumstances.
OF the most signal character.
And at time when the corruption,
OF san FRANCISCO are asSaultiug the
nostrils OF Tlen everywhere. il is no
wonder THAT the clean balance sheaf
or this Texan city should turn tho
world sober thought TO the practical
advantages so be derived from gov.
eminent ~ commission
only an inherent conservatism
which IS sometimes but another name
for stubbornness, can delay the adop-
ton Of this twentieth century meas
IRE OF reform, which. sifted down 4,
the essentials, is simply the business
mans method OF governing ruuufoIrs.,'
corporations, and iu this axe of fhs
world the arguments in favor Of eucI
control or civic affairs are both mani
fold and urgent