The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-04
THREE
TO STUDY
PLAN
Suggested That Committee
From Spokane Visit
Des Moines.

There is charter revision in the
air, and something is bound to
come out of the meetings of the
civic commission in the way of a
better city government for Spo-
kane.
Some differ as to the extent to
which the charter should be. re-
vised, and individual ideas differ
as to what are the most important
things needing revision, but when
all the good in the various
schemes of revision are reduced to
a concrete basis, such reforms are
collectively found in the plan of
municipal government now being
successfully carried ON in Des
Moines, Galveston, Houston and
other cities that have in recent
years adopted the commission plan
of government.
The civic commission has set
aside its meeting Friday night for
the consideration of the Des
Moines plan and individual plans
of charter revision. Among several
of the enthusiastic supporters OF
the commission plan, the feeling
is that the Des Moines idea should
be put to a vote of the people at
the coming city election. Others
fear that the submission of the
question at that early date may be
inopportune and cause the defeat
of the plan because of lack of
knowledge on the part of the peo-
pie as to it's good qualities.
Mayor Moore and Gordon C. Cor
bailey believe that it would be adj
visable to send a committee of
three disinterested Spokane ctti-
zens to Des Moines to study the
new plan of government in actual
operation. Others to whom tins
idea has been mentioned have en-
dorsed 1t. In case the civic COM
mission should vote to ask the
council to submit the question to
vote Of the people, the report of
committee of this character would
carry great weight.
The politicians who believe that
a nonpartisan commission plan of
government will endanger the con-
troll of certain men or cliques who
have had a hand in city affairs in
the past under the old party sys-
TEN, are quietly but industriously
throwing all the cold water pos
sible on the Des Moines plan. 1t
hits at their control in politics and
naturally they resent this en-
croachment on their prerogatives.
These men are willing to make
concessions in the way of charter
amendments in order to stave off
the more radical plan of a non
partisan commission, with the
initiative and referendum and
right of recall. 1t may be that the
civic commission will be persuaded
to take some less radical plan of
municipal reform at this time and
leave the question of the adoption
of the Des Moines plan for later
consideration.
The commission plan without
the initiative and referendum and
recall would be dangerous and
worthless.
The Central Labor union has
gone on record for revision Of
the city charter, giving the people
larger powers in initiating legisla-
ton and invoking the referendum,
and also favoring the right of re-
call, and in case the civic commits.
sion does not adopt the Des Moines
plan or some other plan giving
these things. a petition will at once
be placed In circulation asking
that these reforms be submitted
to the people for their approval at
the coming election.
1t may be that the labor men, II
they once go into the field of char.
ter reform. will ask for other
things now enjoyed by Des Moines
and cities living under improved
plan of city government.
The Seattle charter, after which
the proposed amendment favored
by the Central Labor union Is nat.
termed. provides that 10 per cent
of the voters of the city can initiate
needed legislation; that eight per
cent can call for a referendum vote