The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-05
WILL DEBATE MERITS
OF DES MONIES PLAN
ATTON|CHT'S SESSION

Tonight the civic commission
will meet in executive session to
wade into the merits of the Des
Moines plan of government, togeth-
err with less extensive forms Of
charter revision that have been
offered. Heretofore the commits
sion has listened to the views of
those on the outside, but tonight
it will debate the question on it's
own account. The commission is
divided as to the extent of charter
revision advisable at this time, and
tonight's meeting will give a fair
idea of the character of revision
favored by majority of the COM
mission.
An effort will be made by the ad-
vocates of the Des Moines plan to
secure it's approval by the COM
mission and immediate submission
to the people. If this is done 1t
will be carried into effect through
the election of commission of Is
to draft a new city charter. This
charter commission would be
clothed with official power to pre-
pare a charter draft to submit to.
popular vote, and could adopt a
plan of government like the Des
Moines idea or report it in modi-
fed form.
An official charter commission of
this. character would be clothed
with power which the present civic
commission lacks. The need of
charter revision is apparent to
most of the members Of the civic
commission and it may be that the
civic commission, without approx
ing any particular form of revision,
will urge the calling of an election
of an official body to give us
new charter.
The direct. legislation advocates
in the Central Labor union seem
to think that there Is feeling in
the civic commission against CIV
ing the people an initiative and
referendum amendment with per-
centage as low as that required in
the Seattle charter, 10 per cent for
the initiative and eight per cent
for the referendum, and in case
the commission balks on granting
as liberal right to use these privi-
leges, the direct legislation movers
will ask that the initiative and ref
erendum be withdrawn from the
commission, whereupOn move
ment will be started to secure the
submission of these reforms at the
coming city election by means Of
a petition. The right of recall will
also be asked at the same time by
the advocates of the initiative and
referendum.
In case the civic commission con-
cludes to postpone action on the
Des Moines plan Councilman Os-
trander will move for the immedi-
ate submission to the people of the
question of electing councilmen at
large in place of by wards, as at
present. This move will be fought
by those opposed to the Des.
Moines plan fully as hard as the
Des Moines idea itself, as it strikes
at what is considered one root of
the evil under the present charter.
The question of the election of
councilmen at large was adopted
this week by the people of Los
Angeles, in voting on an amend.
ment to their charter.
The advocates of the initiative
and referendum are fearful that If
they tie up with any more extern
sive plan Of charter revision at
this time they may endanger the
adoption of their favorite reform.
With direct legislation placed in
the hands of the people on the
basis of low percentage for call
ing these rights into play. 1t is
held by the advocates of these
forms that the abolition of ward
lines and other advanced steps can
be secured later through the in
itiative and referendum.
The saving features of the Des
Moines plan of government are it's
nonpartisan provisions, its aboli-
ton Of ward lines and the limit
ing of responsibility for the man
agement of the affairs of the city
to a commission of Ave men, held
in check by the initiative and ref
erendum and right of recall On
the question Of nonpartisan NUM-
cipal elections the civic commits
sion has agreed In the Affirmative;
as to the initiative and referendum
and right OF recall. II Is only dit
ference as to the percentage of the
voters necessary. leaving the aies
ton OF the abolition of ward lines