The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-12
MERIT DOES COUNT
BUT PULL HAS NO EFFECT IN
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA:
Changes for the Better That Have
Been Made Under the Commits
sion Form of Government; Par
tisan Politics Eliminated From
Municipal Affairs; Mayor Demo-
crat; Personnel of Commission.

Efficient conduct of municipal ad-
ministration is the first important
promise which the new commission
charter has made to Berkeley, Cal.
Officers other than members of the
commission and the mayor, may be
selected because of their fitness from
any portion of the country. If found
faithful and efficient, their tenure in
office may be extended indefinitely.
Quite as striking and of almost as
great Importance is the way in which
the adoption of the commission plan
has eliminated partisan politics from
the city's business. For number of
years before the new charter went in
to effect, Berkeley had been so
strongly republican that democrats did
not take the trouble to make nomi-
nations for the city offices. In the
last national election, Taft's vote was
4094, and that of Bryan, 1912 At a
recent municipal election under the old
charter but 2,467 votes were cast.
Democrats had no ticket in the field
Republicans cast 1900 or l,6OO votes.
Socialists furnished the only cpposi-
ton.
Democrat Is the Executive.
In the first election under the com
mission plan democrat was elected
mayor of Berkeley against field of
receiving $500 out of
5,035 votes cast His closest COM
petitor mad but l,404 votes.
When Mayor Beverly l.. Hodghead
and the commission took charge of the
city government they found the city
without sufficient revenue to carry on
the government Under the old char
ter levy not exceeding IS cents on
800 could be made. The new charter
fixed the limit at 81.
Berkeley citizens saw the need of a
higher revenue, and there was little
grumbling over the increased rate and
felt that they would get full return
for what was spent. So small had been
the revenue that number of electric
street lamps had been turned off at
night, and the police force had been
reduced to five or six men in a city of
AZ 900 inhabitants, in order to save eX-
pense Citizens had no confidence in
the efficiency of their officers and
were averse to giving them power.
The board of trustees met only twice
a month. Public business dragged
along Unfortunately.
Pull Does Not Count.
Commissioners under the new dis
pensation, meet every day. City bust
ness is attended to promptly. The peo-
Pile have confidence. In the old days,
pull was the chief qualification for Of
flee. 1t took pull to get in and more
pull to remain. Now it takes ability
and push to secure position. Each
officer must make good" to hold hi/
place. 1t is business administration.
at is our aim to give the city
purely business administration,
said Mayor Hodghead to a Dispatch
correspondent "As soon as we came
into office we let it be known that
we would receive suggestions as to
good men for various offices which
would have to be filed by our board,
but, at the same time, we remained
free to make such selections as we
thought wise.
Gan evil eliminated by the change
of charters, was the removal from of
flee of city employees with each change
of administration. Now we appoint
men because they can do the work
and they will hold their places as
long as they can work efficiently. In
regard to residence, .the charter is