The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-03-08
COUNTRY CLUB TALK
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(For the Bulletin by x. Ray Faber)

] I :
Judge Powers: The new expert
ment in city government made by
Des Moines, Iowa, is attracting mu h
attention throughout the country /
! have investigated little and an
tavorably impressed with it, but it is
! based on a special charter granted
| by the state and would not be avail
able in Illinois. as the constitution of
this state provides that all cities
must be organized under the general
charter provided In the statutes.
Cities that had special charters when
the present constitution was adopted
could retain them. bur many voted
t. give them M for the general char
ter. Cairo being among the number.
Tho government by commissions as
The Des MonCs city government Is
called, is certain to he studied in
cities through this state. and if il
meets with favor generally an amend
meat to the constitution can be
adopted that Will permit city reor-
SANITATION on the commission plan.
= is impossible for me to give the
ietails Of the plan in brief CONVEX
dtIon, bal I have no doubt persons
desiring them could obtain copies Of
me charter by writing to the citv
Jerk of Des MONIES, enclosing
itamp to pay postage
Lawyer Quackenbush. have
'ooked into that plan somewhat. It
provides for mayor and four com
misisoners, elected from the city a
'arge. aud these constitute the city
,cuncil They appoint all of the
other officials, the attorney. clerk
comptroller, police magistrate. etc.
The appoiutees under the heads of
the different departments. excepting
common laborcrs, pass civil service
examinations and hold their Offices
as long as their efficiency and be.
hayior warrants, The examining
board holds office six years. and is
appointed by the elected council oil
FIVE, of which the mayor is the head. /
Fbc board consists of three members.
The head Of departments. appointed
hr the council. may be removed at
any time
Judge Powers: No franchise can
De- granted or important contract
made with local service corpora. /
ton without first being sanctioned
by vote OF the people. The initiative /
ma referendum are Introduced. By
his means popular measures may
De- adopted contrary to the wish of
The council or commission; and oh /
AoAous measures passed by th'sI
body may be revoked Primary eloc- |
fious are arranged for in manner
'o prevent party politics from enter. +.
ing into them Twenty five legal
voters may by petition enter candi- /
late for mayor and ton or more a /
ardifate for commissioner The two
non receiving the largest vote for
mayor shall be the only candidates |
fer mayor at the regular election (
aud the eight candidates for commits. |
ricners receiving the highest vote
shall he the candidates at the ree1-
az election. four to be- elected The |
7'an altogether seems 10 have been
Fell studied ont The small govern |
ag body may appear autocratic. bat
his rs more than balanced bv theI
Initiative. referendum anil recall. the
after providing a way for the people /
70 get rid Of an unsatisfactory Off. /
ial
Lawyer QuarEcubush. The o. T!
Iteration of ward lines in clectinp
be commissioners is good fcatue 1
T our city cornell was chosen from
ho city at large instead Of the wards
%" city would need but littlc addi
innal revenue at present for current
<penses. and tho money expended
would he moro urnftabIy apuli.d for
DE- CITY ae a whole Possibly I've
general assembly ,oulI pass new
General Incorporation at for cities.
'7der the present institution. ON
hracine the commission riau while
lot ahrosating the old plan.
The Cairo pniIe+sv, q. a. +, -,