The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-14
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
Debate on Commission Plan Was So
Decided.


The affirmative in connection with
the question as to whether or not the
city of Topeka should adopt the conf
mission form Of government as the beSt
form Of municipal rule won the discus
sion at the Y NJ c.. A last night by a
vote of two to one. Geo s. Badders
and James w. Clark were the members
of the winning team, while Hugh T.
Fisher and Michael Sorenson were the
fellows who gave their opponents some
room for serious reflection.
James w. Clark, assistant city attor-
ney, started the argument for the af-
firmative. 1--WE need hardly be told -
said Mr. Clark that the present sys-
tenn of government commonly i'll
vogue in the cities Of the United States
is inadequate. We can hardly pick up
a newspaper without reading Of some
scandal in city affairs. Municipal gov
eminent is a business corporation ana
it's officers should be business men and
not politicians. In connection with the
present system business that requires
the expenditure of money usually re-
quires from six months or year to De
put through the council. What is every
body's business is nobody's business.
With the commission form responsible
ity rests with one man..
1--WE should rot adopt commission
form of government said Michael
OF the question. because 1t would be
both unwise and unnecessary. L chal-
Ienge the affirmative to show any acts
of scandal on the part of the present
administration.
THE system provides for a tenure Of
office of but two years. Can We expect
efficiency of work when a man goes
out of office after two years?
There is no advisory board to ADVISE
these men. There is no way to detect
frauds OH the part of the commission
ers. We cannot be assured of the
abolition of politics in local affairs. If
were Republicans I venture to predict
that the majority of the commissioners
would be Republicans"
Geo. Badders. in reply, said: THE
recall is one of the most important
provisions in the law governing the
ty-hve per cent of the vote which
elects a commissioner to office will re-
call him. If the commissioners have
done their duty and are capable men
there is no reason why they will not
be continued in office Indefinitely. Tn
der the proposed plan the mayor would
probably receive $1,000 and the COM
missioners $1,000 a year My opponent
ment in city politics by the adoption of
a new system, but it has been done in
cities where the commission form of
city rule has been adopted"
Hugh T. Fisher. for the negative,
said in part: Il don't believe in a
change of government until it is need
ed. Wo don't care what Des Moines
has, or Galveston, but the question is.
Do we need a change in Topeka? We
don't believe in giving up something
that has not proven failure in To-
pelka for something we do not know
much about. We don't maintain that
the present form of government is per-
feet but we believe that it would be a
wise plan to eradicate the little defects
in this system rather than to adopt
something new.
I'm Leavenworth it was not the com
mission form of government that i'm
proved the city, but the state officials
have done their duty and the pro-
enforcement has awakened the
people-commission form has not had
time to work"
In reply to the last statement, Geo. S.
Badders asserted that Leavenworth
was cleaned up by the Greater Leav-
enworth Club which elected five rep
men as commissioners and
has made a city of which Kansas can
we'll be proud. "Leavenworth two years
ago." said Mr. Badders, looked like q
deserted village, but the change has
been remarkable" He then mentioned
a number of weak points in the adj
which commission govern
ment, he maintained, would eradicate.
The general sentiment of the meeting
was in favor of the commission plan.