The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-30
desire light on subject which has be-
come one OF great interest to them.
THE COMMISSION PLAN.

man OF Cedar Rapids made
known to all In attendance the salient
features and advantages of the com
mission plan of city government. The
more important of these will bear rep
etition in brief in this connection.
Upon the presentation of petition
signed by electors equal in number to
twenty five per cent of all votes cast
TO- mayor at the last preceding city
election the question of adopting the
commission plan of government shall
be submitted to the voters at special
election to be held within two months
after the petition is filed. If the ma
jority of votes is in favor OF adoption
of the commission plan the city shall
thereupon proceed to the election of
mayor and councilmen In the larger
cities of the state a mayor and for
icouncilmen constitute the commission.
In cities the size of Keokuk the COM
mission will consist of mayor and
two councllmen. II the commission
plan Is not adopted 1t the special cleo
ton called to vote on the proposition
the question cannot be resubmitted for
two years thereafter.
BY the terms of the commission law.
all state laws not in conflict or neon
sistent with 1t are retained and remain
in full force and effect All contracts,
rights and liabilities remain the same
as under the present form of city gov
eminent
The mayor and councilmen are nomi.
mated without reference to party poll.
tics by all the voters of the city voting
at primary instead of being nominated
in separate wards by the several par
ties as now. Under the commission
plan every voter will help nominate
two candidates for mayor and four
candidates for councilmen, and then at
the city election every voter will vote
for his choice OF the two candidates
for mayor and for his choice of two OF
the four candidates for councilmen.
Under the present plan every elector
has vote l.. selecting the candidate
OF his party for mayor and the two
aldermen from his ward, but has no
vote, either at the primary or the cleo
ton, for the candidates for aldermen
from the other six wards In the city.
Under the present system he votes for
only two of the twelve aldermen. I'm
de- the commission plan he will help
choose both of the councilmen. In
other words, his voting power will be
Increased from Is to 100 per cent by
the commission plan.
Under the commission plan Keokuk
as above stated would be governed by
a mayor and two councilmen. This
commission or board would appoint al
other city officials, who would act I'm
der its direction at all times. These
officials would be directly responsible
: to the board and the members Of thu
) board would be directly responsible t
the people The mayor of city tn,
size of Keokuk will receive salary O
/ 81 200 and each councilman salary o
e 5000 a year, and they will be expecte
: to give all their time to the manage
a ment of the city's affairs. The men
8 bers of the commission or board hav
no greater taxing power than the pre-
ent aldermen, cannot vote any fral
L chise to any corporation or individual
g must give weeks notice before tn
y passage of any ordinance or resolutio
appropriating money or ordering an
= street improvement or sewer, or ma
ing any contract, and must publish
complete statement of receipts and e
:. penditures and a summary Of all pr
.c ceedings of the council at the end
y. every month Secret sessions are pr
i. hibited.
All franchises to public service &C
operations must be submitted to vo
ar of the people fo- approval No office
of elected or appointed. can becon
ed either directly or indirectly interestt
We financially in any contract or job
lu- which the city is party or in whit
Id any public service corporation Is int
IN ested; nor any such officer or eI
ed ploye accept any service favor fro
ne any such service corporations. If al
ch city official or employe attempts to
fluence any other city official polite;
ly, or attempts to control or infiuen
in appointments either directly or ine
rectly he is a subject to fine
~ SO 600 or term in the county jail.
Heavy penalty is also prescribed f
-. the acceptance or giving of any bril-
or to influence voters and al
he for the violation of any electi,
ty- laws Any person or candida
ne is expressly prohibited acceptil
90 from or giving money to al
IS; candidate for Office to secure the ele
Id ton or appointment. ANY person vs.
nd agrees to or does accept any money
ool any valuable thing for services rend:
nv e6 to any candidate is liable to a fl
of $500 and Imprisonment in the cou
ty Jail not exceeding thirty days.
no The mayor and his associates on [
ity board or commission have power