The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-07-10
THECOMMISSIONPlAN
Article furnished by the Publicity
Committee.

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One OF the weaknesses OF the pres-
ent form OF municipal government
where there are so many different com
mittees. each committee composed Of
three or four aldermen, the work OF
the city divided under various heads or
subdivisions and committee for each
subdivision, Is the division of reanon-
sibility--is the difficulty of placing or
securing the feeling of individual ac-
countability. One member OF the COM
mittee is under no greater obligation
than each Of the others, and he who
takes a special interest and renders
efficient service must usually, perhaps
not always, divide the credit with the
other members of the committee. IN
other words, the system is well cal
culated to discourage rather than TO
stimulate individual effort and ef1c
cheney.
Whereas, under the commission form
of government, its simplicity, it's linn
iting the number of those digectIv
charged with the management OF the
city's affairs and in fixing, or, in the
Capitalization of responsibility. gives
merit TO whom due and especially an
peals to the special pride in the man
agement Of each commissioners de-
partment. Under the North Dakota
law (Sec. "a of tho act). one OF the
four commissioners, known as the po-
lice and fire commissioner, has under
MS special charge the management of
all police regulations OF such city and
general supervision over the fire de-
partment of such city; and another
commissioners, the commissioner of
streets and public improvements, has
under his special charge the supervis-
ion Of streets and alleys of such city,
and is charged with the duty OF
lighting and keeping such streets and
alleys in clean and san ,tary condition.
and with the enforcement of the rules
and regulations to that end, and also |
for the preservation of the health of |
the inhabitants Of such city-as well |
as supervision over public improve
ments, and 1t is his special duty to |
see that the contracts therefor are
faithfully complied with, etc; and an
other commissioner, the waterworks
and sewerage commissioner, has under |
his special charge the waterworks and |
sewerage department and enforcement |
of all regulations with respect thereto |
and the revenues accruing therefrom;
and another commissioner has especial |
charge of the enforcement of laws for |
and collection of taxes of |
every kind, and the collection of all |
revenue belonging to the city, etc.
Besides this simplicity there is the /
spur of the mayor resident whose duty
It is to see that all laws are enforced. /
and the additional spur, (Sec. 21 of
the act), of the $4,000 bond required /
Of each commissioner before taking the
path of Office.
Under this plan," says Mr.. Chees-
a prominent business man of
Galveston, but not member of the
commission, the management of a de-
oartment is promptly laid at the door
II the neglectful commissioner, not
only by the general public but by the
president and other members of
he board. This knowledge of perso-
lal responsibility and watchfulness
causes each commissioner to take a
interest and to feel an espec-
al pride in the proper MANAGEMENT of
his department, realizing as he must.
hat the merit as well as defects are
easily recognized by his associates as
we'll as by the public generally"
Said the Hon. Elihu Root, while Sec
'etary of state; venture to suggest
hat there are two things to be done
IF vital Importance, both of which re-
luire the highest degree of irtelIigence.
One is that for the solution of the
questions that are now
before us, government should be sim
piled in the highest degree. And to
simplify is the function of learning.
The other is that responsibility shall
be fixed so that the people may know
whom to hold responsible for failures
20 produce good government The Ak
ng of responsibility is a matter for
he highest intelligence and courage"