Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-19

the Des Moines plan" He tells the
story of the inception and adoption
of the idea in this manner:
For number of years past
have visited the city of Galveston
Texas, in the interests of my personal
business, and have had opportunities
to observe the local government of
the city, and been especially i'm
pressed with the remarkable revolu-
ton accomplished in its affairs after
the great hurricane of September,
1900.
Influenced by this experiment,
Houston next adopted the system,
with slight notifications. Later on
the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and
Ell Paso secured similar charters.
The movement for simple commits
sion form of government attracted
general attention throughout the
many states looking toward the in
auguration of the movement.
"A public meeting held in Des
Moines on the l 7th day of November,
1905, developed a very marked in
terest ON the part of the leading bus
mess men of the city. Committees
were appointed and a bill prepared
for submission to the general assem-
bly, of Iowa at its session during the
winter Of 1906. The committee was
| composed of myself, W. H. Baily and
John Read, lawyers of the city.
The measure prepared contained
many of the provisions of the Calves
| toun charter, but also included GER
tain features that had been devel-
oped by legislative committee of
the Ohio Legislature some eight or 0
general municipal reform was consid-
cred in that state. One of the most
radical innovations of the act was
| that providing for the mandatory
submission of all public franchises to
! a popular vote. The sO-called Los
| Angeles recall was also Incorporated
in the bill and certain radical limo
vations adopted in the matter of
electing the council.
The Des Moines committee pre-
| sented the bill at joint meeting of
| the committees on cities and towns
of the senate and house of the 31St
| general assembly. 1t was soon appar-
ent. however, that public sentiment
| had not been sufficiently aroused to
| Justify legislative action, and the
committee declined to recommend
the measure for passage.
| During the summer of 1906 the
movement developed new force. The
| Indianapolis charter, adopted but a
short time previous was freely dis
cussed by the press and secured many
adherents. A committee was sent to
Indianapolis to investigate the work
ings of the system and favorable re-
ports were given. The Indianapolis
system involved the concentration of
large powers of an executive charac-
ter upon the mayor, who, within his
province, was independent of the
council. Legislative authority was
conferred upon large council elect
ed by small subdivisions of the city.
The old system of government by
council committees was abrogated
and in effect the mayor became the
! CliiSl lOlCe III Tie duluiHlStl dIlOH vi
city powers.
Action by Legislature.
"a meeting was arranged by the
Commercial club of the city of Des
Moines, on the 31st day of January
1907. the two plans being discussed
A vote was taken by the committee
composed of 800 of the business O
| Il; h. toll
TEN, with notifications, discussed a
the meeting, was Endorsed by de
cisive majority. The following com
mittee was appointed at this public
meeting to prepare bill for submis
sion to the 32d general assembly
namely, James G.. Berryhill, w. II
Baily, |. NJ. Earle, John Read and S
b. Allen.
1.-The bill submitted to the 31s
general assembly was taken as
I basis for the new measure. Severa
important additions were made there
to, those providing for the referen
] dunn. and the initiative, and the pro
visions designed to prevent the for
nation of political machines unde
strengthened. The bill thus prepar
ed was presented to the general as
sembly, was Endorsed by the commit
" tees on cities and towns of the hous
and senate. and became a law OF
March 20, 1907.
e 'In order to appreciate the radica
changes effected by this measure,
review of the old system is necessary
: Il. Under the old system the may
or of the city was practically figure
head, since he was endowed wit
little power. He possessed the vet
power, was given the right to appoin
the board of public works and tn
chief of police, subject to the ratifica
ton of the council. This appointiv
power had been source of grea
political decentralization in the cit
of Des Moines, by reason of conflict
developed between the mayor and tn
council. The board of public work:
by reason of their responsibility
the people or to public opinion, bt