The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-30
Commission GoUernment
 Needed Ln Montgomery

Galveston under this kind of govern ment, followed this form also. He said that 1t then spread from these two cities to other cities in that state and then to other states.
 Continuing Mir. Glass said that city councils not only in Montgomery or in New York or in any other city, need not have all night sessions. with lengthy discussions and worries. In order to handle the affairs of city, but he said what was needed in city government was several men with the authority to do things, with the capaci- ty and determination to go aheai and use that authority. He stated that a city in its government did not want mayor with his hands tied by the city council.
 The speaker next showed the points wanted in a city government as sim plicity and administration with straight forward business-like govern ment and he stated that the commits sion form of government does that. MT. Glass next brought out how the commissioners in this kind of govern ment were elected. He sa,o 'na. sometimes they were appointed by the Governor of the state and other times | elected by the people of the city, which entirely did away with the ward issues, He said that these commits sions meet once a week and they con sider all matters. They do their work quickly and quietly and there Is no de- lay.
 MT. Glass next stated that as gem eral rule, the country over. the high CT class of business men do not hold tho city government offices. but in the cities where the commission form or government is used. the best business men of the town control the affairs. Concluding. MT. Glass stated that tnis form of government meant simpiinca- ton; that 1t did away with delay and legislation, and that 1t brought about an economical, efficient, straghtfor- , ward and businesslike government. Lastly he stated that In every city where it had been tried, 1t had proven success. and that there was tre- mendous need for this form of gov ernment all over the country today, especially in the larger cities. Following MT. Glass, James 8. Par | rish, a present Alderman of the City Council. made few remarks, saying he endorsed in abstract everything that Mir Glass said. He stated that he was interested in the subject and that ne had read many articles in the maga- zines concerning the topic; that he had written many cities now using this form of government and that he had read their charters.
 Mr. Parrish told how he had written several leading firms in Des Moines, Ia, a city ruled by commissioners. asK- ing their opinions on the workings of the government, and the replies were | favorable. He also told about the dis cussions in the City Council and how | Clayton Street had been authorized to be paved thirteen months ago and that 1t was not paved yet. He also cited the discussions concerning the paving of Perry Street. He stated that the commission form of government was what Montgomery needed.
 Several other members made g. few remarks endorsing the movement, and several questions were asked concern ! ing what executive ability these com missioners had. If they were under bond, If the people could ihpeach them and how could the best business men of the town be persuaded to accept these offices.
 MT. Glass answered these several questions, stating that this Board oi Commissioners usually consisted of about five men and that they had full authority to transact all the affairs ant business of the municipality. He sait that sometimes the commissioners were
 under bond. and sometimes not. ant
 that the people had the authority O
 voting a man out of office.
 Give People a Chance.
 At this point Mir. Glass stated tha
 MT. Urquhart. of Jefferson County, a
 the next meeting of the Legislature O
 the State, was going to introduce bil
 for Birmingham, providing that thi
 form of government could be consider
 ed by people in that city. According to the bill it would only be for citiei
 having population of 10000. MT Glass said that this bill ought to b,
 hot he oF cry would be included and that tn, Legislature give Montgomery an op
 portunity of considering the matter o
 the commission form of government
 when the people so desired 1t and wher the time came.
 MT. Glass further stated that tht best governed and the only we'll gov erned city in the United States was the City of Washington. D. c. He said that
 when the Republican Party saw the negro vote was hurtong the city. they adopted the commission form of gov. ernment and that the city was now ruled by a non-partisan Board of Com missioners appointed by the President
 President F. s. Ball. of the club told of several articles appearing in the recent magazines concerning the forms | of government in San Francisco. Cleve. land. Pittsburg, and the graft connect ed with the government in many cities
 Concluding, he cited several vices fl connection with a city's government such as ward issues. indirect compen. sation to those in power. graft. waste and neglect of duty, no direct dealings and transactions in business. and the lack of a place to lay any responsibil- ity.
 Before adjournment. a. motion was passed to have a committee appointed | to consider the Uruuhart bill and have Montgomery included with Birming- ham.