The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-12
Same Bad Effects in Old Mu-
nicipaI Government, as De-
scribed by BerryhiII, Found
Wherever It Is Used.
WHAT CONVINCED THE
DES MONIES PEOPLE
Points Out the Defects in the
Old Municipal System and
Shows How New Plan Has
Overcome These Faults.
(6y Carl Bernhardt.)
ARTICLE 6.

10Y NdTI
ARTICLE 6.
In the following discussion Of the old
ward system of government set forth
by Mr.. Berryhill, who is called the
father of the Des Moines Plan," it
may be objected that the governmen;
of Indiana cities is different in many
details.
A closer observation will disclose the
fact that although the details of mu.
nicipal government may vary under
the old ward, council, mayor, board
OF public works and police commits.
sion plan, the same bad effects
which Mr.. Berryhill describes, are
in force everywhere. This sim
ply shows that the whole system is
wrong, no matter what notifications
there are. The discussion of the old
plan which follows, is merely a com.
pact form of the arguments and state.
ments with which he convinced the
people of Des Moines of the iniquity
of the old plan.
Arguments Convinced Des Moines.
"In setting forth the Des Moines
Plan to my fellow townsmen," said Mr..
Il asked them to think O!
what was the matter with the city gov.
ernment-then to think of how those
particular evils might be corrscted.
For each evil traced to its origin we
have offered q seemingly radical
change, but one which is based on
practical results. The Commission
came from Galveston to supplant the
evils of councils elected from wards
the Recall came from Los Angeles to
remove public officials who do not do
their duty and to offset the power CIV
en- to five men. the mandatory referen-
dun of franchises came from Ohio
and SO on through the list of changes
All of them had worked successfully
somewhere. Our task was to assem-
BILE them.
Men say that the new plan is un-
democratic. answer by challenging
such men to bring forth plan Of gov
ernment which gives the people as
much power. This was nowhere bet.
ter proved than the fact that the pub
lie service corporations and the pro-
fessional parasites Of the old city
hall regime were the only ones who
fought the present Des Moines Plan
what were the defects of the old
plan?"
Discusses Old System.
These questions Mr.. Berryhill dis
cussed as follows:
"In order to appreciate the radical
changes affected by this measure. q
review of the old system. which the
one under discussion is designed te
supplant, is necessary. I will discuss
the organization of cities of the frs!
class under the old law, and more par,
ticularly as applied to the city of Des
Moines. which was used as a basis fol
the discussion as contrasted with the
new plan"
IL. Under the old system the may
or Of the city is practically q figure
head. since he is endowed with little
power. He possesses the veto power
is given the right to appoint the board
of public works and the chief Of police
subject to the ratification Of the coun
Gil. The appointive power has beer
the source of great political demorali
zation in the city of Des Moines by
reason of conflicts developed between
the mayor and the council. The board
of public works, by reason Of their ir,
responsibility to the people or to pub
lie opinion. became important politica
factors. Upon the expiration of theil
terms Of office conflicts arose regard
their continuing in place. and by rea
son Of their close political relation
ship with the council the mayor wa:
baffled in his desire to supplant them
the council exercising its power Of re
lection.
with respect to the control of tn,
police and fire departments, the weak
ness Of the system was also manifest
Under the law a police and fire com
mission composed of three appointiv'
members, under civil service regule
tions. absolutely controlled the per
eonnel Of the two departments. Thi.
cally unknown to the public and unin
fluenced by public opinion. Theil
compensation was insignificant ant
they had little to inspire them in tht
administration Of their trust.
Defects Of Ward System.
''2. The council, which possessed
legislative functions. was too large I
body. In the city Of Des Moines. 1
was composed Of seven aldermen elect
ed from the wards and two at large
and q short time prior to the event:
herein referred to, two additiona
wards were created, which would hav,