The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-04-22

~. VIZ IT. g. III - 49, n 49, 49,"
the commission form OF government
as aplIed 20 cities proven satlstae
tory?
Why Council plan Falls.
Crossing lots for al answer, Il may
hc said that the commission form Of.
government has succeeded because Of.
It's nntlnodal difference from the olo.
council plan. which latter often proved.
unsatisfactory for these reasons
]. With q large number Of elective
officers, she government proved cum
|befsonf anil mwieldy. responsibility
and power being dlnused. when real
~ capable men were elected 70 Office
they found Il dihicrlt or impossible
to accomplish good work.
@ With q urge number Of Offices
10 be elected and generally 8 number
81 candlaates seeking each office, it
became practically Impossible for any
citizens ave the professional pod. j.
eiaA who deyotes all Of his time TO the
subject. 10 lntelllgcntly choose as be
tween Tho various candidates FOR each
Office, and
g. The better class OF citizens,
qualified and honest. ~refrained from
being candidates for office because
tal It was practically impossible for
voters e make intelligent choice as
between the candidates and (bl Il was
practically impossible and certainly
exceedingly difficult for such men, II
ohoaen TO office, 10 accomplish much
good therein
Easia cl Commibsiun Plan.
Per contra, the commission form OF
government has succeeded because, IN
the frst place, the people having fat
opportunity TO choose wisely as be-
tween n comparatively small number
Of candidates, the better class Of citi.
zens, capable and honest, are willing
10 become candidates for public OF.
fee; and. secondly because such men
when elected, are able. by reyaon Of
the fact that the commission is , small
and wieldly body, clothed With ads.
quate powers and under definite re-
sponslbility, 10 achieve their worthy
purposes This second reason. togetn-
err with tie arst constitutes the induce.
ment fos the right sort OF men to
give their services to the public.
County Government Defects.
PercelYlng the reasons for success OF
the commission plan as applied to
cities, It r. not difficult to understand
why our county government IN Texas,
especially IN counties Of large popu-
latlOn has often proven unsatisfactory.
For one thing. the commissioners
court while having great power, docs
not by any means control all that
there Is TO the county government.
There are the other county officials,
chosen directly by the people and re-
sponsible IN every slight degree, if at
lall. 70 the commissioners court,
whereas 4 distinctive feature Of the
commission form Of government as
epplicd 20 cities Is that the commits.
gi0ners appoint all other officers Of
The city, and In consequence have
complete and effective control over
the enlisc government. The people
hook 70 the commissioners. and 10
them only. Tor results. The other Of.
necrs and employees OF the city look
to the commissioners. and 10 them
only. for orders.
This. hnwever. Is not the chief diff
ference The malu point OF dlHercnee
Hes Ia the methods If selecting the
Two GROUPS OF 0ficlais.
County commissioners are chosen
by preelnets; city commissioners, I'm.
der the Galveston plan. are chosen
ffan@ the city &C large and by all the
voters Of The city.
Party politics enters into the selee.
tlun OF county commissioners. In many
instances Interfering with lhe free OK.
efcieea nf Judgment unQn the part Of
voters. Such Is not the case IN a M.
iogity Of the cities which lave adopted
tao commission plan Of government,
and In meme Of them whore II IS civ
ing approximately perfect Satisfaction
FINALLY. ana whal Is most import.
ant the voter II picking county com
missl0ners IS called upon 10 make
choice rs between many candidates
which s not the case IN the selection
a city commissioners. Not that there
are many candidates fer county com.
m~isslonershipt the trouble Is that
county commissioners arc chosen II
tke same time IS other county Officers q.
aud precinct. district. state aud per.
hgps. National officers. Too much
goes on during The preceding cam
palgn 10 render 1t possible for ans
save professional politicians to gals
accurate Information as tc many ni
the candidates.