Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-03
co DECLARES MAYOR OF SPO-
KANE, AND GIVES HIS
REASONS.
READY TO RESIGN AS SOON AS
COMMISSION FORM is
ADOPTED.

l
efficiency and waste if controlled by
dishonest and incapable men, are a
few of the terms employed by Mayor
Nelson s. Pratt in an open letter TO
the people of Spokane directing at
tention to the weaknesses OF the pres
ent system of municipal government
and urging them to adopt the COM
mission plan He also announces
that he will appoint representative
committee in few days to investl-
gate and report the general outline
of a new city charter, primarily with
view to bringing the matter to an
issue at a special election early IN
1910.
This is in line with Mayor Pratt S
recent declaration that he Is ready
to step out of office to which he was
elected last May for a term of two
years, in the event of the adoption
of the commission plan, and is the
result of the bitter quarrels among
members of the city council and the
board of public works. This opposi-
ton has not only handicapped the
chief executive in carrying out his
pledge to give the people of Spokane
business administration, but has
also delayed several millions of dol
ars' worth of street, bridge and water
system improvements and other pub
lie work in various parts of the city.
Mayor Pratt says:
my experience of SIX years in the
two departments of this city's gov
eminent, in the council and as mayor,
coupled with careful and intimate OBJ
servation of its workings in detail,
have persuaded me to the conclusion
that our system is a failure. AS a
political organization there is no ex-
cuse for it's existence, because all It's
functions are of business and adj
ministrative rather than a political
nature. AS an administrative organ1-
cation, it is cumbrous, irresponsible,
dflatory and extravagant-in a word,
it is totally inefficient and inadequate.
Even when controlled by honest ana
capable officials, such an organization
cannot be successful, while if con-
trolled by dishonest and incapable
men, it is doubtful if any device OF
human continuing affords greater OPP
portunity and assurance of theft, in
efficiency and waste.
''The two functions of government,
political and administrative, the first
governing and the latter busfness-do-
ing. apply to municipal affairs In
widely different proportions. Proba-
bly, it is not too much to say that
ineteen-twentieths of the things TO
be done by municipality belong TO
the latter class. The American poIit-
ical organization adopted to govern
ing-to legislating and to the laying
down and enforcing of rules of con-
duct and right as to persons ana
property-is wholly unnecessary and
inadequate when used for the trans
action OF municipal business.
''The checks and balances of the
American system of political crgani-
cation, when applied to the admins
trative affairs of the city government,
become checks and hindrances, di-
viding or shifting the responsibility
and producing responsibility. The
method additionally deemed neces-
sary in political government, when
considering matters of general pol
icy, results in an endless catalogue
of municipal sins, both of omission
and commission-unim streets.
broken pavements, defective side
walks, inadequate sewer systems, de
layed vfaducts, insufficient water sup
ply ruined laws, lack of proper con
troll over public service corporations,
and, worst of all, that most consp1er-
GUS blot on American government
municipal corruption. 1t places no
premium upon official aIertness. pettv
chickering's, cabals and intrigues.
I'm our city government we do
vast quantities of business in the Leg
fsiatfve formulae of proceedings at
tendant upon the preparation and pas
sage of tariff measure or a Grim
inal code.
"In recent years, the proper soIu-
ton Of this impossible situation has
apparently been found by some Amer
lean cities. The general scheme adopt-
ed has been to concentrate in one
small body of men, chosen by the
entire electorate, all the administrat-
i've and governmental functions or
the city. AS means of effective Of
ficiency, such a plan represents the
best mode that American business
experience has developed. Elected nv
the popular vote and subject to re-
can, such body is fully responsive
70 the people. II there is added to
this, as part of the general n,ar