The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-21


Starting with Galveston, where the
new system went into effect In 1901, the
commission idea first spread to other
Texas cities. Houston adopted il in
1905. as already set forth; Dallas follow
ed in 1907; Fort Worth adopted the plan.
and Denfson, CSreenviIe, Sherman, II
Paso. and, more recently, the state
capital, Austin, have followed. In near
ly every case the commissioners are
five in number and the general plae. fol-
lowed is either that OF Galveston or
Houston.
After the Galveston plaE had cen IN
operation a short time. the supreme
court Of Texas decided that that part Of
the law providing for three commits
sioners to be appointed by the governor
of the state, the other two, only. to be
elected by the people. was unconstitu-
tIonal, and that all must be elected. At
ter the Galveston charter was amended
to conform with this ruling the COM
missioners chosen in other cities have
all been elective. For this reason the
government OF Washington does not
present the case of a commission gov
eminent, In the sense in which the Germ
Is used elsewhere, for its Comm ission-
ers are not elected by the people.
Spreads Elsewhere.
From Texas the commission System
spread 10 Oklahoma, where three or
four cities have adopted it, the plan
going into erect in Ardmore on April
1, 1909: and to Kansas, where Topeka,
Leavenworth. Wichita and other cities
have followed the example of Calves
ton. In Iowa, Des Molnes. as already
noted, a city of $1,000, struck out along
slightly different line, adding 70 the
small commission, elected at large. the
other features of a recall for the COM
mfssioners, a referendum on ordinances
and franchises. a non-paTtisan primary
and election, and a city civil service.
Cedar Rapids is operating under the
same state law as Des Moines; and this
law has been amended so as TO permit
cities of 1000 TO adopt the plan. Bur
Iington, Davenport and other towns are
agitating the subject, the successes OF
the past year In their neighboring cities
having had a marked influence on gen.
eral sentiment throughout the munich
palities OF the State.
In Illinois Now.
The Illinois Legislature. in response
TO a strong demand from Peoria.
Springfield. and other cities, sent
committee to visit the Texas and Iowa
towns which l. we the plan in force,
and is expected to pass a law allowing
Illinois municipalities to aoopt it. About
tie same time, the people Of St Paul
and Minneapolis persuaded John Mac
Vicar, The Des Moines commissioner Of
streets. and cne or two other Iowans.
to come up and tell them about the.
Plan in force in Des Moines, with the
result that the Minnesota Legislature
has lust passed lin April. 1902 an act
providing for Introduction of the small
board system in cities of the Gopher
state. Both the twin cities aTe said
TO be anxious to try the experiment.
A bin to the same effect is pending in
the wisconsin Legislature; wisiie in
both North Dakota and South Dakota
the law is already in force. and Bis
nlarck. Mandan, and other cities have
the plan well under way: and in Ne
braska committee of the commercial
club of Lincoln, including the city
clerk and city attorney. recently made
an examination into the workings Of
the scheme.
At the same time. +he seeds OF the
idea have sprung up in the East and
in the far West. In Massachusetts, the
home of the original New England
town meeting, CHELSEA. Gloucester, and
UaverhiII have already put into effect,
and a distinguished committee OF the
Economic Club, including DR.. Charles
W. Eliot, then president OF Harvard;
John D. Long. Harvey n. Sheppard,
Holm Tobin, and Harvey >. Chase, sub
United TO the finance committee OF Bos-
ton a plan for the government OF that
city which fellows. In a general way,
- ATnfnRH
Adopted On Coast.
San Diego, Cal, adopted commission
government; Berkeley. the home OF the
University of California, has followed,
and Portland. Ore, a city Of l25,0O0. has
lust recently voted favorably on the
proposition. Boise and Lewiston. Idaho.
are also governed by commissions,
while Memphis, Tenn, with 10000 pop
ulatioD, and nearer the home Of the
idea. is to install it's new charter on
January /, 1910. Mississippi passed a
state law in 1908. and one city, Jackson,
has taken advantage Of it.
And so 1t goes. In active operation in
six States, just adopted In two more,
pending in two or three others. and
numbering also cities in Massachusetts,
California. and Oregon, the commission
strides toward general adoption. And
here Il may be well TO stop a moment
and inquire why this new idea has re-
cefved so cordial a reception and has
been accorded so ready a hearing Is it
a fad in government is it merely be-
cause the American people are eager
TO adopt something new that this
scheme has made such rapid Roadway?
or do meE believe they see a way out
of their old municipal slough OF incOm-
petence and graftZ Why this rapid ac-
ceptance Of a plan not yet ten years
old2
The reply must be evident to one at
all acquainted with American men and
their institutions. There comes forward
a plan with which every business man
IS familiar; every stocl1hOlder IN a cor
poration IS accustomed to voting for
board OF directors; why not vote for a
board OF municipal directors The solid
citizen grasps the idea instantly; IL is
familiar one; he knows its workings in
business; he understands IL thoroughly.