The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-30
HOW GOVERNMENT OF CITY IS
 TAKEN AWAY FROM PEOPLE
Time to Gall a Halt in Crea- tion of Commissions Not Responsible to
 Voters
Park Board Quoted by Nor rissey as an Example of an Un-American Princi- pie in Government Sub init Charter Changes to People, Is His Demand.

init Charter Changes to
 People, Is His Demand.
 Former Alderman John J. Morrissey 1t is said. will make a minority report to the Common Council. representing the Charter Amendment committee, in favor of including g provision by which all proposed charter changes may, be submitted to the voters.
 .. V MT. Morrissey said this morning: "I shall certainly not lay this matter of the referendum down until the victory Is won, doubt very much, however, < if the people understand the full inn portance of the principles involved.
 ..The situation is not much different Ai iii BridEeportt than it is in other cit ies.E Everywhere certain forces are striving to remove the government as far from the people as they can. The process is quiet, but it is effective, and has already proceeded a long way.
 ..Eorrnerly those forces which thrive upon public privileges could depend up- on Legislatures, Common Councils and other bodies elected by the people. But within these last few years the voters have been waking up. Men elected to office have found it neces- aary to look out for the people. They Have not been granting franchises, nor giving away public rights as reckless Ny as they used to.
 Therefore the sinister element that coftstitutes the real power in many cit ies and States is casting about for means to take authority away from elective bodies, and place it into ap- pointed bodies, whose members are not responsible to the people.
 In this city this work has been in telIige1tIy managed We have had an agitation to convince the people. that pofntive body, is more powerful than the Common Council, an elective body; a- proposition which is repugnant to all the traditions uI.on which our govern n1ert is based. e s 'sIt is dangerous to take power from servents directly responsible to the people and give fl to men who are not responsible. E AZ case in point is the 20 year con tract which was made by the Common Council to be sure; but the people re- ssbant6d It and Fulafs fshoa the A hadrnen offanse will not be repeated there. But a year ago the Board of Apportionmen renewed the contract for another year, axHinst the general wish of the voters to the contrary. But the voters can not reach the members of the, Board of Apportionment. which is regrettable
 .srfse voters will notice that the en- tire tendency of legislation accomplish. ed by the clements to which refer, has been, in the past few years, to take power from the Common Council and place 1t in commissions. This part of the job is about completed. Now we are to have a sequence of charter changes which will place the commis- sions beyond the reach of the people, and finally beyond the reach of the ap- pointing power itself.
 sarhis will be accomplished, first by extending the terms of the comnfis- so that the appointing power. cannot Tnalwe a majority of a commission dur ing single term. and finally by fix ing matters so that the commissions are self perpetuating.
 sThe terms Of the assessors have been increased to four years. Pres entity the law will be changed until ber of the board during two terms. Finally the power of appointment will be taken from the mayor, and the members of the board will fill yacan- cies.
 "This principle has been worked out and applied to the Park Board. The members of this board hold for eight years. Every year one retires. His place is filled by the remaining mem bcrs.
 sssudh q governmental device is as foreign to the principles upon which the forefathers worked out a scheme of popular government as can well be imagined.
 .-The people have no more to do with the Park Board than they have with the management of affairs in the in fernal regions.
 "Yet this is the very device that these clements will apply throughout the city government, if they are allow ed to proceed
 .'In the present. charter committee we have had strong contest with the head of the administration to prevent the creation of a, board of public works, the members of which were to have six year terms, and which would be practically out of reach of the voters.
 ssEverything was there except the self -perpetuating principle, which prob l ably would have been added two years l hence.
 ssThe people may depend upon it that | these subtle. unseen political clements | in city. will day in and day out, have | more influence with legislative com l work Is done when the people are not | looIffr1g: secretly. 1
 aAeainst these secret methods. l of Venice and the Dark | \ aee. tf1e referendum is a remedy in [ accordaxlce with the spirit of America |
 Get the council prepare laws for the | city. and let the legislature pass upon them to see that they are in accordance | with the generol law of the state, but | before they are made effect1ve,let them be submitted to the people and ap- A.. Ia