Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-17
MEMBERS OF ASSOCIATED PRE-:
IMPRESSED WITH BISMARCk'S
EXPERIENCE.


The Grand Forks herald, which
has been looking for a light pro and
con on the commission system, is i'm
pressed with Bis1narck's experience
with the system, as set forth in a
special article recently written by a
press correspondent. The Herald
says:
That was an interesting story of
the operation of the commission plan
of government in Bismarck that was
published in The Herald yesterday
morning. 1t was a valuable one to
this community because if the story
of the operation of the same plan
that we of Grand Forks must adopt
if we adopt the commission plan in
any form at the present time. The
story Of the experiences of any city
under this of any other plan is of
interest and value, because from the
relation of the concrete experiences
of any city to find, with some degree
of success, the basic principle on
which the facts rest, and to make
more or less general application of
them at home.
Bismarck adopted the same COM
mission law that is on the statute
books now, and which is under con-
sideration here. It is generally adj
mitted that commission law which
provides, in addition to the commits
sion Of a few men elected at large,
the recall, the initiative and the ref
erendum, is a good form of govern
ment for cities. But the question
which we are trying to decide here is
whether or not commission plan
without any Of the last three features
is an improvement on the present
plan, and whether it is good thing
for a North Dakota city to adopt.
The experience of Bismarck appears
to answer that question in the affirm
alive.
The people of Bismarck did not
adopt the commission law blindly.
It had already been adopted in Man
dan, and was in operation there. The
law had been the subject of good
deal Of controversy in Mandan, as
there was quite strong element
there opposed to it. Bismarck is
just across the Missouri river from
Mandan, and the people of the two
cities visit back and forth very free
ly. The affairs of one city are mat
tiers Of common knowledge in the
other. And with the knowledge of
the experience of Mandan in their
possession, and after thorough dis
cussion and very lively campaign,
fhn ic.rr1 hv m a.
jority, adopted the new plan.
Their experience all the way
through seems to emonstrate their
wisdom. The election of commission
ers at large has clipped! the claws and
pulled the teeth Of the ward boss.
The result has been to allay in a
very marked degree the factional
spirit which ward politics engenders.
The commissioners elected do not re-
present one particular faction. In
their work they appear to have dis
regarded faction entirely, and the city
has benefited immensely. The arti-
Gle speaks for itself, but these are a
few points which are worthy of spec
ial consideration.
We cannot say that we are i'm
pressed with the Initiation and rerer-
endum and the recall. If the COM
missioners are not responsive enough
to public sentiment to initiate what
the city wants and needs they should
be ousted. The recall would only be
a dangerous club by which disgrunti-
ed politicians might keep the city and
the commission in hot water. People
should elect commissioner, knowing
that they are making a choice for
two or four years. The reflection
that q poor commissioner could be
recalled at any time, would be apt to
lead to- very slack judgment at cleo
ton time <%&,'E