The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-24

Des Moines correspondence, st.
Louis Globe Democrat: One year Of
the Des Moines plan of municipal gov
eminent has proved its worth. The
adoption of business methods in all de-
partments, the elimination of petty
graft and a general Improvement OF
conditions, added to the fact that for
the first time in seventeen years and
the second time in the history Of
city over fifty years old the fiscal
year closes with a balance Instead Of
a deficit in the treasury, make the
communication plan, known far and
wide as the Des Moines plan. a tried
success, no longer theory Of reform
ers.
Instead OF exceeding the income by
$4,000, as did the old city council
during the last year OF its regime, the
commission began the new fiscal year.
April /, with $4,000 ito the good.
Not a single appropriation was ex-
ceeded during the first year OF the
Des Moines plan, while some were sew
eral thousands Of dollars more than
actually expended. Economy was the
watchword throughout tie year and
strictly business methods prevailed,
where slipshod, political methods Cor
rather. lack Of them) had prevailed
before. The result. SO far as finances
are concerned, is that the interests OF
the city under the first year Of the
new plan were looked after 100000
better than the last year of the old
plan.
How has this municipal millen-
Lium been brought about in the short
space of one year?
BY revolution which has cleaned
out the grafters from the city and
installed in their places business men
guided by business principles.
The Des Moines Plan Explained.
In the first place, what is the Des
Moines plan, and how was it brought
into being? No man is better quail
flied to explain than James G. Berry
hill, conceded to be the father ct the
Des Moines plan" He tells the story
Ct the inception and adoption ct the
idea in this manner:
I'm order to appreciate the radical
changes effected by this measure. a
review Of the old system is necessary
Il. Under the old system the mayo
Of the city was practically figure
head, since he was endowed with little
! power. He possessed the veto power
Twas given the right to appoint the
Board OF Public Works and the chic
OF police, subject to the ratification
OF the council. This appointive power
| had been a source of great politica
Decentralization in the city of De-
Moines, by reason of conflicts devel
1 oped between the mayor and tn
Council. The Board of Public Works
lby reason OF their irrespons bility t
the people or to public opinion, be
came importantpolitica factors. Upo
the expiration of their terms of cffic
conflicts arose regarding their contin,
ing in place, and by reason of their clos
relationship with the Council tn
mayor was baffled in his desire to SUI
plant them, the Council exercising il
power of rejection.
, with respect to the control OF tn
5 police and the fire departments til
5 weakness of the system was also ma
5 ifest. Under the laws Police an
: Fire Commission, composed of thre
0 appointive members, under civil sc
vice regulations, absolutely controlls
the personnel Of the two department
" This Police and Fire Commission W;
d practically unknown to the public al
l. uninfluenced by public opinio.-. The
y compensation was Insignificant al
J. they had little to inspire them in Il
a administration of their trust.
e 80 The Council, which possess
n legislative functions, was too large
u body. In the city of Des Moines
h was composed of seven aldermen ele
n ed from wards and two at large, a
short time prior to the events hel
Is In referred to two additional war
were CTSdlSut WHICH NOuiu ifANS
" volved an increase of the number
= councilmen to eleven. Most Of t
20 work of the Council was transact
W by committee who did not delibers
or publicly. They were hard to rea,
Ks When the Council met in open S
a. sion the members were prone to q
~ - cuss everything from political stal
nc point Partisan nominations VIZ
he recognized. The party controlling
at majority of the Council became alb
es lutely dominant in city affairs.
on appointments were controlled by
ne majority and the minority denied
' aa voice in the selection of the pers
70 mel of the yarious city departmer
IT.
RS Sacrificed City interests for War
In THE members of the Council be
les elected from wards, recognized
paramount Importance and influel
'l s of their respective wards and fai
- to consider the interests of other {
IN, lions of the city. Combinations W
a., effected whereby a majority OF
~ Council. ..aturally political sect