Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-13
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
PASS UPON QUESTION.

Various newspapers In the o'd'e
are discussing the commission form or
city government. this subject having
been brought prominently before the
Virginia public recently by the pro-
posal OF the Roanoke Chamber OF CON-
merce to secure a legislative enact
ment giving the people an opportunity
10 vote upon a constitutional amend
ment authorizing cities to adopt the
commission system of they so desire.
The Richmond Times Dispatch and
other papers are in favor of the
movement. and the Times, of Roam
oke, seems to be the only one to fnd
any especial objection TO it.
The Times finds fault on the ground
that the commission system is not In
keeping with Democratic institutions.
and declares that to adopt such
form of government is. practically, to
admit that the people are incapable OF
governing themselves. In the cou Sc
of a very convincing reply TO THIS
argument. the Times Dispatch says:
There does not seem TO be any
essential connection between the size
of the representative body and De
mocracy. The complaint against the
couacilmanic system of government IS
ahat the legislative body is too large
90 be wieldly, that il meets too sell
dom to transact business efficiently,
and that its responsibilities are di-
yided, with unfortunate results. To
replace such body with small body
Of well-paid men. whose business 1t is
TO run the city, would no; involve any
admission that the people are incap-
able of seif-government. The people
are merely substituting one way OF
governing themselves for another
way. long tried and proven deficient
Tremendous powers are welded by
the heads Of great business corpora
tons. but the thousands Of stockhoid-
ers do not feel that they are being
tyrannized. On the contrary. sley
known that this concentration OF
mower is in their interests. The aim
of the commission idea is to give a
city the same kind of administration
that a successful corporation enjoys
Compactness is the first requisite. 50
long as the people themselves give the
larger movers and retain the means OF
taking them promptly away. they
have nothing to fear. They are as
truly the masters with a board OF ,
as with a council OF 100"
According to our notion there is nc
coon. fer argument as 10 the correct
ness Of the Times-Dspatch's conciu-
sionS. II would seem, however. thai
anv extended discussion, as to the
merits or dement's OF the commission
system Is useless at this time. The
system has been tried with marked
success in various cities and there i
no reason why the people Of Virgins
cities. n they 50 desire. should b
prevented from making the expert
ment. Certainly no one can advance
a sound reason for refusing to allow
the people Of Virginia 10 PASS uPo'
the question Of whether OF not THEFT
cities shall be allowed TO change theii
forms Of government.
The Daily Press is not prepared q
say tia; Newport News wants e
adopt the commission system. but
would ike for the citizens q New
port News 10 have the privilege o
making The change 81 they shouis
Wish TO DO 80 after a thorough inves
= sl<ss,on 81 the subject. n the peopi'
q the state say that the constitution
shall Be amended. the subject can b