The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-07-10
COMMISSION OPPOSED
Article Furnished by the Taxpayers
COMMITTEES.

4
The present article Is the first OF 4
series to be published pointing out
the dangerous provisions OF the So
called commission form OF govern
ment, as provided in Chapter KS Of the
laws Of 1907 Of North Dakota.
Let Ii be understood at the begin
ming that the law as enacted by the
Legislative assembly of North Dakota
Is not taken from or patterned after
the commission form of government
law as enacted in any state i'm tine
union.
Attorney General Miller. proudly
admits that he is the author OF the
law. and he knows that 1t is good, be-
cause he says. that after drafting IT.
he submitted IL to County Auditor
Arthur G. Lewis, who approved it, be-
cause 1t provides for publicity" |. e.,
requires the publication four times a
year of the financial condition Of the
city instead OF twice. as now provid-
ed by law.
Both OF these gentlemen assert most
strenuously, that by the adoption of
the commission act, city affairs win
be taken out and removed from poll
tics
Both have political ambitions and
both are anious to receive at the
hands of the people, something better,
than either now have, later on. May
be this was the reason why the COM
mission act, as prepared by them, con-
tains none Of the provisions Of the
Galveston commission law, the Des
Moines commission law, or the safe
and sound principles of any of the
commission acts adopted or agitated
for adoption in many OF The cities of
the country.
A casual reading of the law will
convince any one, that 1t was design
ed to give some few persons immense
power, which could be advantageously
used for political purposes.
The law as enacted, contains no re-
strictions or safeguards; and, If adopt
ed, will result In higher taxes and ex-
travagances in the government of the
city.
In the first place let us consider the
officers and the manner OF their ap-
pointment.
Section 13 of the act. entitled, on
GERS, provides: THE officers of cities
incorporated under this act shall be
president of the board of city COM
missioners and four city commission
ers who, together, shall be known as
the board of city commissioners OF
the city OF -; a treasurer auditor
attorney, a police magistrate, one or
more justices of the peace, one or more
assessors, physician, street commits
sioner, chief of the fire department,
city engineer, chief of police, board
of public works, one or more police
men, and such other officers or boards
as the board of city commissioners by
a majority vote may deem necessary;
provided, that the board of city COM
missioners by a majority vote may
dispense with the offices of street
commissioner, engineer and board of
public works and provide that the
duties thereof be performed by 9TH
er officers or boards by the board of
city commissioners or a committee
thereof"
Why was the attempt made in the
law to give the board OF city commits
sioners the power of appointment of
the police magistrate?
Was the police magistrate and his
office to be used by willy politicians to
coerce and force people into supporting
certain men and measures?
A weak man In the once OF police |
coerced by the strong in |
fuence Of the inscriptions politician, |
could and would make an unlimited |
of trouble for people.
(To be continuedl