The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-22
PRACTICAL WORKINGS OF THE
COMMISSION PLAN.

PRACTICAL WORKINGS OF THE
COMMISSION PLAN.
With view Of obtaining infcrma-
ton at first hand from trustworthy
sources Mr.. Ralph B. Smith recently
addressed letters to representative
citizens Of Cedar Rapids making in
quiries as to the practical workings of
the commission plan Of city govern
ment there. The plan has been in
operation in Cedar Rapids for some
thing over a year and the consensus
of opinion locally is that it has ac-
complished all that was claimed for it.
Among those who replied to Mr..
Smiths inquiries was w. G. Haskell
of the w. G. Haskell Company, whole
sale dealers in coal and coke. Mr.. E. /
R. Sherman of Cedar Rapids, who ex-
planned and endorsed the plan in an
address in the Grand opera house in
this city, says of Mr.. Haskell in a !
private letter: Il know of no man In
Cedar Rapids who is better qualified
to speak that he, for he has had a
number of years experience in mu-
nicipal and park affairs and is one of
our best, most progressive and most
public-spirited citizens" Mr.. Haskell
wrote to Mr.. Smith:
Il have taken more or less interest
In municipal affairs for the last ten
or twelve years in our city. Having
served six years on the council also
four years as chairman of the Board
of Park Commissioners under the old
plan of running our city administra-
ton, which office was thrown out of
when the new commission plan was
adopted, and also defeated for mayor
under the new commission plan.
have given it considerable study, and
believe then as do now that the COM
mission plan of government is the best.
Out of some twelve candidates for
mayor, and forty-eight for alderman,
we selected in nonpartisan election
one man for mayor, and four for
alderman or commissioners. They
after being elected. The mayor to
receive $500 per year, and the alder
men $500 each, and after one year. S
trial, we find that these FIVE men have
sacrificed their own business interests
.
ness of the city. Their two years term
will not expire until next spring, at
which time l am satisfied their re-
ports will show that the commission
plan of government is the only one for
city of this kind, and as large tax
payer / feel better satisfied to trust
my interests in the hands of five
good men such as believe we have in
our commission than / would to one
or two aldermen from each ward who
are continually fighting for the inter
ests of their particular ward which
oftentimes as you know, their actions
and decisions are detrimental to the
tax payers. ] am speaking to you now
only as a tax payer and one who has
our city's interests at heart, and not
for publication, and complying with
your request of me for an article
giving you the points of city govern
ment under the commission plan as tc
where they may differ from the OLD
charter government plan.
Yours truly,
"W. G. HASKELL
Another leading citizen of Cedar
Rapids we'll qualified to speak concern
ing the merits of the commission plar
is John w. Barry, president of the
Hawk-Eye Lumber and Coal Company
In letter to Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Barr!
says:
while / cannot at this time give
you as / would like to the facts AMI
figures covering our experience Will
the commission plan of city govern
ment, yet | assure you our people have
every reason to be well pleased ant
in fact the large majority are enthusi
astic No one urged it here as cure
all, but as an Improvement and nov
after experience the only directors ar,
agfew 'I.told-you-so' fellows who ar,
not now and never were counted a
important factors in the civic life 0
the community.
Very truly yours,
JOHN w. BARRY"
Similar testimony is borne by Nj
George T. Hedges of the George I
Hedges Company, real estate, loan
and investments. In reply to a re
quest for his opinion regarding tn
commission plan of city government
Mr.. Hedges wrote as follows:
'In reply WIN say that was yer
much in favor Of this plan and did
large amount of work in helping +
bring it about. 1t also had the supper
of the Commercial Club of Ceda
Rapids, which has a membership o
about three hundred of the leading
business men of the city.
II do not have time to go into de
tails regarding this at present, as
have been away for sometime and flint
that am loaded up with business mat