The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-23
FROM ST CLOUD TIMES

known as the government by commits
sion, places the control of all functions
! of the municipality in the hands of a
/, small committee usually fve), who
! constitute both the legislative and exc
cntive departments of the government,
, thus entirely superseding the city coun-
ell, the mayor, and the various de-
partments of the ordinary municipality.
I The first city of the United. States to
establish such a government was Gal
weston, Texas.
By the Galveston plan full legisla-
tive and administrative functions are
entrusted to a commission of five elect
ed at large every two years; one of
the five has the title of Mayor Presi-
dent but he has no special powers,
except that he is the presiding officer
of the commission. Commissioners
apportion among themselves the four
main departments of city government
Tor administrative purposes, as fol-
lows. Finance and revenue, water
works and sewerage, police and fire pro-
lection, and public property. The
mayor has no special department but
exercises a co-ordinating influence over
the whole. Municipal ordinances are
passed and appropriations voted by a
majority vote of the commissioners.
Important Appointments are made in
the same way, minor appointments bv
the individual commissioners in their
respective departments.
The Galveston plan has been adopt
ed by Houston, Dallas, and other Texan
cities without any variation of i'm
pOrtance. Hence it is often spoken of
as the Texan Idea" Houston gives
the name of "City ConnciP' to its board
OF commissioners, but their function is
the same rs that of Galveston.
The Des Moines charter is a tyne
OF modified form of commission gov
eminent. which has been adopted also
by Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Leven.
worth, Kansas. 1t is very similar to
that of Galveston, except that certain
definite functions are entrusted to the
people OF the municipality, limiting the
power of the commissioners in GER
tain directions, All franchises must
be referred tO'popular vote and all or
dInances passed by the commission
are subject to popular protest and
referendum, thus practically giving the
citizens the veto power. Members of
the commission are subject to 're-
call' before their terms expire: and
legislation can be initiated by the citi-
Zens.
Special provisions for election oblit-
crate party lines. At the primary
elections two candidates for MAYOR
and eight candidates for commission.
ers are elected for the names present.
ed on the ballot, at the final elections
the mayor and four couneilmen are
elected from .sthese candidates. Party
Affiliations are. not indicated on eithe,
ballot.
The work of administration is di-
ylded into five (instead of four de-
partments: Public affairs. accounts
and fininces, public safety streets and
public improvements, parks and public
property. The first is advisory and
supervisory, and is assigned by law
to the mayor, so that the mayor has
practically the same functions as in
Galveston.
The chief argument in favor of the
government by commission is that it
abollshes the confusion and complex
lty of the ordinary municipal govern
ment and makes possible a business.
like administration on a we'll conceiy-
ed plan by a few men who are direct.
~ responsible to the electorate. While
II Is true that the commission has a
great deal of power. it is also true
that the simplicity for the system
makes it easy for the public to fix re.
sponsibility. and call the proper indi-
vidial to account for inefficiency. The
greatest objection to the plan is the
concentration of power in the hands
OF few who may not be superior TO
the officials of other forms of munich
pal government.
Inns objection to concentration is
especially valid against placing legis-
iatlve and executive, appropriating and
dlsbnrslng powers in the same hands.
Ihe Des Moines plan overcomes this
difiieulty to some extent by giving
more power to the citizens direct.
galveston came under the control
OF ITS commission i'm 1901. and all
critics admit its success i'm MANY lines
The municipal debt has been decreased
the municipal service improved, and a
petter class of men have been willing
10 accept public office than under the
ola form of government; the general
tone OF municipal political life has
been decidedly improved Similar re-
suits hay ebeen obtained in Houston.
The Des Moines government was
not lnaugnrated till the early part of
l?oS, but i'm that time, there have
been noticeable improvements in the
street cleaning department, reduction
or prices for electric lights for strets.
parks and public buildings, reorgani-
cation of the police and fire depart
ments placing them on the merit sys.
tem' and a uniform system of account
ing in all departments.
Old Gentleman Injured.