The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-17

Quick as a flash came the reply: |
never believed in waiting. when you
were offered good thing.
Councilman Madison asked how the
sity could save, when the salaries
We're higher
The answer was: @On the same
principle that the high priced man in
a business is generally the cheaper,
the more profitable man for the bust
ness. Des Moines saves 100000 per
annum under the commission plan,
and the salaries are as nothing COM
pared TO this saving"
DR.. J. S. Caster inquired as to the
recall He had been informed, that
charges had to be brought, which II
not proven might render the dissatis-
fed citizenes liable under the law.
Mr.. Ingham: There is nothing IN
it. No charges are brought. All that
you need is your petition. You simply
call for the mans political head
Mr.. Ed. E. Egen wanted to know If
the recall had even been used in Des
Moines.
Mr.. Ingham: mo, but 1t has been
used in Los Angeles, where a council
man and later the mayor were put out
of Office. consider the recall very
good thing for an emergency"
Mr.. A. NJ. .Antrobus inquired as to
municipal contracts.
The speaker stated that conditions
were much better than formerly No
contracts are awarded as reward for
political services. When the bids were
found too high the work was done at
considerable saving by day labor.
Every contractor tried to get on the
board. Some years ago almost every
alderman was interested in public con-
tracts.
Hon w. w. Baldwin wanted to know
how many years Galveston and Hous-
ton had been working under the new
plan.
Mr. Ingham stated that it was seven
years for Galveston and five years for
Houston. In reply to another query,
he stated that the tax rate had not
been increased and would be material
ly reduced for this year.
Mr.. Egan desired to know whether
the Commissioners in charge of that de
partment had the right to designate
what streets and alleys are to be i'm
proved.
Mr. ngham: The law places the
power in the hands of the whole com.
mission. The protection lies in the
fact that the commissioners are elect
ed by all the citizens. No individual
councilman has authority beyond the
! personal supervision of the work in
his department
Hon John J. Seerley inquired about
the new city hall.
Mr.. Ingham THE new city hall was
projected by the old council. They
! wanted to let the contracts before
the commission came In. Through an
injunction we were able to stop this,
and now we have building twice as
handsome as they planned and for
| much less money. We built within the
appropriation made for that purpose
Some one in the rear OF the audi
forum wanted to know il any of the
commissioners were contractors.
Mr.. Ingham: No sir, they give ali
their time to business
Mr. c. E. Carpenter wanted informa.
| ton concerning the appointment oil
city officials, and what was lost
thereby.
| Mr.. Ingham: You lose nothing
| There was no system under the old
| plan. The engineer was elected by his
| friends and if the council wanted
something of which he did not ap
prove, he simply did not do it. You
fix the responsibility under the new
| plan The speaker made a brief
reference to the board Of control Of
state institutions, which has proven q
great success, and related how in.
quiries were constantly coming in
from other states, where the old sys
tenn Of multiplicity of boards without
| responsibility is still In vogue
| gentleman in box asked about
fire and police and other commissions
I and the claim that the Des Moines
board ruled like kings.
Mr.. Ingham: Rule like Kings:
Nothing. They rule like clerks In a
store. They are nothing if not concili
| atory- There was change In the park
board, and the new plan has proven
most beneficial to parks
Mr.. Egan inquired about civil serv
| ice.
Mr.. Ingham: THE board cannot dis
charge anyone without cause. Every
body is appointed on recommendation
! of the civil service board, and the plar
1 gives satisfaction. 2
! A gentleman inquired about the rec
light district
Mr.. Inglam: There was strons
sentiment in opposition to the ret
/ light district. 1t has been abolished
and the new policy is success. Their,
4 will always be differences of opinion
1 as to the best manner of handling this
/ problem. But under the commission
plan the policy will always be wha
/ the sentiment of the community de
! mands. The people rule
Mr.. Carpenter: Il have heard i
Cnf1