The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-28

Some defects in the Des Moines plan
have been discovered it the nine months
1t has been in operation, but they have
not been shown to be vital. II is An 10.
teresting commentary that the legisla.
ture is not likely 20 be asked to amend
the Des Moines plan in any particular.
"The Des Moines plan law stands %
a marvel in municipal legislation, Z" said
Comm issioner John McVicar, also sec.
rotary OF the League OF American Mu.
inequalities. ''There never was another
radical law like that adopted with 80
few defects 1t seems almost inspired,
so complete is it in practically every
detail. 1t works and il works perfect.
ly so far as we now know. II 10 trlb.
ute to the geniu, OF the men who
drew it up and put it ia legal form.
but If friends OF the Des Moines
plan were to draw up ~ entirely now
law, they might dni il we'll to make
these slight changes:
SHOULD GIVE BONDS.
1.-The law does not now provide that
the FIVE commissioners shall give bonds
1t was not considered necessary, rsspon.
sibility being SO thoroughly fixed. But
there Is no reason why they should not
give bonds, and the law might be mere
satisfactory If such a provisi IN were
included.
ut has been suggested by Mr.. Der.
syhill, one OF the authors OF the Law.
that it would be better not to elect one
member OF the commission a. mayor
and the other four commissioners. |
agreed with him that it would DO better
to elect all five men as commissioners
and then let Thorn select the mayor
from amoung their number whea they
apportion the various departments Of
government. think geserAlly the 70.
suit would be better. The election
would be on little broader plane.
There ought to be no distinction In the
election OF the commissioners. That
doesn't fit altogether we'll with the
theory OF the Des Moinss pan. More.
over, there would likely DO . more sat.
isfactory adjustment OF work among
the members OF the commissioners Of
the mission II they were allowed 70
divide their work entirely themselves.
"As the law now stands, IL prohibits
secret meetings of the commission in .
way, but not absolutely. The law says
that where one person Is admitted to .
meeting OF the commission, the entire
public must be admitted. That does
not prohibit secret session OF the com.
missioners alone. That ought TO be
prohibited also. Tnere Is no public
business except very, very rarely that
ought not be done in thoroughly pub.
lie way. The present commission feels
that way about it and its sessions are
all open.
RECALL PROVISION WEAK.
"There seems to be some uncertainty
about the provisions under the recall
in the new plan. The right of recall 10
assured to the people, but the law 10
slightly defective in that it does not
describe in detail how the recall shall
be carried ont when it comes TO the
election OF new officials to take the
place OF those recalled.
"In one California city which | do
not now recall, an interesting change
has been made in tho Des Moines plan.
! The law there provides that in event
any candidate for nomination IS com.
missioner shall receive majority OF oil
the votes cast in nominating primary,
shall be Immediately declared elected
without going through the Subsequent
form Of an election. Now, n man may
receive majority of all the votes in
the primary and be required to make
another contest for election. As long
as the primary is nonpartisan and al
voters participate. the California
provision seems To me reasonable and
good.
But these are merely suggestions OF
what other cities might dD. They are
offered with the thought that the Dss
Moines plan ought m he changed n,w.
The law as it stands works and works
satisfactory. Its friends are asking 10
change"