Norwich bulletin., 1910-05-18
BOARD OF TRADE MAY MEETING
ung Through of Street to Replace Durkee Lane Con. sid.red of Much Importance-Addresses by Arthur H. Grant, Editor of The American City, Rev. w. A. Keefe and Dr. P. H. Hartman.

to have as much power as a corpora
 tion. not political In New Jersey un der general corporation act, the city can organize into almost any form to coming and they will get general rights subject to the laws of the state. The reason the city is not allowed power for it's own government is that 1t is not fit for it.
 Our present form of city government is government by committees. It Is generally the thing that when you leave thing to a committee it isn't
 He told of the possibility of get ting things done by the common council in the city in New Jersey where he lives by y"honest graft" that is, paying some one on the com mittee to take an interest in the city affairs which have been referred to him. Because of lack of this graft the committee has failed to act on d petf- tion before his council for three years, asking for the number of the houses on his street.
 This has resulted in the adoption of the commission form of government. This form came into existence after the Galveston disaster. They got a commission of five men from the leg 1slature and they reconstructed the city. He compared the results in the rebuilding of San Francisco and Gal weston. the latter having done vastly better in that line because of the com mission form of government.
 Responsibility Can Be Placed.
 Each member of the commission is responsible for the department he is at the head of He can be held direct Iy responsible much in contrast to a board which refers matters to a com mittee where there is a lot of divided responsibility, all lay it on to someone else. This is not so with commis- sion, there is no division of responsi- bility in that.
 In city of this size there is prob ably not a political boss. but he ex- ists in other and larger cities, but in commission form he must either dis appear or come out and take the job himself.
 The more numerous your elective officers are, the less discrimination there is. especially if they are elected men are often carried in with others. In electing commission there are very few to select. The nominations are by open ballot and not by party. They go into office free from all party privileges and promises which sepa- rates them from tho national party preferences.
 It makes no difference what the opinion of the city officials may be as to whether he will make good officer. He has nothing to do with national politics. Politicians have been sad ding this national phase on city cleo tions to keep the parties strong and have them help out in state and ma tional elections. The commission form destroys political power and patronage.
 System Is Wrong.
 The American city is badly govern ed, not because men elected to office are bad men but because the system under which they are operating is one under which no business corporation could exist for any length of time. It rn raf Q OiQiA A AfTIF which is not interested or hostile and wiring from them the privilege of growing.
 Our present form of government is an irresponsible one which makes it easy for the dishonest or unpatriotic man to work to the detrinert of the city, and yet not be held responsible. prevents those wanting to do some thing from getting ahead.
 Very little power is given your may or. He has the power to head the police in riot or raid and to appoint d park board. He has no power but has of making recommendations, and pre- sides at the meetings.
 Have No Other Business.
 Each of five commissioners is paid an adequate salary and not allowed to engage in any other business. The saving of those men in economy of ad- has been many times their salaries. as they can act with promptness and despatch
 It is the same as the business man having the opportunity to take ad- | vantage of prices and conditions.
 Other forms of city government | have been tried. One is where large power is given the mayor wherein he | names the city officials and the mum | Der in the council is reduced. This l is now being tried in Boston for the | first time there The great danger is | having so much authority in the hands | of a single man, who cannot know all | that is going on in all the departments. | An example of this is shown in New | York, where the mayor is endeavoring | to know all about each department.
 In a city in Tennessee the council | found things going to the bad, and | hired a business manager to look after | the city. It was a city which one man | could handle, and it works all right, | the council sitting and doing little or | It would not work in a larger | city. He aid COlumb bia $. C.. had re-