The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-05-01
To the Electors of the City of Spo
l1nn.

U lllt EltClOIS Vi the Wy VI opo
kane:
The undersigned committee re-
specially solicits your cooperation
with our efforts to effect a change
in the fundamental law of our city
and for the adoption of what is
known as the commission plan OF
city government, and we submit
the following statement of the es-
sential distinguishing features of
the two plans and our reasons for
the desirability and expediency of
such change. III.
l. Under the present plan CUR
city is governed by mayor elec@d
by the city at large and by asc1ty
council of ten 10) members and
the board of three CO city corimis-
sioners appointed by the pEyor
Under the commission plan the
city would be governed by three
CD to five CD commissioners
elected by the city at large, one ,of
whom would be mayor.
2. Under the present plan the
ten 10) councilmen are not Ok
pected to devote their entire time
to the business of the city. but only
few hours once or twice week,
generally after the usual business
hours; under the proposed plan the
city commissioners would be re-
ouired to devote their entire time
to the business of the city, meet
daily for it's general transaction of
business, and each commissioner
would have absolute power over his
department without interference
from any other official.
8. Under the present plan the
mayor, who most of all is held
responsible for successful admins
tration, is Handicapped by the fact
that his appOintees can, without
cause, be removed by the council,
thus virtually compelling him to
select not men of his choice, but
men acceptable to another branch
of government; while under the
commission plan the head of each
department has absolute power
over appointments and discharges
except as may be limited by civil
service provisions.
Thus the commission plan en-
ables the voters both to determine
who is to be credited for the sue
cess of his department and also
who is to be held responsible for
its failure; under the present plan
responsibility is so divided be-
tween the mayor, the council and
the board of city commissioners
that this is impossible.
4. Politics under our present
plan have frequently prevented the
nomination and election of the best
and most efficient candidates; UNI
der the new plan the commission
ers are nominated and elected
without regard to politics or party
affiliation.
5. Owing to the various refer
ences to committees and from one
department to another important
public improvements under the
present plan are invariably secured
only after long. eXasperating and
often disastrous delays and at ex-
orbitant cost. Under the new plan
those causes for delay will not
exist and each commissioner will
be able by exercise of diligence and
proper discretion to establish a
reputation for efficiency, or by
failure to produce satisfactory re-
suits prove his inefficiency.
6. The old plan of city govern
ment in America is recognized as
a deplorable failure, owing to it's
TN hnnnnSn Of itc ry,1h a
| some character and to the scaDda Is
of corruption by reason of permit
| ting the business and other admin
| istrative affairs of the city to be-
come the football Of politicians,
and the experience of Spokane an
| fortunately presents no exception
to the long line of failures in mu-
nicipal government.
!. The commission plan of GOV
eminent has been adopted in mote
than seventy (70) American cities;
it has been a success everywhere.
| There is not one city in which de-
mand has been made for a Feturn
to the old plan. o.,
s. An essential feature OF the
| plan is to secure and retain the
safeguards of popular government.
| This is done by provisions for the
recalling of officials when the peo-
pie become dissatisfied with their
official conduct, and by reserving
to the people the right of direct
legislation. The further safeguard
is secured by a provision for full
publication of all official acts.
8. If you are satisfied with the
present city government. if you be-
lieve that it is successful in pro-
noting the general welfare of the
people, and that you are getting
! full results, you are not interested
in the plea we make. But if you do
not believe our city government is
a success. If you desire to profit by