The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-12
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
Condensed Explanation Of the More
Advanced Form OF Municipal Ad-
ministration.
Dallas Chamber OF Commerce.

Dallas Chamber OF Commerce.
Gentlemen
have before me your request for
my opinion on the Commission form
OF Municipal Government. as Illus
trsted by the working OF our com
mission.
The Dallas commission Is an evolu-
ton from n more complex municipal
administration.
The city government formerly con-
sisted of mayor with the executive
power. except where this was lodged
with officers chosen by popular ballot.
By whom. I'm the aggregate. the may
or's power was greatly limited and a
city council. elected by wards. with
the customary legislative Jurisdiction
OF such bodies. Afterwards commits
sioners appointed by the governor
were provided. who had direct charge
OF police and fire protection. and di-
vided with the mayor veto power
over such action OF the council as af-
fected franchises.
Such machinery was found cumber-
some. inefficient. (because one part of
ten interfered with another) and un-
duly expensive In view Of the results
obtained from il. The waste of money
without adequate benefit to the pub
lie. bred a spirit OF distrust. which
think. had little or no foundation. in
fact. but II rendered difficult the vot-
ing OF bonds for necessary improve
ments. and generally discouraged the
progressive spirit.
All the government machinery was
swept away three years ago. and the
commission was substituted. This
commission Is clothed with the whole
executive. legislative and judicial pow
er OF the city which II administers.
acting either as a body OF through its
individual members. or by the COM
mission.
The governing body consists OF the
mayor and four commissioners, one OF
whom Is In immediate charge OF each
chief department OF municipal affairs.
This direct responsibility rests on one
com. missioner as 60 finance: on anoth-
er as TO police and fire protection: on
another as 10 water supply; and on
another as TO streets and bridges. IL
is true the mayor and the whole
beard. share I'm a measure the bur-
1sn OF each commissioner, but not
TO the extent that accountability for
the result accomplished In the sever
J nj departments is shifted from the
commissioner In immediate control.
Our experience of three years has
proven that the system In force is
greatly superior TO those which had
preceded II. The ideal. no doubt. has
not been reached. perhaps never will
be. The city's business Is not capable
of being systematized and transacted
exactly along the line used by the
best managed private corporation. The
same freedom OF action on the part
Of It's officers cannot be exercised. be-
cause their tenure depends upon the
appreciation OF a wider constituency
whose conflicting interest must be. In
measure compromised. In formulat-
Ing plans for public business. and
then public corporation Is not pri-
marily for money making. but Is in
stituted essentially for spending
money to the best advantage.
The personnel OF our commission
was carefully selected by an organ
ization effected by the best citizen
ship for that purpose. and this body
exertcd Its influence TO secure their
election. Partisan politics had no
place In the movement. and so far
has been kept away from the COM
mission. and TO this fact. I think,
much Of the success OF the commits
sion Is due.
The feature distinguishing the com
mission form OF government is the
concentration OF power. This concen-
tration. I'm the hands OF the right
raen. has resulted In great good. In
trusted to unworthy or incapable
hn -