The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1910-05-21
GOVERNMENT
BY COMMISSION.

The uuration of Government v,
commission is attracting conaide'I
bic attention here iust M this tim .
MANY Of the deepest thinkers and well
wishers fn, the future peace and pros
ve,itv of this city are giving the nov
phase " governing a city earnest c"'
sidetation.
New Iberia has tried many phases
of political government ihat Il. gn'
ernMent under many rhasca ~ pot
iics We have had q Cal, sample " ~
most every form ~ variety known ~
this State. except prohibition aud
h,ind .tiger This latter offers but ~
tie rrcmise of lettering conditions ~
bringing the people close, together, u
We may Judge Ivy the experiences ~
on, neighbours, therefore, IL may ~
well to go very slow in that direction
We have tried faction aud partisan
party politics fr the last several
wears and We believe the best men ~
both factions to-day arc prepared ~
write their Judgment weighed and
found wanting The results are
what governments are measured Nv
fractional politics undoubtedly enern
ders the political distrust Of vour rr-
ponent Under such circumstances II
IL difficult to achieve the best result \
Ivy any set Of administrators.
The Commission form Of Gov, ~
ment, from all reports coming to us,
seems TO encourage the administrator
Of any department or office 10 seek
the greatest good Of the greatest rnn
her irrespective Of party or faction
The com missioner owes his stew ~
sbip to no party w faction: therefor.
he serves no party or faction y
holds his office Nv virtue Of his ahiii',
TO discharge its duties. IL the in
rrovemeni rf all physical condition
surrounding or pertaining to the ii+
charge of his official duties lie has the
encouragement of the tax paying vot
er; ANY false step or exhibition vi had
Judgment on the part Of commits
siouer has its promise Of speedy cot,
rectiOn
There are certain features Of the
Commission form of Govern,nen,
which should be considered elemental
~ to any plan that may I've offered Tor
adoption.
The Recall fret adopted Al Los An
geles- bv which a percentage Of the
voters can demand a special election
to Dust any commissioner at any time
he fails to please the people.
The Initiative, by which a pre- de
termined percentage Of the qualified
voters can demand popular vote On
measures the Board Of Commissioners
may refuse to pass.
The Referendum, by witch a ixed
percentage of the voters, acting to
gether, may call for a veto by roruIa,
vote Of any action Of the Board VI
Com NJ issionere.
The disposition Of all franchise
bv popular vote.
The Preferential Ballot, bv which
all nominating mass meetings, eau
cuses, or primary elections are dis
pensed with.
These features are cardinal points
by such details AZ vii
make them imperative with the leas,
Another point that should not u.
hastily concluded-that is. the mum
Der Of com issioners that should y,
required. In towns Of this size ; IN
answer the needs Of govern naai.
when they would he assigned the DIN
lies about ma follows:
Public Safety vested with auihrri-
- for the administration of,he affI
IF Police, Fire, Streets, and Dra,n,g
Finance vested with author,y ~
the entire departme IT a
counts and Of finance of the city.
Public Notwithstanding tull
charge of the management aud m,n-
,enance Of the Waterworks, the E'ec-
,ric Lights. al, public buildings, III
.ity jail, the city bridges and any 9th
r public properties that SAY be nc
luired. =
Some seventy cities n the Uni'cd
States have now adopts n some io,m OF
his new plan Of ci government,
which had its Dirt, nj Galvest u
There are IA many N Ire cities consid
,ring IT'S adoption. D far as our IN
goes no ~, one adopting
he rev form Of hi hiing it, q ,vern-
aent, has shown fiisposi,ion t, 80
Jack TO the old m{ ols
~A,a