Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-29
SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF EFFIT.
IENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

Now that Americas has wisely decid-
Ell to send an official delegate to the
Commission Convention at Galveston
next month an even greater public in
terest here is likely to be aroused in
the commission form of government
and its manifold advantages over the
old system that is being displayed in
many cities and that promises to De
generally overthrown within a fey
years.
The series of articles the Times-Re-
corder has printed on what Commits
sions have achieved in other citias
have doubtless been read with interest
and profit by many citizens eager 10
have Americas one of the best adminis-
tered of the smaller cities of the coun-
try. The article published this morn
ing gives some idea of the extent 20
which the new system has spread. Dis
cussing it, the Savannah Press
through whose courtesy this series of
articles has been published, says:
1T will be seen that over seventy
cities and towns have already adopted.
the commission plan of government
while the matter is being agitated in
as many more. The legislatures of
several states have adopted what they
call the local option SYSTEM whereby
any town or city of over seven thous-
and inhabitants can go into the COM
mission system upon vote of the peo-
pie, without having to secure special
legislative enactment. The Boston
plan Of recall is explained, where the
term of the mayor is fixed for four
years. However, at the end of two
years the mayor may be forced to
feated his term is cut down one-half;
if he is reelected then he cannot be
dismissed until his four years are
over. This virtually provides for the
recall and safeguards the chief execu-
tive against interminable agitation
during his term of office. Such agita-
ton would be hurtful and embarrass-
ing. The state which stands first in
the adoption of the new system is
Texas, although the adoption of
the system is not confined
to any particular locality. The
South, if anything, leads in this re-
form of municipal government, al
though there seems to be no geograph-
ical limitations upon the plan at pres
ent. The agitation is going on prac-
tically everywhere. The people are
struggling to solve TIE question of
government and devoting
themselves to it as to no other public
question"
In discussing this question The Sa-
vannah Press called attention to the
fact that after all good government
rests with the people and not with any
particular plan. What the people de-
mand they will get. If they are wide
awake and progressive this spirit will
be reflected in their government. No
change of form Of administration IS
going to solve the whole question.
People must be watchful and the pub
lie conscience aroused from time to
time If we expect to devise a new
scheme and turn over public matters
to the board allowing them to do all
the work and take all the responsible
lty and overcome all the evil, We are
going to be mistaken, whether we have
a commission or whether we have a
common council. AS Mr.. Hornady
says
1t is perhaps too much to hope that
the commission system will always be
as free from faint of corruption as 1t
IS now. Yet here is a thing we'll worth
'emembering-the system must newt
ably reflect the dominant sentiment of
he community. 1t enthrones the pep
pie and so long as they demand the
highest type of service so long will
hey get it, If the time ever comes
when they-the people allow indie !
'erent, neglect and corruption. then
hey will get that also"