Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-09
DIES MONIES EDITOR ADDRESSES
sEARcHLIeHT CLUB TUES.
DAY NIGHT.
CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER
THE COMMISSION FORM
Speaker Tells of Successful Working Of
plan in Two Years Trial at Des
Moines, and Declares 1t tho Logical
and Common Sense Method For Any
city-Roosts For Good Roads.

Col. Lafayette Young, editor of the
state politics, was the speaker before
the Searchlight Club at the Y. NJ. c. A.
rooms Tuesday night, when he spoke
on the commission plan of city govern
ment
Mr. Young was greeted by a large
audience that filled the lecture room.
The speaker was heartily received. and
was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause.
Mr.. Young spoke in a happy vein.
and interspersed his talk with anus
ing stories to illustrate some point. He
was earnest and enthusiastic in his
/, dealing with the new plan of govern
ment and pointed out the many adj
yantages claimed for the commission
form as against the older method of
city councils. He told of the successful
working of the commission plan in Des
AIoines in a two years trial. and de-
clared that the commission form was
the logical and common sense method
for any city to adopt. He predicted
that the time would soon be here when
the newer form of government would
be adopted universally in any city of
any size and Importance, and said that
there was just as much difference be-
tween the old way and the new as there
was between the OK cart and the auto
mobile.
Boost For Good Roads.
Mr.. Young prefaced his main address
=, ~. nj
called attention to the good roads con-
vention called by the governor for next
month. He also touched upon the
value of short course instruction for
farmers, and praised the good work be-
ing done. Incidentally he referred to
seed corn. and the Importance Of test
ing all corn before it is placed in the
ground. He lauded Iowa, and declared
California, which is sapping this and
other agricultural states of their wealth
and population, as being q myth in his
opinion.
Tells of Commission plan.
In getting down to his main theme
Mr.. Young said that there mad been
general Improvement in everything
during the past quarter of a century
except in the style and form of city and
town governments. These remained UNI
changed as rule.
Our town governments have been
formed in the imitation of republic
said Mr.. Young. The American is all
the time afraid that he is going to bar
ter away his liberties. He is not always
sure that he is not going to be betrayed.
Our town and city governments have
legislative halls and they elect men TO
what they call the council, as if their
principal business was to legislate.
Men are elected TO council because they
are good takers. Men aspire to the
council to have opportunity to make
speeches in order that they may be
elected to the legislature and after that
10 congress. National political ques-
tons have been allowed TO cut some
figure even in our smallest town gov
ernments We have failed to remem-
Der that we do nor need Clays and
Websters in town councils. We have
forgotten that we want men who know
how to construst sidewalks, pavements
and sewers. a man does not have to
be James G. Blaine or a Benjamin
Harrison to understand the sewer and
sidewalk question. The fact is that leg
isIation is a small part of a city Of
ficer's duty. 4 city Council can pass
ordinances in regard to drays and de,
livery wagons: can declare that chick
ems and hogs shall not run at large.
The council may regulate the grade of
a street. No city council has power
to say what shall be considered
crime If legislating is such a small part
of a councilman's duty who should he
from the code of Iowa as regards
crime. If legislating is such small
part of councils duyt. why should he
be selected for any other than bus
mess purpose? A councilman comes
nearer being an administrative officer
than legislative officer. Experience
has demonstrated that the old form of
government, with councilmen chosen
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