The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-18
.xEoxux SHAFTS Wrong >

SEOkOk AXIS w HCNG-
Under this heading the Cedar Rap
ids Gazette voices a fear for the pop
EIarlsy ard success or the commits.
sion plan in Eeokuk If the announced
1 policy Of the commissioners to hold 81
eret meetings is persisted In The
Gazette urges the advantage OF public
ity. anf The Gate City IS disposed 70
regard its position as we'll taken. II
says
The Gazette fears the Keokuk
council, elected under the commission
plaa. is starting on . course that will
result in giving The plan 4 black eve
x The mavor CT KeokHk announces thai
+ the council viii hold secret meetings
1t Is planned 10 hold public meeting
I only once q month We doubt wheth-
or the program viii appeal to the yot-
srs Of Keokuk They are apt 10 ask
the commissioners 10 drop secracy
and transact their business Ia the
open The commissioners viii find It
10 their advantage To take the people
into their confidence Sometimes
publicity NAV appear IS q handicap Oh
Z council. but III the long run il pro
2A-c-S 1Os @CAAEA -Lt - -A-4-rlE-eF EfCNC--t
satisfied taxaayeFs and therefore bet
ter satisfied officials The keokuk
coaGcffusn will hnd that the taxpay-
erS. Il given access 10 al meetings
VIII Tot throng the council chamber
TO The desrImeat 81 legitimate 5tisi-
ness, whereas If they are denied &C.
cess they MAJ create all kinds OF trou-
HE. KeokTrk, ne are afraid, is start
ing CT on the wrong foot
Owing 20 the U1business-like meth
eds Of the IaEe city administration the
jun bied condition II which city At
fairs were left. the shortage IN the
clerks Office and evidences OF petty
graft in another department whtch is
TOW Under investigation. the motive
OF the commissioners N conducting
their invest5Ea lions IN secret can be
readily understood and appreciated
II Is quite probable that If every
iaquirT vas pursued openly obstacles
would be thrown IN their way which
would prevent them from accomplish
ing their purpose IN the interest Of the
community L mag be. therefore.
hat The council is warranted IN hoId-l
ing secret sessions temporarily while !
i1vesti gations are in progress.
Under orlinarE conditions, however, (
ard as a general rule. everything
should be done openly ard above
board. The mayor and councilman
are the public's servants engaged in
5ransactiHg the public.s business.
and he public has a right to knox
what they are doing at al times and
hox they are doing IT, This Is 40 re-
Election upon the gentlemen compos-
ing the new city council They are
known 10 BE men OF pFobity and honor
aud worthy the positions they hold
There Is general believe that they viii I
% what they honestly believe is FOR
the best interests OF Keokuk. Bit
they represent 4 reform movement OF +
which publicity Is q cardinal principle +
TIE people OF Keokuk centered all (
and delegated them al pow
ar II municipal affairs with me rlnde-- /
standing that al that was done would
% done uader the glare Of the spot
light Instead OF this the commission
srs propose 10 hold secret sessions
twenty-five days eTeEy month and an
open session on the twenty-sixth The
Cedar Rapids paper has reason Tor
is expressed doubt If this program
z-iEl sppesl 10 the voters OF Keokuk
Tie berter plan would BE- 10 sccept its
advice 70 transact their business in
tie open and thns take the people
iato their eoIiideacs The Gszaae'z
e91zsel throughout Is tiuefy and COED.