The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-11

(BY GEORGE
What Is government of cities by
commissions This is now the most
important question in Rapid City. To
answer this question intelligently it
is necessary to note some of the de-
fects of our present system.
The machinery of city government
under our present system is burden
some and not calculated to best sub
serve the interests of the munich
pality.
The city being divided into wards
whose interests too often conflict,
the council room is frequently the
scene of fierce dissension. On the other
hand, one ward often joins another up
on the promise of receiving areciprocal
vote. In either case the city is most
likely to suffer. The ward custom of
''you help us and We'll help you" is any
thing but the outgrowth of a healthy
civic spirit. A few influential politi-
clans in most cases of this character
are the bounteous recipients, while
the tax payers are the losers. For H.
lustration: A few parties in interest
own property in remote part of one
ward. The owners desire to boom
and sell it, but in order that sales
may be made the city water, for in
stance, must be extended to the prop
erty at an enormous expense to the
tax payers; and which, when COM
pleted would, in reality, be of small
benefit to the city. Knowing that
the council, as whole, is opposed to
the extension, the aldermen of that
ward promise that in exchange for
the support of other wards they will
reciprocate when the opportunity is
presented.
The present system of ward division
for political purposes has no justifca-
tion. No logical argument can be adj
vanced in its behalf. On the other
hand, it presents many Objectionable
features. 1t is the field and bulwark
of the corrupt and intriguing politi-
clan. This is incident to our present
system in every city where it obtains.
Remove the ward system and you
have reduced this existing condition
to q minimum.
While we boast of a representative
government, yet, do we realize that
under the ward system we have it in
theory only? A city of 5000 has four
wards. The wards will undoubtedly
vary as to population, but, notwith-
standing each is allowed an equal
number of councilmen. Seventy-five
voters in one ward have as much in
fluence in the city government as four
hundred voters in an adjoining ward.
Thus it is plain that the four hundred
voters have no more to say about the
city's affairs than the seventy-fve.
Yet, Notwithstanding, the four hun
dred voters pay taxes proportionately
greater. Two such wards, it will be
seen, will control one half of the city's
government. Certainly such a gov
erning body is in no sense representa-
tive of majority Of the voters. What
Is further from, true representative
government The ward system should
be abolished.
Again, each councilman naturally
feels that his first duty is to his con-
stituents in his ward. Ordinarily he
has nothing to specially interest him
in matters pertaining to other parts
of the city. He is prone to shift re.
sponsibility on the councilmen from
that particular ward. At least, it Is
not special responsibility upon him.
These and many other defects in
our present system of municipal gov
eminent are being seriously considered
BY tax payers. 1t is evident, too, that
any system which will obviate or rem
edy these defects or some Of them viii
mean more businesslike city admin
istration, hence an economic gain
Cities throughout the country have
attempted to remedy these defects
under the present system, but hay'
signally failed. And it is this realiza
tion of the inefficiency of the system
that has caused such a widespread
movement for government of cities b.
I, commission.
\ In 1907, the South Dakota legisla
ture enacted a law authorizing cite
to adopt the commission form of gov
eminent. Since then, Sioux Falls
Yankton, Huron, Pierre, and Del
Rapids have adopted the plan. It j
true that in this state the commission
form is comparatively new, but De
Moines, Cedar Rapids, Galveston an
many other cities, large and small
attest its excellence and superiorit
oyAf the nresent; hurdensOma avs ten