Weekly journal-miner., 1910-02-02
AND STILL THEY COME.

Every day adds 10 the nsI oI names of towns and cities in various parts of the country that have adopt ed the commission form of govern ment, and it is perfectly clear, as we have said on more than one oc- casion, that it is only a question of time, and not long time at that, when an American town under the present bungling and extravagant form of munieipai government, will be a rarity, and will be regarded by the public as "back number" In Arizona, of course, nothing can be done in the way of making any change in the form of local govern ment until an act of that purpose shall be passed by the legislature, but that will undoubtedly be done at the next session. Public sentiment is prac- tically unanimous in favor of it, and as there is no ground upon which any party or any faction can oppose 1t, such a measure will probably go through by common consent.
 The last place of more than ordin- zry importance to adopt the new sys- tenn is Buffalo, N. Y. The people of that city have already determined up on the adoption of the new system, and bill is now pending before the state legislature giving them the power to make the change. The Buffalo plan provides for the nom- ination by petition and election at large by a simple majority every four years of four councilmen and a mayor to be the city government. The council is empowered to fill any vacancy that may occur in it be- tween municipal elections
 The bill provides that any candi- date receiving a majority of the first choice vote shall be declared elected. If no candidate receives such a ma jority, then the second choice vote shall be added, and the candidates receiving a majority of the aggregate of such votes shall be entitled to the offices. If none of the candidates should have received a majority then the third choice votes are ad- ded, and the candidates receiving the highest number of first, second and third choice votes get their cer- tiicates of election.
 The administrative powers under the proposed new charter would be distributed among these five depart ments: Public affairs, accounts and finances, public safety, streets and public improvements, parks and pub lie property. The mayor would be superintendent of the department of public affairs, and the management of the other departments would be al- loted among the four couneilmen at the first meeting of the council
 The council must choose men to fill the places at the heads of various subdivisions of the city government, such as corporation counsel,- police commissioner, health commissioner, chief of the fire department, and generally speaking, all places that in New York City are known as com sionships under the city administra- tion. The council is to fix the sal aries of all such officers. The sal ary of mayor will be fixed at $500 and that of eouneilmen at $6,OOO, by the charter provision.
 In the council would be vested leg islative and judicial powers in ex- cess of those held by the common council or in boards of aldermen un- der the old system of city govern ment. The council might enact ord finances, violation of which would be punishable with imprisonment for six months and fine not to exceed $250. | A special city court would be created to have jurisdiction over all such violations.