The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-09-11

representatives, the commissioners. It
is the democracy which strikes terror to
the bosses and to the men who have
dominated through schemes and meth
DDS from which the people have suffered
more or less, if not from dishonest prac-
i tees, at least from recklessness as well
as ifleffleiency in the management of the
affairs Of the municipality and the con-
temptuotIs disregard of law
Under the system of Government by
Commission partisanship and false is
sues are eliminated from municipal cleo
] tions It is a check against frauds and
bribes and the methods which no honest
men would approve and the only re-
qairement for recognition when citizen
offers for office is his character and fit
ness.
Under the system of Government by
Commission it is not possible for any
conlfni ssioner, or for the commission in
authority, TO avoid responsibility, since
each commissioner is held to account not
only for his own but for the work and
the acts of the subordinate employees in
his own department.
Besides, the publicity of the commits
sion's acts is guaranteed by law, the
merit system is encouraged, franchises
and other grants are safeguarded
against the grasp of soulless corpora
tions, the many causes of corruption are
removed. no scandal can be attached to
the administration and there follows the
outgrowth of a sentiment which pro-
notes the highest degree of splendid
citizenship.
Des Moines, long boss-ridden, with
Galveston and other cities which have
suffered from such evil, is experiencing
the reward which follows the benefcent
advantages from the system of Govern
ment by Commission.
Why should Shreveport not have the
system of Government by Commission?
The answer is: Shreveport has deter
mined on, securing this system of gov
ernment for the reason that it is re-
sponsive to the needs of the community,
that it will create new order of
things; that it will stimulate progress
iveness and that it offers guarantee of
the greatest good for the greatest NUM-
Der of all the people.
Through the initiative, the people can,
if necessary, suggest desired legislation.
Through the referendum the people have
the authority of approving or disapprov-
ing legislation which may be detrimental
to the community. A valuable grant or
charter could not be given away without
til eapproval of the majority voting at
an election for that purpose. Through
the recall an inefficient, incompetent or
dishonest commimssioner can be re-
moved at an election called for such re-
moval on a petition of SO per cent of
the electors participating in the election
at which he was elected.
We may repeat What form of gov
ernment devised by men can be more
democratic than the system of Govern
ment by Commission?
From an economic view, it has been
demonstrated by the success of the sys-
tenn that Government by Commission is
the best. As instanced by Galveston, by
Houston and other cities the record /
is deficit wiped out, floating debts taken
up, bonds retired, business methods in
troduced, long standing nuisances abat-
ed, laws enforced, streets kept cleaner,
in brief, the change for the betternent
Of the communities have been so great
that even those who were opposed to the
system would now be listed with the
more radical in opposition to the old
system of mayor and aldermen or coun-
What of the opposition and the inauz
ence in Shreveport operating against il?
It has been suggested that the Gov
ernment by Commission is a gold ten /
dered TO the citizens Of Shreveport. that
It is unconstitutional, that it is inopera-
tive in law, that legal proceedings will
be directed against it
Being forewarned, the progressive cit
izens will be forearrned and ready to
meet any issue presented. If the oppo-
nents Of the Government by Commission
believe they can tride with the people
they will soon be awakened to rea1iza-i
ton that will be most discomforting to
them.
The opposition to the new system is
easily discovered. Il comes mainly from
he interests and the classes who would