Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-22

Public SGFViCe-.-All the Commits
SlOnerS Responsible for All the
DepartmentS---Men Not Required
to Give Their Whole Time to the
City.
q. R. Hornady, in Savannah Press.)
Having borrowed the best features
of the commission plan as it has
worked in the Texas cities, the franz
ers of the so-called Des Moines plan
added several distinctive ideas which,
have contributed in no small degree
to the fame of the charter under which
they live. Chief among these original
features is TIE double election system,
under which party primaries are elim>
mated and partnership is excluded in
the consideration of local affairs.
But two elections are held in Des
Moines when city officials are to be
chosen. In the first election as many
aspirants as wish to can enter the
race for mayor or commissioner mere
Iy upon being nominated by twenty
five qualified voters of tie city Fly
way of Illustration, should Henry
Brown desire to become a candidate
for commissioner, he would have u
petition prepared, signed by twenty
five voters, requesting that his name
be placed upon the official ballot as a
candidate for commissioner. One of
tie twenty-five would swear to tae
correctness of the petition, which, up
on being filed, ends the ceremony. The
petition is in the nature of a char
acter certificate the signers declar-
ing that the asprant is man of good
moral Character and qualified to fill
the duties of the office.
The names of all candidates filing
petitions are placed on the official bal
lot in alphabetical order. The ballot
contains no party emblems or any
thing to indicate the political leanings
of the candidate.
Second Ballot.
Following the first election, TIE
names of all aspirants for mayor al e
eliminated except the two receiving
the highest number of votes The list
of candidates for commissioner is then
purged of all except the eight receig-
ing the highest number of votes. Thus
ten candidates remain in the field, an
their names, and theirs alone, appear
upon the ballot in the final election,
held two weeks later. In the final cleo.
ton the candidates receiving major
ity of votes are declared elected
Not only does the plan eliminate
partisan contests, but it puts an end
TO many practices freely INDUCED n
under tie Old system. No candidate
is permitted to employ workers" or
to offer any tnducement for the sup
port of voter. Violation of any of
the stringent regulations to prevent
the use of money for corrupt pur-
poses is punished both by fine and
Imprisonment. Any person agreeing
to perform any service for candidates
for compensation or reward is also
punished by fine and Imprisonment
To promise a position in the event of
election, or to agree to support some
one in future contests in return for
support at the moment also comes
under this head.
The result of these radical meas
ures is to eliminate most of the old-
time political methods and aspirants
do little in tie way of promoting their
candidacy except by letter, by person
al solicitation and through the news
papers. The system has developed
ward meetings into a regular instit,l-
ton and during the campaign these
are of frequent occurrence. Rival
candidates appear at these meetings
and set forth their claims for support.
Civil Service.
Another distinctive feature of tae
Des Moines plan and one of undoubted
value, is the provision made for a civil
service commission. This commission
is created by the board of commits |
sioners as soon as these officials are
installed. 1t is the duty of these
civil service commissioners to ex-
anime into the qualifications of alll
aspirants for places where skill is re-
CURED, and to certify to the board OF
commissioners a list of men eligible |
to serve in the several departments.
Policemen, firemen ami others are
chosen from the list so certified aad
in no other way. This system give
the final blow to the ancient method
of using public Office to reward po-
litical followers. 1t also safeguards
the faithful employees of the CITY,
While heads of departments have the
right to discharge, the employees have
the right of appeal to the civil service
board. Here a case must be made
out against them if the discharge is
to be final.
In addition to these safeguards to
prevent the building of political ma
chimes through patronage or intimida-
ton, the charter provides that any
official who attempts to influence ia.
action OF servant of the city along