The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-02

! Immediately diSpellCd with The m3-
n0unced success of the commission
plan. He sees a chance 60 change
the whole plan ANA adopt sys em
/ when locates NJ sponsibilty with or.
tainty; to tell when he is setting a
good administra lon and TO know
/ where his money goes.
The features Of the commission
/ plan are in subs ance as follows:
/. All municipal power In the
hards Of threa TO five men. who are
Individually heads of departments
and collectively the legislative as
We'll as the administrative auth0ri y
of the city
? The commissioners ae elect a
by he people and are responsible 10
them. There are not more than five
| (and three would be better men t3
elec Instead of a score, SO the voter
can know who he Is voting for, and
then when elected he knows Whom
70 hold responsible
3 The recall Ca powerful cheek
on the commissioners and fhe inla-
dive and referendum (Which enables
the people to exc else Legislative
| functions on Important matters
Under tho Initiative and referendum
provisions Of our constitution a w1
| birds majority vote can preyent Il
| referendum vote and measures ini
dated hy the people can be amend.
ed or repealed by The legislative ar-
thoriy, SO the recall should ce ainly
be given appropriate consideration
in he charter, to make sute hat The
commits ioners would not altemp t0
override the will OF the people IN
lmpcrant matters
4 "A city civil sergice insures
fIeeaom from the wo ST form Of pol
itics IN administration
5 Moderate salaries for The com.
missioners insures personal attention
land licenses the voter TO hold him ln
mere stric. Accountability than the
city councilman who attends evening
scmi-monlhly sessions
6. A charter adopted to III the
conditions Of Inc particular ciDy
making provisions for public utli.
les, owned by the cily and as our
constitution (Scc. 6, Art - gives
10 every municipal corporation the
right 80 engage IN any business or
enierpmso which may be engaged ir
by any person firm or corpora ion
a charter providing commission
q m Of government Is most essen
ial
z. The appointment BY the com
miSsiOnCrs OF all minor officials In
eloding police, thus lnsuring enli-
cient service, strict accountability
ind subordinaiion
Under the present scheme, the
mayor Is an executive without pow.
or to execute. He can dhec. an
officer but is powerless II that officer
decides that he IN his own boss His
sole duty seems to be 10 preside
over council meetings and sign war
rants and ordinances
The commission plan does not in
sure good government; no mere sys-
EN- can do that The people must
be alert, Interested in their city and
| It's admins ration and ready TO act II
heir interests are not guarded Bu
.he system is far superior to the
| council scheme No fault is found
| aith the men who are on the coun-
ell Any three or five members of
Jrr present council acting aa com
missioners would produce better re-
] ults; not because they would be any
| better men ais commissioners than
as Councilmen but because II would
/ be their business to conduct the bus
mess OF the city. They would be
paid for their services and be re.
sponsible TO the electors of the city.
The city owns and runs the largest
business in Kingfisher. Is thee q
man in kingfisher running bust
ness VINO would not be bankrupt in
less than a YEAR II he should adopt
The mayor and council syTem IN con
ducting that business2 Is there q
member Of the present council who
would care 10 adopt the council sys
TEN for conducting his business
There is not one but who would say
no.
The ten freeholders who will draf
fhe charter ae representative citi
zsns af Kingishor, no better mel
could be selected They probable
have different views on the ques,ol
they will have 10 deal with and It 4
well that they should--a better char
ter will be dhe result. We hav'
tried the old plan unal we all wan
something better We know the oil
plan Is a failure and has been 70
twenty years Let us ali lay asid
everything excepting ibat whic
/ promises for The best Interests o
! Kingfsher f1lect the freeholder
and vote 70 proceed with the maxim
E Of a charter. II II proves q fiilur
We viii be none The worse off an
.hcn can return 20 The old plan