Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-06
AMERICAS WILL SOONER Oh
LATER FOLLOW OTHER CITES
IN ADOPTING THE COM
MISSION PORN OF GOV
ERNMENT.


% b governed b. . Commission.
It vii Be. as il Is elsewhere. a single
commission system, not a system com
pose1 of i half dozen bodies Of five
men each. but one compact body Ct
three or FIVE men. fully empowered
to do their work and held direct yr>
sp0nsible By the citizens for the result
q their administration of municipal
affairs.
Every where that The Commission
system Of government has been tried
ii has brought about a more satisfac-
tory condition Of affairs. TIE tax pa
els have found that they have received
greater returns for their moner, the
efficiency of the city departments HIS
been improved without in increase in
expenditures upon them. wastefulness
in time and in money Las been stopped.
city employees have been brought 70 the
point where they realize that they
must give to the public service the
BEST that is in item, assured at tae
came time that their positions az
permanent as long as they are faithful
and efficient.
Montgomery and Birmingham Re,
Gently voted almos, unanimously il
favor Of the installation of the CON-
mission sgstem. Savannah, one II
the most extrayagantly managed cities
in tie state, is thinking seriously Of .
chang. that will remove its affairs
from the hands Of selfish political in
terests, and il win not be long befoI g
in every city in Georgia there will =
a pronounced sentiment in favor of
the Substitution of the commission
form of government for the existing
unsatisfactory meth11s.
Over in Nashville there is also :
strong agitation on IN favor Of a
more business like administration Of
its affairs. The Board of Trade there,
representing the sold business senti-
ment Of the city. is behind the move
ment. Discussing It the Nashville Ten
nessean gives the following explan2-
ton of what is proposed:
TIE Board of Trade. in its promu.-
cation and unanimous Endorsement OF
a commission form of government for
Nashville has taken an advanced step
which is commendable and which VIII
be cordially Endorsed by the people OF
this city, for the best governed munie-
qualities are coming to this form Of
city government, and il is gratifying to
see our people taking their rightfui
places in the front ranks of progress
sive improvement.
The plan recommended BY the
Board of Trade provides for a Mayo:
and four Commissioners as the gov
euing body Of the city, the duties an
portioned as follows: Commissioner o.
Streets, Waterworks, and Sewers.
Commissioner OF Finance and Rev
enues; Commissioner Of Police an
Fire; Commissioner Of Light, Health
and Public Property.
Under the provisions of the plan
otter assignments not specified wiz
be made by and at the discretion Of
the Mayor.
1T is designed in the process Of
changing TO a commission form Of
government that the present members
of the Board OF Public Works shall be-
come the Commissioners during tae
period for which they have been elect
ed, after which two are to be elected
every two years for terms Of four years
each.
Two leading candidates in a pri-
mary to be held two weeks previous to
the election shall alone be eligible for
candidacy in the general election.
The right of recall is embo1ied il
the proposed plan.
TIE change from the present form
Of city government to commission
form Of government must be made by
the General Assembly through th
-gency of the Davidson County delege-
ton. Changes of the character indi-
Gated must be made by amendment t.
the present city charter or by tae
adoption Of new charter altogether
1t shous. be kept in mind by the
advocates of this importnt change that
a divided Davidson County delegation,
or any positive or aggressive opposition
from Nashville would imperil and
might defeat the contemplated chartc~
bill, and in order that there may be 10
misconception of the facts, the desired
charter change in all details should be
clearly and plainly set before the PEG
pie, to the end that the matter may 80
before the Legislature with the full
approval of the public.
ut is now accepted by students OF
government that the COM
form, as contemplated by orr
people, is the most practical and most
effective of good and efficient service
that las yet been devised, and it is
gratifying to know that our city Is
moving rapidly along in all lines Ct
progress and especially that it Is seek
ing the best mode of government"
1t may be some time before the agi-
tation will assume any great headwIy
in Americas, but come it will, and