Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-11-28
POPULAR FEELING FOR MUNICIPAL
REFORM INCREASES
PUBLIC TIRED OF EXTRAVA-
GANCE IN CITY AFFAIRS AND
WORKING OF POLITICAL MA.
CHINE - COMMISSION PLAN
WELCOMED

With the idea of eliminating the
saloon from politics and preventing
it from eXerting an Influence upon
future municipal contests there is
talk Of forming, in this city, an or
ganization similar to law order leag-
ues, which shall agree upon some man
for the mayoralty who is entirely di.
vorced from the present city admins.
tration, and all set in and support
him for the position. According to
statements made by many intiuen-
tial citizens there is feeling in many
quarters that the present expense OF
running the city government is al.
together too great and that there
should be substantial pairing all
along the line. They argue that this
cannot be done by returning the same
men to office or other men who are
in League with them.
Feeling that the saloon has here
tofore exerted too great an influence
in municipal affairs-a position which
was amply justified, it is pointed out
in the application of former coun.
Gilman Ed. Dolan, for a license for
his proposed workingmens hotel on
Hume and Michigan avenue, and the
narrow margin by which the appli
cation was sidetracked. 1t is declar
ed that the time has come when the
people themselves should take hand
in the regulation OF, the business OF
the thirst parlors and, in the Ian
guage of prominent citizen: "If the
saloons are not willing to accept this
manifesto, then they must face the
possibility of being voted out of bust
ness altogether"
Want Business Council
What Aberdeen needs just now,
said business man who refused to
permit his name to be used, "is a
business administration of city af
fairs. The city council has been dom
mated by politics long enough. 1t
is probable that the city never pos.
sessed body of aldermen who are
SO completely tied to ring rule as
that which weekly assemblies at the
city hall and draws its individual S.
per man. There are men on the coun.
Gil who really want to do something
for their constituents but they are
powerless unless they will enter the
combine and support by their votes
measures and policies which their
aspired to sit on the council, have
been urged to do so by people Of q
certain ward. but their desires have
been set aside and the wishes Of the
majority of the people Overriden
merely to perpetuate petty political
machine. It isn't necessary to go in
to details-people who have kept tat
on the city council and it's opera
tions fully understand the conditions
And 1t Is just such situations which
has caused all this talk about com
mission form of government and as
sembly plans. The people believe
that their money has long enough
been used to build up this machine
and they see in the commission plan
an opportunity to escape for good and
all time. Let the commission come
am in favor of it, and ! believe
that the large majority of the citi
zens of Aberdeen are of the same
opinion"
Commission Plan Popular
There is no doubt regarding the
feeling of the people with refer
ence to the commission plan. Every
citizen of Aberdeen who has been
heard to express an opinion on the
matter has been outspoken in it's ia
vor. The saving in the actual eX
penses of running the city govern
ment lis in itself sufficient induce
ment to make it appeal to the aver
age taxpayer Add to this the prob
ability of the securing of business
administration operated by business
men who entire time shal lbe devot
ed to the duties of their office land
the city is assured of more econo
mical administration of its affairs
and a general Improvement in all de-
Ipartments. 1t is felt that the pres
ent expense of conducting the city
is far too great and that it could
be substantially reduced. If politics
were eliminated and the interests of
the taxpayers subserved upon all oc-
casions and in all directions, there
would be a vast improvement in the
management of affairs and, at the
same time material reduction in
expenses. This, it is stated. has been
the experience of other municipali-
ties that have adopted the plan and
that it would be true in Aberdeen is
confidently believed.