The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-28
Party Taken to Iowa Capital
Arrives in indianapolis To-
day and All the Members
Enthusiastic.
STATEMENT By LEEDS
PRAISES OES MONIES
He States the City's Great Civ
ic Spirit Is Entirely Due to
the New System Which Is
Popular.

The Indiana delegation headed nv
H. G. Leeds. of this city. who have
been in Des Moines for several days
making an inspection of the commits
sion form of municipai government in
operation there, arrived in Indianapo-
lis this morning and the local men,
bers of the committee. including Mr..
Leeds. F. II. Harris and Carl Bern
hardt. will probably arrive here this
afternoon. On arriving in Chicago
yesterday the members of the COM
mittee stated they We're greatly I'M
pressed with the progress being made
at the Iowa capital. Mr.. Leeds gave
out the following interview
Statement by Leeds.
We We're simply overw helmed by
the hospitality shown us.
"Des Moines is thoroughly awake.
and We found magnificent spirit of
civic enthusiasm. The entire popula-
tion is working together to make 4
greater Des Moines. We were afford
ed every opportunity for studying the
workings of the commission plan. Our
inquiry included hundreds of inter
views with citizens interested as tax
payers in municipal affairs. Beyond
doubt Des Moines believes ii has dis
covered something worth while and
the majority of people interviewed
credit the awakening of the city and its
development to the form of govern
ment.
City Is Enthusiastic.
"All of us are convinced Dcs-
Moines has improved greatly under the
commission PLAN" continued Mr..
Leeds. But i'm what proportion the
form of government is responsible.
we are unable to determine. II i'm
, pressed us that a city of such wonder
full civic enthusiasm would have fairly
good government under any form.
The greater Des Moines committee.
working for imrovement and increased
population. is satisfied the commission
| is responsible for this civic enthusi-
asm.
Beyond question the Indiana investi-
gators declare the commission an I'M.
provement over the government that
Des Moines knew before the adoption
| of the new law. 1t is the common YER
dict that Des Moines was a wretched-
" managed municipality under the old
ward rule and il is little wonder that
the people rejoice over the improved
conditions.
The Des Moines plan is a return to
the old town meeting principle of gov
] N OIL hn
troll of their civic business. 1t differs
| only from other commission acts in
matters of minor Importance. The cen
tral idea is administration by a coun-
ell or commission, members of which
are elected by ali the people and not by
wards.
Form Of Election Explained.
In Des Moines four councilnen and
one mayor are elected every two years.
These councilmen receive 5000 a year
net and become heads of the four de-
partments. The mayor receives So
400, and acts as superintendent OF pub
lie affairs. Any man can become a
candidate for nomination on petition
of twenty-five voters. The two candi-
dates receiving the highest number OF
votes for mayor on the ticket and the
eight highest for councilmen become
the candidates at the election.
SO far as we were able to discov-
err" continued Mr. Leeds. there are no
party lines apparent in the Dies Moines
affairs The mayor is democrat, the
city is republican. and nearly every
one seems to be of the opinion that II
does not matter what the political COM
Dlexion of the administration may be.
In Des Moines il is said that the
commission plan has wiped out party
lines but the politicians among the
Indiana visitors. unable to understand
this. advanced the theory that perhaps
Des Moines in an overwhelming desire
to improve and advance has forgotten
party affiliations.
When asked the opinion Of the in
vestigating party concerning the COM
mission idea as it concerns Indiana.
Mr.. Leeds said
We are not prepared to say that the
commission idea would be an improve
ment over the federal idea in this state
as applied to Indianapolis The com
: mission has been great thing for Des
Moines and other western cities
But some of us concluded, after dill
igent inquiry, that some politicians
might not respect the patriotic purpos-
es of the law as Iowans believe 1t will
be respected
Gives Great Authority.
The Des Moines plan. while seem