Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-05

Initiative and Referendum.
This principle in its application
places upon the people them selves the
direct responsibility OF government.
The initiative and referendum are the
most effective weapons for protecnon
of the people, an Insurance poilcv
againe graft. They mean the elimina-
ton OF CORPORATION influence, the set
tlement of all questions OF pubic con
Germ by direct vote Of the people
them selves.
The Recall.
The recall gives the people r1ght-
full power to discharge Incompetent.
dishonest or unta!thful servants at
any time, just as an individual ousi-
ness man has the right TO discharge an
incompetent employe.
oraanization Of the Council.
The law provides that the business
of q civ shall be divided into five
departments: the mayor is the head OF
public Affairs, he must sign all war
rants, all contracts. all special IL
censes, ETC., and he is the pressGng
OFFICER of the council, with authority 70
vote on every proposition. The otner
DEPARTMENTS are finance, parks ana
public property, and streets and poohc
improvements The department OF n
nance deals with tax levfes and appro-
priaslons, revenues and expenditures
keeping such close tab that the couh-
ell knows exactly at all times the con
dition of public funds. The council
man at the head of this oepaf eHiSh'
must approve all vouchers before oiiis
are paid. To him are re1erred all
matters Of corrections in assessments
regular and special, petitions LOT eA
ernptions, etc, but all these nsaeters
must finally be acted upon by the en-
tire council. The department OF pup
lie safety has general jurisdiction owe.
the police and fire departments. "hicn
are both under civil service the c,'s
electrician and plumbing inspector
The department OF parks ana puolic
property has jurisdiction over all prop
erty except the fire and police s.atFons'
The streets and Improvement
! ment is the businest OF them all, re-
! n1,,r;ng q man who is familiar with
| public affairs, paving, sewers, sIee'
1,ght,n1 and a thoursand one other
matters.
The municipal water plant and the
! n,,b,ic library are managed by separate
boards of trustees, appointed by the
| city council. and locally the success OF
! this plan can be questioned by no ONO
The Truth Of an incident.
| One of the interesting things IN con-
nection with the adoption and operation
of the commission plan in Cedar Rapids
was the attitude of the Bohemian citi-
! zens toward the innovation then ano
| the change which has since come ovei
this very large portion OF our cdti'
zepship.
! Approximately onefourth OF the res
idents Of Cedar Rapids are Bohemian
iAmericans-and the city Is proud o.
them They are the equal Of any othe'
people, IN business ability. In educa'
tions1 matters In industry. IN morals
and IN everything that goes to max
up the denfapie 0I.ss::ssss:: 1..t the 30
lhsnian people were largely opposed q
thu adoption OF the plan. They feares
Ia change from the old plan Whici
might prove for the worse rather fha1
for the better; they remembered hei
battles for freedom in the old worlt
ana they teaIousiy guarded what fhel
believed to be their rights. Their op
position to the commission plan cam