Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-16
LAUNCH MOVEMENT HERE
FOR THE COMMISSION PLAN

stances. He questioned that there was
a member of the local city council who
paid 500 taxes a year, and asked if
there were any such aldermen
present to stand forth. He was in
stantly disillusioned by the rising of
Aldermen H. j. Prick and Frank Bloch
linger, both of whom informed him
that they were ready to take his chal-
lenge Mr.. Kirk also intimated that
the Tri-City Railway company, in ask
ing a six-year extension of it's franchise
here, had had its ear to the ground
and was afraid of something that was
coming. Thus again the speaker dis
played lack of familiarity
with the real situation here.
For Mr.. Kinks information, it should
be stated that the ordinance of the
railway company did not initiate with
the company 1t came only after So
licitation on the part of the city coun-
ell, and the six years were added to the
company grant as a return for liberal
concessions made the city.
No Government Perfect.
Walter H Kirk, on his introduction
by the POSTMASTER, spoke in part as
follows:
But, at the outset of this discussion,
let US clearly recognize the elementary
proposition, that no government, no
man-made laws, can be absolutely per
feet. In the very nature Of things and
at the best, they must needs leave
much to be desired.
And as a corollary to this PROPOSE
ton, let us also bear in mind the fur
Their fact, that no human government
will ever be better than the character,
the morals and the ideals Of the men
who administer it, except. however,
that under the present system, if a
be made and a rascal voted
in, there is no way we can vote him
out until his term expires, and then we
are left to try the doubtful experiment
of electing a better man to succeed
him; whereas, under the commission
form, no rascal need be endured
longer than it takes to hold a recall
election and vote him out.
The commission form abolishes the
old ward representation plan, by pro
viding for the election of a mayor and
four commissioners from the entire
city at large, thus enabling every citi-
zen to have a voice in the selection of
each commissioner.
Eliminate Politics.
Under the old rule the mayor and
he aldermen are elected as the repre-
of a political party. Under
he new rule, the mayor and commas
'ioners are elected to represent no
party, but all the people, well knowing
ny will be held accountable to and
1y all the people.
Ward government provides that the
mayor and council shall perform the
general services mentioned in the
statutes. But no where do the stat
ties fix any individual responsibility.
rhe enforcement of law rests there
ore with the mayor and council. The
of immense sums of tan
money is entrusted to the mayor and
council.
Moreover, the best and most capa-
lie aldermen can render no greater
ervice to the city than the most in
because, there is no pro-
ision made for the capable alderman
o do more than the incapable alder |
nan will permit him to do.
Under the ward plan the council !
meets only once a week and that at
light. City business is not considered !
# sufficient importance to be conduct |
d as a business of itself but, alasI too |
'ften, it is carried on merely as a side |
inc by men of little or no business |
responsibilities of their own.
Operates Only at Night.
And although it costs a tremendous
UNI every year, the municipal machin- |
Try is in actual operation only two or
hree hours at night every seven days. |
80 that citizen having a meritorious /
complaint cannot present it as a bust !
less matter, dixie any other business !
natter he may have to attend to dur
ng business hours), but he must vTsfc |
he council at night and then his COM /
laint is not acted on Immediately. but /
N the contrary is referred to a COM /
nittee. That committee may or may /
lot meet in another week; and when |
t does meet, it refers the matter to /
he commissioner of public works I
after a few days more elapse he re- |
ers it to the superintendent of streets. /
lie in turn after a few more days /
lapse looks the matter up and then .
efers it back to the street superin- I
endent, who refers 1t back to the COM
missioner of public works, who reports |
t back to the committee and the COM
nittee in time reports it back to the |
Ouncil where, after at least another /
Teek goes by and it is brought up, it /
5 carried over on the objection of /
ONE alderman from some other ward |
han where the trouble is located, and |
he complaint is filed away as unfin-
shed business, to be taken up, or ig-
ored, at subsequent meeting of the /
ity council.
Commission government does away
nth all this and requires the appli-
alton of modern business methods to
he conduct of municipal affairs It
and fixes responsibility
I'D exacts full accountability from
hose elected to Office 1t makes eff