The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-06-16
NEW BOOK ON
DETHRONEMENT
OF CITY BOSS
JOHN J. HAMILTON WRITES ON
THE DIES MONIES PLAN OF CITY
GOVERNMENT SixTY-SEVEN
CITIES HAVE NOW ADOPTED 1T
AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO
GET 1T.

The most notable movement of our
generation, in making better the gov
eminent of cities, is that known as
the Des Moines plan, which Is based
on an earlier plan first worked out In
Galveston. Within very few years
the plan has been extended to sixty
seven cities, and thus far has every
where achieved notable results, IMAM
cial as well as governmental. Mp.
John J. Hamilton, who, under the
title THE Dethronement Of the City
Boss" (Funk & Wagnalls Company,
writes of TINS great movement for po-
liticaI betterment, has been identified
with the movement in Des Moines.
He gives in his book comprehensive
and detailed statement of the work
ings of the plans in that and other
cities from first-hand knowledge. I'm
der the Des Moines plan, the ward
system Of government has been abol-
ished, party control eliminated, direct
responsibility secured, and the su-
premacy of the people in their own
affairs re-established.
Mr.. Hamilton, in addition to his &C
count of the plan itself, and the sue
cess with which IL has been worked
the famous Des Moines charter. His
work is published in response to
very general demand for authentic
and precise information on this sub
ject So great has been the interest
in it. that more than $4,000 copies of
the charter itself have been printed
and called for in small pamphlet
form, but this volume is the first work
in which the significance and eff
cheney of the charter are made clear
to the lay mind, and its successful OPP
erations set forth in concrete facts.
Although this system of city govern
ment is called THE Des Moines Plan"
the history of 1t goes far back of the
experience of Des Moines. Mr.. Ham,
ilton describes the plan as, at once "a
combination of the approved features
of all the best American city charters
of recent origin" AS now in opera
ton, it represents "the concrete re-
suits of single city appropriating to
itself the experience of the best, COM
bined with it's own notifications" Be-
ginning with the work done in Calves
ton after the flood, the movements
went forward, first to Los Angeles and
Dallas ana--t,afs,,- mo- ornef~s Mnlrast
originality is made than could be made
for the national constitution, which
was a recasting into form essentially
new Of the fundamental laws Of Eng
land. as modified by colonial expe-
rience." Thus. also, with the Des
Moines charter. It's merit lies in the
fact that more than fifty years of
local experience was wrought into it,
ana that 1t passed through an ordeal
during its formation which made 1t an
adequate expression of the popular
will" OF the sixty-seven cities which
had adopted the plan, when Mr.. Hamil-
ton completed the proof-reading of his
book, three were in California, two in
Colorado. six IN Iowa, eleven in Kan
sas, three in Massachusetts,, four in
Oklahoma, eight - Jouth Dakota, five
in Tennessee, fifteen in Texas. Buffalo
is now endeayoring to secure the plan,
and In Pittsburg there Is popular de-
mand for 1t.
The peculiar feature Of this charter
is that 1t provides for government by
a commission Of FIVE persons. all of
whom are elected by the people This
small representative body chooses all
the other city officers. II differs,
therefore, from the conventional type
of city charter in that It eliminates
the board of aldermen, and hence the
ward as a political unit. This COM
mission of five persons constitutes
council, and as each member is elected
by the whole body Of citizens, the cor
ruption inherent in the ward system
is eliminated.
II is declared by Mr. Hamilton that,
in addition to the sixty-seven cities
named by him, are scores of others
which are agitating the question of
adopting this charter or a similar one.
Communities of citizens arrive fire.
Quently in Des Moines to inquire into
and copies OF the charter In cheap
pamphlet form are constantly called
for by persons interested in the move
ment. Twelve states have passed per-
missive laws under which cities may
vote upon the question of adopting
such a charter.
OF the results achieved already, Mr..
Hamilton remarks that every CITY
has its story of deficits wiped out,
floating debts taken up, bonds retired.
business methods introduced, long
standing nuisances abated, laws en-
forced. books better kept, streets kept
cleaner, public works more honestly
constructed, public buildings erected,
additional parks and Fairgrounds ac-
CURED, economies enforced and taxes
reduced" Moreover. they all report
a revival Of public spirit and improve
ment in business resulting from better
city conditions" Everywhere leaks
have been stopped, system has taken
the place Of chaos, efficiency has been
substituted for poor service, prompt.
ness for hopeless procrastination
lower for higher tax levies, and better
values received for the public outlaws
In a word, the citizen has become
reconciled 10 his city: he has ACQUIRED
new faith in it and in himself. as az
citizen, and along with this his hopes
for the republic have revived.