The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-06

nue. Christian church, Manchester, on
City Government by Commission"
AS this subject is attracting much at
tention throughout the country, the
discourse VIII be read with interest,
eshecially here, where DIR. Spencer is
20 well known The Herald says:
Before large audience in the Cen
'tral Christian church Sunday night the
Rev. l. J. Spencer preached an earnest
and enlightening sermon on city Gov
eminent by Commission" DIR. Spencer
read as text the twenty first chapter
or Revelations, drawing therefrom the
contrast between the Old Jerusalem
Jerusalem which honors and cxaits
Him. He pleaded that Lexington.
which had witnessed on its streets the
shooting of innocent men by wicked
men and the want OF condemnation.
conviction and punishment for such
deeds, might become the most beauti-
full and purest city in all the South
land.
DIR. Spencer recently visited Dies
Moines, Iowa. where government by
commission Is proving successful. and
In his sermon last night gave sue
cinctly the story of the rise Of that
city from filth to cleanliness and from
q. to prosperity. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Why Sermon 10 Preached.
"Some one may ask, why turn
asica from preaching the gospel to
consider city government by commits
sion?' / reply that i know Of no way
in which / can preach the gospel bet
ter than to apply its principles to the
guidance, government and well-befng
zoe ~ -
las wrecked the character OF many a
youth and permitted life long injury to
many another. II dishonesty, lawless-
ness and crime be allowed. and IL the
wicked be encouraged TO prey upon the
irE'' cent, then the church and the
home lind an enemy In the munich
pality.
The latter becomes a wolf to steal
away the lam bs from the fold More
over the tone of society 10 lowered
and the moral atmosphere II pol
iuted. A wide open town il the ves-
Thule of perdition. and one in which
the officials themselves are conspi.
cuous examples or lawlessneas and
immortality Is hell itself.
ilis Visit to Des Moines.
II had the opportunity of yists
| to Bes Moines, Iowa. recently after
the new plan OF city government by
/
nearly two years. l attended the
meeting OF the council. / interviewed
four OF the five counciimen. who ar.
also called commissioners.
J Il found them eager to give tnfor-
nation. i conversed with the EDITOR
of the Capital and OF the Register and
Leader. I talked with the secretary
OF the commercial club. with business
men and erstwhi1e politicians. / have
xxst.t ef, hAxy
me and have examined the first arr.
nual report of the city compiled by
! the auditor under the direction OF
the superintendent of finance.
| LAT the time the new method OF
government began, April. 1908. the
/ city government lacked $4,000 or
enough money to pay the obligations
for the year. On April l. 1903. thers
was balance in the city treasury OF
S104,s55.
| Under the Old Plan.
| Prior to April, 1908. the city had
aldermen elected by wards Men
were chosen because of their ability
to secure improvements for the wards
that elected them. Thus one waro
strove against other wards. Each
grabbed for his constituency. The
best grabber wHs the best council
4 man Now each councilman Is elect
ed by the city and no longer by his
ward. Thus ward politics has been
eliminated.
Sectional lines and party politics
/ have also been obliterated. East Dee
Moines and West Des Moines. sep
arated by the Des Moines river, were
Formerly worse divided by corrupt
politics. Now they are united and
/ work as a unit for the greater de-
veiopment of the city.
"As both the Lexington Leader and
the Lexington Herald have published
| in full the new charter for the gov
eminent OF Lexington. by commits
sion. which liz substantially the same
as that of Des Moines. and M all can
read 1t for themseives, shall not
attempt to point out many Of its ex-
cellent features.
A Few OF Its Advantages.
"A few of the advantages wish
| to emphasize. One is the definite
responsibility which each commission
| err Is made to bear as superintendent
| OF his particular department One
has charge OF the department of pub
lie safety: another OF accounts and
finance. another Of streets and public
improvements; another of parks and
public property; and the mayor has
the oversight of public affairs There
/ Is no shifting OF responsibility from
L
councilman must give an account of
himself to the city. Another advan-
! tage Is the great publicity given to
| the transaction OF the city'a business.
/ Every act Is performed openly. No
commissioner Is allowed to bid for
any of the city's business. Graft Is
unknown. Reporters and any other
citizens are allowed to make the most
searching inquiry into the affairs OF
the council. Still another advantage
| is that partisan politics do not enter
into the administration OF the city's
business.
| Voters Have Some Power.
| 1.-THE referendum. initiative and re-
call afford the voters an opportunity
| to prevent hasty and unwise yegisia-
| ton; to force ordinances which the
council might refuse to pass and TO
| provide the ways and means by which
dishonIst or incompetent mayor or
councilman can be removed from Of
| ice.
committee from Salt Lake City
visited Des Moines to investigate the
new plan of government by commits
sion. It obtained the testimony Of ono
| thousand men representing every bus
mess and profession. !, Nine hundred
and ninety-seven spoke emphatically
Ia fts fAvoF. Three spoke against It.
One OF the three was college pro-
fessor with strong socialistic Views;
another was q saloon keeper who
thought his business had been injured