The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-17
THE COMMISSION PLAN.
To Allow Cities OF 10000 to Vote
Oh the Question.

the old system" said Mayor Sherard
this morning when asked what he
thought of the adoption of the plan
ir Anderson, "and l can very well
see how the concentration of RESPONSE
bility in the hands of a few good men
OF character and sound business judg-
ment can revolutionize the administra-
ton of muicipal affairs in the big
cities. There the danger of misgovern-
ment lies principally in the division
of responsibility. The great number
a law-making body as large as a
State legislature and too often repre-
senting corrupt interests, frequently
make IT easy for a majority to band
themselves into an organization for
the purpose OF exploiting the public
interests for private gain. That was
shown in the graft Investigations in
cities like st. Louis and Pittsburg.
But here in our small cities VIC
have no such conditions prevailing,
and it becomes a question whether
or not the commission plan would help
us in securing more efficient govern
ment. L think it would. The central
idea Of the new system is the employ
ment of small governing board in
whom the responsibility of govern
ment directly lies, who are paid sala-
ries commensurate with their Ser
vices and who divide up the depart
ments Of the city government in
such way that each commissioner
can specialize along particular lines.
For instance, a capable administrative
officer would have entire charge of
the street department and by giving
his whole time to it, better results
would be secured than by having half
is the condition that allows bossims to
ideas running the department.
I'm cities OF less than 1000 inhabi-
tants there is, always small body
OF aldermen elected by wards; but
did II. ever occur to you that under
the ward system I'VE hage'vno yssal
representative government? ] have no
reference to local conditions, but
speak only as a general proposition.
The mayor Is the only official that
all the people have a hand in choos-
Ing. city, whether large or small,
Is such compact political unit, the
interests of all the citizens are so
nearly Identical, that 1t seems unfair
to give a ward the privilege Of select
Ing representative clothed with full
power to shape the entire policy Of
the city unless he Is acceptable to
the people OF the other wards. That
is the condition that allows bossini to
flourish. That is the condition that
too frequently elects unfit men to
office. The commission plan would
break up this absurd division, vest
the choice OF representatives direct
ly in all the peope and make gener-
ally for better government.
THE commission plan as adopted
everywhere usually provides for five
commissioners. For city the size
Of Anderson this number is too
large. In my opinion the board
should be composed of three commits
sioners one Of whom should be the
mayor. The farther public officials
are removed from political consider
ations and influences the more efIi-
cient will be the service rendered by
them. The terms of the commissions
ers, to avoid the pitfalls of the old
system, should be three to six years.
one to be elected every year or every
two years according to the length Of
the term. The chances are that an
arrangement like this would reduce
political agitation and unrest to a
minimum and insure the election Of
suitable men to be commissioners
THE main features of the plan, as
you know, are small governing body
of capable administrative officers
the initiative, the referendum, the re-
call. and the submission of all pub
lice franchise to the people for ad-
option or rejection. The recall pro-
vision could never be used to hurt a
good official. but it would prove a
worry effective big stick to force an
unworthy commissioner to make
good or quit
Il have been interested in the
movement Of those Charleston people
who are seeking TO establish commits
sion government i'm their city. Their
intention was to ask the legislature
for special act giving the city the
privilege Of voting ON the oucstion