The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-11-30

ward system as zone Of the crimes of
the antique method of municipal or
ganizat ion.''
Men get into the council from a
ward who would not have a look-in if
their fate rested with the entire city I
have read of some of your councilmen
the author of That Dear Midnight of
Love Wouldn't Chicago like to get a
wallop at him?"
The Des Moines editor then anaylzed
the commission form of government,
continuing as follows:
The commission form of government
is in accordance with the business of
today. The old form of city govern
ment is fashioned after republic. In
the early history of our country the
people thought everything must imi-
tate a republic. Therefore we have
city legislative bodies and mayor.
The mayor presides and the couneilmen
occupy their seats as Legislators. The
whole arrangement is on the SUPPOSE
ton that the city government consists
of legislating. The fact is that any
city council for a city OF 10000 could
make all the ordinances needed for one
year in one-half hour
Even the payment of bills is done
a result of a committee a work. the
same being hurriedly Endorsed by the
entire body. The greatest mistake of
the old style of city government is in
the distribution of power and authori-
ty to such an extent that responsibility
can never be located
You can never discover who is to
blame when anything goes wrong. Ev-
cry man denies it. and shifts the re-
sponsibility onto someone else. Under
q ice fnr Of =
entire responsible is placed five
men. Their subordinates are ignored
"One good feature of the commission
plan is the doing away of partisan poll
tics in municipal affairs. What does
it matter whether man is a democrat
or republican when 1t comes to the
government of a city? Political graft
is unknown under the commission plan
of city government. The nonpartisan
primary affords a fine example of an
honest way of making nominations.
The primary names two full tickets.
Election eliminates one ticket. In this
way good nominations are always pos
sible Another advantage of the com
mission plan is, the city government
is always a hand always at the mu-
nicipal building. The heads of depart
ments can always be called for. 1t
takes no search warrant 10 ma them.
Under the old form of city govern
ment progress had been difficult be-
cause of divided responsibility in re-
gard to the receipt of expenditure of
money.
There is no reason why a city like
Chicago should not be governed by five
men, just as the affairs of a great rail
road corporation are governed by an
| executive committee of three or five.
There is not a railroad in the United
States Of any consequence which could
be operated successfully under the slip
| shod methods which characterize the
average city government
"Des Moines has been under the
! commission form of government nearly
! three years and has prospered. We are
/ building a fine municipal structure in
which there is no city hall. 1t looks
| like a first national bank There is
one thing about making public i'm
| provements under the commission form
I of government 1t is possible to tran
sact business. Delays are unknown
.'Des Moines has not attempted tc
save money, but has secured more for
her money Our city is not going into
debt, but is constantly making SPLEEN
did new improvements