Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-22

right 10 remove the commissioners
also have authority to remove one of
their number, four votes being neces-
sary to accomplish this.
Abandonment.
| Another original feature of the
plan here in force Is a provision it
contains for the abandonment OF re
system at the will Of the voters after
the expiration of six years. An elec>
tion to abolish the commission sys-
TEN can be required by twenty-five
per cent. of the voters and if a ma
jority Of votes are cast in favor of
taking this step, then the city returns
to the Old form of government. No
one is Des Moines ever expects 20
witness an election of this kind, but
the trainers of the charter, being de-
termined to place all the power in the
hands of the people, embodied this
provision.
The Des Moines plan is in no sense
local measure. 1t is an act of the
legislature of Iowa ami applies to any
community of seven Thousand or
more within the state, if the voters
want to adopt it. 1t has been ADOPT
ed in Sioux City and numerous other
cities and towns since it's immense sd
periority over the old system has
been demonstrated in Des Monies,
and it bids fair to wipe out the an
cient system in the next few years
SO far as Iowa is concerned. In the
smaller municipalities two commits
sioners and a mayor are provided in
stead of four commissioners and a
mayor.
The mayor of the city of Des
Mones receives three thousand five
hundred dollars a year, while the
commissioners are paid three thous-
and each. They are not required 70
give bond, as in some of the Texas
cities, nor does the charter specify
that they shall give all of their time
to the duties of the office. This fea-
ture was expressly eliminated because
it might bar some very capable men
from serving the people. AS a mat
ter of fact, however, the mayor and
commissioners of Des Moines do give
all of their time to the affairs of the
city.
From a mist managed and cor
rupt municipality, Des Moines has de-
veloped into a community famed the
country over for the excellence of lis
government, and just as surely it is
becoming one of the most beautiful
cities in America The commissioners
are not building for today, but for II
time They are carrying forward COM
prehensive schemes of development
that will contribute to the delight of
the generation of today and of those
to come, oafter. A great civic center is
being established on the river front,
heretofore given over to rough build
ings, tumbled-down shanties and
trash Uttered lots. In the middle of
June the cornerstone of the new ma
nicipal building was laid upon the
banks of the river and the stately
structure is now assuming form
When completed it will be one of the
most beautiful structures of its kind
in America and certainly the most
unique and best adapted for the pur-
pose: It's distinctive feature is a mag
nificent room occupying practically al
of the single floor. Here every de-
partment of the city will be thrown
together, elbow to elbow, just as all
departments of a great bank are
brought into close touch one WITH an
other Around this beautiful struc-
ture, landscape architects have plan
ned park that will slope off to the
river, transforming a scar into scene
that will delight the eye.
A uniform system of street lighting
has already been inaugurated in Des
Moines which adds immensely to is
charm. Ornamental lamp posts, each
provided with five full-round globes,
are placed at intervals of 40 feet on
both sides of the street, with an effect
that is as striking as 1t is effective in
lighting the thoroughfares.
Des Moines is advancing surely and
steadily along the highest lines and it