The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-24
A Number of Representative
Business Men OF Indiana
Were in the Party as Guests
OF Mr.. R. G. Leeds.
DES MONIES SYSTEM
TO BE INVESTIGATED
And as a Result of the Probe.
1t May Find an Echo in Bill
Presented to the Next
Legislature.

The indianapolis Star this morn
ing gives the following account of the
inspection parry Mr.. Leeds took to
Des Mones yesterday in the private
car Rainbow:
The special car Rainbow, chartered
by Rudolph G.. Leeds, editor OF the
Richmond Palladium, and son of the
Millionaire, w. b. Leeds, left Indiana
polls yesterday carrying as Mr.. Iced S
guests company of representative
newspaper owners and publishers of
the state, bound for Des Moines, Ia.
for study of the commission form of
government in that city with an idea
of looking to it's adoption in Indiana
cities. r. B. Laycock, who, with A..
F. Potts. was chosen to represent the
indianapolis Commercial club, missed
the train and will join the party at
Chicago or Des MOines today Mi.
Potts was unable to go.
Members of the Party.
Besides Mr. Leeds the members of
the party were Wallace b. Campbell,
secretary of the Federation Of Com
mercial Clubs of Indiana; James p.
Goodrich of Winchester, republican
state chairman; George B. Lockwood,
editor of the Marion Chronicle; Z. A..
Miller, editor of the South Bend Tri-
hume; Charles X. Mavity. editor of the
Lafayette Journal: w. NJ. Miller. edi-
tor of the Lafayette Courier; Edgar
A. Perkins, editor of the Union, In
tlianapolis: Arthur Gleason, staff cor
respondent of Golfers Weekly: A. r.
Keesling, editor of the Logansport
Journal; Carl Bernhardt, associate edi-
tor OF the Richmond Palladium and E..
II. Harris, private secretary to Mr..
Leeds.
Mr. Bernhard has been a visitor in
Des Moines before on the same errand
and in view of his knowledge of the
ground and the commission plan of
government he is the center of most
of the train discussion of the question.
The plan of government under Mr..
Eernhardt's tongue assumes the pro-
portions of an ideal city government,
Il government truly on business prin-
ciples" with it's officers directly re-
sponsible to the people, and readily
punishable by removal through the Pc
tition and recall A saving of $780,
900 and reduction of taxes were the
result of the first year of government
by commission in Des Moines.
Subject to Impeachment.
The commission is chosen by a nom
partisan primary and a nonpartisan
election. At the primary election as
many may enter as candidates for
of party. At the primary election,
without regard to party, the two high
est are chosen to oppose each other
for mayor and the next eight become
the aldermanic candidates. The may
or serves as chairman of the commits
sion, which numbers five, including
the mayor, who has charge of de-
partment just as do the other four
members of the commission. Mr..
Bernhardt says that the present mem
bers of the commission are all old-line
politicians.
But the system has made them be
good said Mr.. Leeds, ''as the record
will show
Can Call Election.
In event the policy Of any commits
sioner at the head of any department
is unsatisfactory. a petition signed by
20 percent of the voters can call an
election. Upon the vote of approval
or disapproval at this election the
commissioner future in office de-
pends, failure of the voters to approve
his action acting as an impeachment.
The purpose of the party headed by
Mr.. Leeds is to make thorough in
vestigation of the plan and make sug-
gestions to the next legislature if the