The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-01
SOUNDS PRAISES Of
COMMISSION PLAN
OF GOVERNMENT
System Has Worked Wonders in Des
Moines, Iowa, Says Rev. F. w.
Hodgdon, Who Occupies Detroit
Pulpit Temporarily.
Graft Has Been Eliminated and Rule
Of the Political Trickster and
Ward Heller Ended.

A forceful exponent OF the commits
sion form of government for cities is
the Rev. +. w. Hodgdon. pastor of the
Plymouth Congregational church, OF
Des Moines, Iowa. II was he who
took a leading part In the movement
that resulted In the adoption of this
system by Des Moines. Since 1t has
been In effect there the city has been
bcautifed: the citizens are taking
more pride In their city than ever be-
fore, and the sinister Influences that
were formerly felt In the city's anairs
have given way 10 progressive
methods, for under the present plan
the domination by the railroads and
the large corporations Is practically a
thing Of the past.
The Rev. Mr.. Hodgdon Is spending
his vacation at Frankfort, Mich, and
has filed the pulpit Of the First Con-
gregational church In Detroit for the
past two Sundays. He received rep
resentative OF The Times In the fuller
hotel. He said the commission plan
movement In Des Moines was started
by 300 representative citizens. Albert
b. Cummins, now United States SEN
Rtor, was then governor OF Iowa. He
is reformer OF the pronounced type
and used all his influence to get the
necessary legislation. This was done,
and Des Moines today Is far In adj
vance of the Des MONIES OF three
years ago when the system was put
In effect. The public conscience has
been stirred and the citizens who for
merly remained In the shadow OF the
churches are taking leading part In
the city's affairs. q
THE system in Des Moines." said
the Rev. Mr.. Hodgdon, consists OF
Ave commissioners, one or whom Is
designated as the mayor. The nomin-
atoms for these Offices are made-h
direct primary, the ten highest candi-
dates being voted for at the election.
The mayor has powers OF general sup
ervision, but he has no veto power.
A majority vote of the commission Is
necessary to transact business. The
commissioners are elected for two
years. II a charge Is made against a
member of this commission the citi-
gems have the privilege at any time OF
placing him up for election again and
the public denounces its judgment. III
Il believes the accused Official has
been maligned his election Will voice
tha sentiment OF the voters. II the
voters believe the Official is unfit for
the ONCE he holds the election OF his
opponent viii announce their verdict.
Each member OF the commission
appoints his assistants. the entire
board passing on these appointments.
There are Ave departments in Des
Moines over which this commission
rules-pubiic works, public safety,
marks and boulevards, streets and
finance. This plan places the respon-
sibility for any negligence on the part
of the commissioners. Each OF these
Is held to strict account for his
branch of the city's government ana
II there is any flaw he must explain.
THE new system Is especially val
uable so far as the street railway
question is concerned. The franchises
for this company have expired and be-
fore they can be renewed the people
must PASS on them. The commission
will soon formulate a plan OF settle
meut and submit It to the voters, and
they. not the common council, will de-
eide the question, for we have no aid
ermen.
an Dies Moines the member OF the
commission who is designated as the
mayor gets $4,000 per year, and the
others $4,000. II would, perhaps, be
better to pay them more, and these
salaries may be raised in the near
future. But the commission form OF
government so far as Des Moines Is
concerned Is a pronounced success. II
has created a spirit Of progress to
such an extent that any citizen is
ashamed to try to obstruct a plan to
add to the Identification OF the city
The Rev. Mr.. Hodgdon Is keen
political student. He has used his
pulpit to denounce graft and corrup-
ton and to urge his practitioners to
stamp these abuses out OF his city's
affairs. In explaining how Des Moines
has turned from q city ashamed to a
city, awakened--for the streets Of Des
Moiues before the new order of things
were In a terrible state and other
things were equally as bad-he says
his city is only one Of many that have
or are to put in vogue the commission
form of government. He pointed TO
the GALVESTON plan," which was
worked out by leading citizens after
the great flood there. The Des Moines
ulan IA similar, to the Galveston plan
and so are those forms OF government
that Boston Is now using and which
Pittsburg Is about to put In force.
In the opinion Of Pastor Hodgdon
me commission form Of government is
the only way. to place in the hands OF
the representative citizens the ma.
chinery that directs the affairs Of the
cities and TO stamp out the rule OF
the political trickster and the ward
heller.