The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-04-02
Many Cities in United States Have Taken At
fairs of City Out of Hands of Politicians
Forms Basis for Estimate of Success of
Commission Plan Remarkable Example
of Cedar Rapids Vinita People are
Urged to Give Plan Consideration

There are now perhaps more than
go cities in the United States, run
on the commission plan. This rep
resents more than 100000 people,
who have intelligently determined to
take out of the hands of politicians
and grafters the management of their
affairs. 1t is one of the signs Of the
times, and indicates that the "zeit-
lgeist," or reform spirit of the age, is
abroad and in the air. According to
the editor of Eyerybody's Magazine,
a splendid victory has been won for
the American people. Mr.. Charles
Edward Russell, In the current num-
Der of this magazine, shows the re-
lsults in five cities which are govern
ed by commissions, and points out
the advantages of this system of
I"common sense and democracy" over
1.-THE ordinary "thumb-hand" manage
ment of affairs. The Literary Digest
remarks: "We are reminded that, as
a rule, the American city is "unsight-
Ily to look at, plundered by corpora
tions and political ruffians, misruled
where it is not corruptly ruled, and
boggled, and manhandled in all its
important affairs
Inasmueh as at least GO cities have
tested the new idea sufficiently to
furnish a basis for estimating what
modern and sane methods are worth
when applied to municipality, it is
incumbent upon all cities, even the
size of Vinita, to follow the wonder
full reform example. The writer
would refer particularly to such large
cities as Galveston, Houston, Des
Moines, Sioux Falls, and Cedar Rapids
Under the plan adopted by Galveston
and Houston, Galveston reduced its
annual expenses nearly one-third, saw
ed $1,000,000 and became, in every
way, "a better city to live in." Hous-
ton, in it's first year under the new
plan, paid off 100000 debt, and re-
duced the tax rate, while making the
greatest public improvements in the
history of the city.
But the most remarkable example
is shown in the almost marvellous
change for the better that came over
Cedar Rapids, Michigan, as result
of the practical workings of the new
idea. An extract from one of the
leading journals of that city will
prove interesting reading to any one
who loves decent honest, and eff
cient city government;
"In the first year of business demo-
cracy the city retired 100000 of bonds,
enlarged and improved the park sys-
tenn, increased the police force, re-
paired or rebuilt the fire apparatus,
enlarged the fire service, built new
fire station, and fitted out the police
men and firemen in new uniforms.
It cleaned the streets (for the first
time in the city's history, repaired
more old pavements and constructed
more new ones, and with them built
more sewers, watermains, sidewalks,
curbs, and roadways than had ever
been constructed in any previous year
in Cedar Rapids 1t began a new
bridge across the Cedar river, and
bought an island on which the city is
to erect handsome municipal build
ings out Of the saving effected under
the new system and without the issue
of a dollars worth of bonds"
The procuring cause of this mar
lvellous transformation was to be trac-
ed to the simple uncomplicated com
mission plan. There is no such thing
as the agent or commissioner being
chosen by wards or districts, to act
only for their constituencies, they are
employed under the new plan to trans.
act it's business and execute it's will
Each commissioner runs his own de
partment to the very best of his abil
ity for the people who employ him
AS Mr.. Russell says, No foolish, med
ding board of aldermen, no Ignorant
and vicious political boss, no party
no convention, no campaign commit
tee, no outworn system of Office ten
ure stand between him and his em
ployers."