The Greeley tribune., 1911-02-02
Commission Plan of Government.

commission form of government for
cities. To assist in this discussion
we print the following:
There are many who say they 40
not understand how the commission
form of government operates. 1t is
not at all complex nor hard to under
stand. A most succinct and COM
prehensive digest of the plan is that
by Mayor James r. Hanna. of Des
Moines, la. He says:
THE commission plan of govern
ment abolishes ward lines, party
politics. and the old division of the
cities officers into legislative. eXecu-
tive and judicial departments. In
place of this it substitutes board
consisting of the mayor and four
commissioners, who manage the af-
fairs of the city just as a board of di-
rectors manage the business of a
bank or any large corporation, who
are invested with all the powers of
city government and who are elect
ed by the people OF the whole city.
but without any party designation.
These five men divide the duties OF
the city government among then.
, selves into five departments of public
affairs, accounts and finances. public
safety. streets and public improve
ments and parks and public prop
erty. They then select al 1.-THE sub
ordinate officers necessary to the
conducting of the city business, such
as chief of police, police judge. city
clerk. city engineer. city treasurer.
city auditor, etc. These subordinate
officers may be discharged at any
time for any misconduct or lack of
attention to duties. All other SUBJ
ordinates except common laborers
are selected under civil service rules
administered by a civil service COM
mission and are removable only for
misconduct or lack of attention to
duties or activity in political matters.
"The four councilmen and mayor
act as the administrative heads OF
their respective departments, and
also constitute the city council. and
as such legis.ate for the city.
"Any citizen who can secure the
! signature of 25 voters vouching for
his character may become candi-
date for mayor or commissioner.
From among these candidates the
two receiving the highest number OF
votes for mayor in the primary be-
come candidates for mayor IN the
final election and the eight receiving
the highest number of votes for COM
missioner become the final candi-
dates for commissioners. Then In
the final election occurring two
weeks later the one receiving the
highest number of votes for mayor
becomes mayor and the four receiv-
ing the highest number of votes for
commissioners are elected to these
offices. These hve men at their first
meeting proceed to elect subordinate
city officers and the new council is
then ready to conduct the business
Of the city.
'Tt will be seen that directness
and simplicity are the main charact-
eristics Of the Des Moines plan o.
commission government. The great
purposes are to make the city gov
eminent feel responsible to public
opinion and also to make 1t efficient
in administration. To carry out
those two fundamental ideas two
other great principals have directed
nearly all the details OF our charter
viz: to confer upon the governing
body great power. and to hold the
governing body strictly responsible
for the right use of that power. Pub
licity and efficiency are thus the
watchword OF the Des Moines plan,
Candidates must make a public
statement OF their campaign ex-
penses and there can be no secret
meetings of the city council. every
ordinance appropriating money must
be on public file for seven days be
fore it becomes effective, all fran
chises must be submitted to vote Of
the people for approval before they
become operative, officers must have
no secret obligations to public SER
vice companies In the way of passes,
special rates or free service, etc.
These specific provisions for public
ity have created general spirit OF
bringing everything in connection
with the city government out in the
open light. Campaigns are conduct
ed practically altogether in open
meetings, hundreds of which occur
in every city election. Every meet
ing of the city council is minutely
reported in the daily newspapers.
The result is that the public opinion
is we'll informed and intelligent, and
it moulds the action of the city coun-
Gil. and the power of this pubic
opinion is rendered more effective
by the existence of the provisions
| for the initiative. referendum and
recall.