Charlevoix county herald., 1911-05-06

For nearly 10ur mOnJnS, since the
first day OF January, to be exact, Port
Huron has been under the rule Of the
commission form of government.
During the new rule city affairs have
been running very smoothly and the
champions OF the commission form OF
government declare that its short
trial has proven that it is success
over the old form Of city government,
while the opponents have to be con-
tent by putting up the plea that 1t
cannot be judged in so short period
of time.
The city government Of Port Huron
is today tree from politics. Politics
has been entirely eliminated, and al
though the commission itself is
strongly democratic, IL has made no
differences ia the appointments made
by that body; ia fact the republicans
have shared better than their Oppo-
menus. il either side has an advantage
over the OTHER in this respect.
The commission is composed OF live
members, consisting of a mayor,
whose salary is $1,000 per year, and
four commissioners, who draw down
81, 200 per year in return for their
duties. Work Of the five different
commissioners has been divided of,
each commissioner has special duty
to look after, as well as the work
which comes before the body as a
whole. There is a commission on
public affairs, accounts aud finance,
puolic safety, streets and public inn
provements, aud parks aud public
property.
I'VE have the business down TO a
working basis" states Mayor john
Bell. There Is no man working for
the city from the commissioners down
who is not earning his money. IL is
practically a one-man board, and al
though We have been in power only a
short time. probably not long enough
TO give the new form OF government
fair trial, yet l know 1t Is working
out verv we'll"
1.-THE trouble with you fellows, at
least the only fault l have got TO
tud," said a prominent citizen, "is
that you are not radical enough. This
is a radical movement, great change
over the former method of conducting
city affairs, and L believe that while
the work has been very satisfactory,
yet you should be more radical in
your actions.
In reply, Mavor Bell stated that he
was aware that 1t was radical
change over the old form Of govern
ment, yet he believed for that reason
that they should go at the matter in
as sane manner as possible.
One thing very noticeable In the
working OF the new government, ia
Port Huron, is the speed with which
the matters brought before them are
dispatched. Formerly accounts, hire
OF men for work on the streets, and
numerous other trifiing matters
hammered out in council meeting
OF several hours length, tOuay the
person who has business comes before
the body, and the business is done in
a very few moments.
i The only officers elected in the city
under the new charter are the city
commission, justice OF the peace and
constaOles, while the appoinLive
officers are many. they being, clerk,
treasurer, assessor. city attorney,
superintendent OF public works. chief
OF police, Chief OF fire department,
city engineer and supervisors. The
compensation of these officers Is also
fixed by the commission. The elec-
tions here are non-partisan ia every
. respect.
From the above IL would seem az
though the commission was Invested
with a large amount OF power. In
one sense this Is true. Yet any men,
ber of the commission or any officer Of
the city can be removed by the com
mission or the balance or the commits
sion, If it should happen to be COM
mi ssioner, who has violated any OF
the acts set down 10 the charter.
Among the many things which a
commissioner eau be removed is
habitual drunkenness, incompetency,
wilful misconduct and wilful viola
tion of any provision of the charter.
The charter also provides an in
itiatlve and referendum. The initia-
Tive nrnuidea that IL a netiiinn Is