Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-20
THE COMMISSION FORM OF GOV.
ERNMENT.
(By Hon. John A. Rush. }

seem to riyet the attention OF some
OF our local politicians.
There is no need to follow after the
primitive plan framed for Galveston
by the Texas Legislature for political
purpose. There have been great ad-
mission form of government, the most
notable OF which are evidenced by the
charters of Des Moines, Berkeley.
Grand Junction and Colorado Springs.
At the present time 10S cities in
twenty -four states have the commits
sion form Of government ranging from
Oakland. Cal, with 100000 population.
down to cities of less than 1000 p0pu-
lation. 1t is worthy of attention that
no city that has tried the new form
oil government has gone back to the
old form and in every instance the re
suit has been better government and
saving to the taxpayers.
A complete list OF cities under this
form OF government is as follows:
California: Berkeley, Modesto, San
Diego. Colorado: Colorado Springs,
Grand junction. Idaho: Lewiston. IL
linois: Carbondale, Moline. Rock Is
land, Springfield, Decatur, Dixon. Ell
gin, Ottawa, Kewanee. Iowa: Bur
lington. Cedar Rapids, Davenport. Des
Moines. Fort Dodge, Keokuk. Marshall
town, Sioux City. Kansas: Anthony,
Abilene, Coffeywille. Cherryvale, Cald-
well, Dodge City, Emporia, Eureka,
Girard, Hutchinson. Independence.
lola. Leayenworth. Kansas City. Mar
ion, Newton. Neodesha. Parsons. Pitts
burg, Topeka, Wichita, Wellington.
Kentucky: Newport. louisiana:
Shreveport. Massachusetts: Glouces-
ter, Haverhill, Lynn, Taunton. Michl-
gan: Harbor Beach, Port Huron. Mis-
sissippi: Clarksdale. Hattiesburg. Min
nesota: Mankato. New Mexico: Ros-
well. North Carolina: High Point.
North Dakota: Mandan, Bismarck,
Mnot. Oklahoma: Ardmore, Bartles-
Vile, Duncan, Enid, Enid, Miami. Mac
Alester, Muskogee, Purcell, Sapulpa.
Tulsa, Wagner. Oregon: Baker. South
Carolina Columbia. South Dakota:
Dell Rapids. Huron. Pierre, Rapid City,
Sioux Falls, Vermilion. Yankton. Ten
nessee: Memphis. Texas: Arkansas
Pass, Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Chris
ii, Dallas, Dennison, Fort Worth, Gal
weston, Greenville. Houston, Kennedy.
Lyford, Marble Falls. Marshal, Pales-
tine, Port Lavaca. Sherman. Terrell.
Texarkana Washington: Spokane,
Tacoma. West Virginia: Bluefield,
huntington. Wisconsin,: Eau Claire.
This Is a very respectable showing
OF cities that have adopted this ad-
vanced and sensible form of govern
ment. Some few have only modified
form OF commission government, but
nearly all have the new government
in its complete form. For u time the
Des Moines system attracted the great
est attention but at the present time
the Grand Junction plan, right here
in Colorado. is probably considered the
best yet devised.
There is an improvement lately sug-
gested by the board OF trade OF Lock
port, N. Y, called the board of dt
rectors plan" that merits careful con
sideration. All power is lodged in 1--we
commissioners elected at large for
term of four years subject to recall
after six months. This commission
hires city manager, who, in turn, ap-
points all other city employees subject
to civil service rules. He is respon
sible to the commission for all the
work of the city. He prepares the an
nual budget. sits with the commission
as its secretary, and is responsible
for the preparation OF its business and
the execution of its ordinances, reso-
luti6hs and orders. just as the gen
ject to the orders and supervision OF
the board Of directors.
This gives single head to the
business management OF the city In
stead of several conflicting depart
ments. and affords opportunity for the
selection and retention of capable
man regardless OF change In personnel
oil the commission itself. AT the same
time ii does away with the blind at
tempt of the people ut an election TO
select officials for executive or techni.
cal places concerning whose fitness
for the particular place but little il
known and in time too short for
careful investigation.
Furthermore. this plan will increase
the list OF available candidates for the
position OF commissioner by the fact
that they will not be obliged to aban.
don their private business for. perhaps.
a single term, since their duties would
be such AZ TO leave much OF their
time to them for their private affairs
and they could then well afford TO
serve for comparatively small salary.
In other words, they would perform
the functions OF board OF directors
while the actual burden OF carrying
on the business OF the city would fall
upon the shoulders OF the city mana,
gar suhtQef a,Aayo N tho UanaraI nr.