Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-06
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
-TRANSPLANTED TO AMERICA.
By Frederic J. Haskin.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

colonial America MANY matters we're de-
tnrmned only after a vote Of The peope.
and certainly ma jOritY Of AL the past
and present state constitutions hav- been
adopted through submission To the people.
of the l.To cities and towns which have
adopted the commission form Of govern
ment about loo have the referendum, and
many cities have IL which do not ha re the
commission form of government
Nearly dozen states of the Union
have adopted the referendum ;or state T.
fairs. Its friends declare that coupled
with the initiative. viii n usually goes
With it. the referendum is a decided sue
cess. and assert that Oregon, where direct
legislation now holds sway. has the best
government OF any state in the Union.
on the other hand. the opponents of the
initiative and referendum declare them
TO be a failure in Oregon. They assert
that when the fishing interests Of the
Columbia river clashed and the question
arose as to which end Of the river should
be closed to the salmon fisheries both
ends were closed by a referendum vote,
and only the Legislature saved the day
They assert that if II had nos been that
the professors offered their services free
of charge until the matter was straight
ened out. the state university would have
been closed because OF a referendum vote
They also point TO other cases where tho
vote was adverse TO the interests Of the
people and of the state.
The initiative does not always go with
the referendum. More than half OF the
Q 1t . n
Right of Petition towns having
Origin of Initiative. form ,''' Of sov n
eminent also include the initiative 1t
meets with but little less favor than the
referendum. 1t has in part been recog-
niZed for generations. for the right OF pc
1I,y-y-S, f,aiti
tive. The main danger of the initiative
seems To be in setting the percentage OF
voters who may institute il at too low
point, There has been. according to tho
verdict Of its unbiased friends. tendency
to oyerwork it.
The recall is the latest addition to the
list of "frillS'' which are added to the
commission form Of government and this
also is possessed by many cities viii h
have not adopted the commission form
Los Angeles holds the distinction of hav-
ing tried il first DeS Moines adopted
il in its system. and all cities which
model their charters under the Des
Moines influence have included the recall
This is the one feature of the new nunic-
ipal politics which seems To he AmeriC an
In It's origin. The careful students are
still suspending judgment on the recall
but il they were court they would grant
I a temporary injunction in it, favor. DR..
Eliot. former president of Harvard, Is
convinced that the recall has proved lis
essentials of the best form of city gov
, ernment
Civil service is another feature Of tn"
new movement. Seeing how we'll the
German cities are governed. their affairs
being administered by experts who make
a lifetime profession of II, the American
leaders of the good government move
ment are ( ekine to aDrogate the Spots
system in municipal affairs. Probably
third of the progressive cities OF the
country have turned To the merit system.
and it has proved success.
On the whole. the students OF municipal
progress believe that the European idea
of concentrated authority and undivided
responsibility. in tie use Of the powers
vested in the municipality, in a single
board. whether Il .ye large or small.
makes FOR good government. HUj th,N
a-Sedt that the Driu. essential to purity
in municipal politics IL constantly
natchful citizenship. If eternal v2iianc''
= the price Of lioerty. il is 40 less the
municipal system which enables the citi-
zen Ia Understand its operation and -
watch the wheels 10 round tends 10 keep
the eyes IF the people upon L, and H.
sureS its working well. But city gov
erument without watchfUl voters. 10
matter whether II be commission form ~
aldermanic is like a locomotive without
engine oil-it cannot be Iun we'll The
leaders OF the National MInc pal fea suf.
as well a. those OF the League OF Amer
can Muuicipa litcs. are all aCreed that the
first essential il an intelligent ani wide
avak. electorate
Tomorrow GOVERN.