El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-06

with 1T, the referendum is decided sue
cess, and assert that Oregon, where di-
rect legislation now holds sway. has
the best government of any state in the
union On the other hand, the oppon
ents of the initiative and referendum
declare them TO be a failure in Oregon.
They assert that when the fishing in
terests Of the Columbia river clashed
and the question arose as to which end
Of the river should be closed the
salmon fisheries. both ends were closed
by referendum vote. and only the Leg
islature saved the day They assert that
If 1t had not been that the professors
offered their services free of charge I'M
til the matter was Strengthened out, tie
state university would have been closed
because of a referendum vote They
also point to other cases where the vote
II as adverse to the interests of the peo-
pie and of the state
The initiative does not always go
with the referendum. More than half
of the cities and towns having a COM
mission form of government also in
clude the initiative. It meets with pus
little less favor than the referendum.
1t has in part been recognized for gem
erations. for the right of petition is the
embryonic foI1u of the initiative The
main danger OF the initiative seems to
be IN setting the percentage of voters
who may Institute it at too low a point.
There has been, according. to the YER
diet of Its unbiased friends, a tendency
to overwork it.
The Latest ~FrtI.s
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
which have not adopted the commission
FORM Los Angeles holds the distinc-
ton of having tried Il first. Des Moines
adopted it in its system. and all cities
which model their charters under the
Les Moines influence have included the
recall This is the one feature OF the
new municipal politics which seems to
be American in its origin The careful
students are still suspending Judgment
on the recall, but # they were q court
they would grant a temporary injunc-
ton in its favor. DR.. Elliot, former
president Of Harvard, Is convinced that
the recall has proved its case and in
corporated IL as one Of the essentials
Of the best form OF city government
Civil service is another feature Of the
new movement Seeing how well the
German cities are governed. their af-
fairs being administered by experts
who make a life time profession or II.
the American lenders of the good gov
eminent movement are seeking to alb
rogate the spoils system in municipal
affairs. Probably a third Of the pro-
gressive cities of the country have
turned to the merit system, and it has
proved success
On the whole, the students OF munich
pal progress believe that the European
idea OF concentrated authority and un-
divided responsibility, in the use of the
powers vested in the municipality. in a
single board, whether 1t be large or
small makes for good government But
they assert that the prime essential 10
purity in municipal politics is a con-
stantly watchful citizenship II eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty. it IS
no less the price Of proper city admin
istration- Any municipal system which
enables the citizen to understand its
operation and to watch the wheels go
round, tends TO keep the eyes OF the
people upon it. and insures its working
Well But a city government wiInour
watchful voters, no matter whether II
be commission form or aIdermanfc. is
like a locomotive without engine OIL
it cannot be run we'll. The leaders CT
the National Municipal league as well
as those OF the league Of American Mu-
inequalities, are all agreed that the first
essential Is an intelligent and wide
awake electorate.