Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-10-26
GOVERNMENT BY
COMMISSION
HAS Proved Great Success al
Spokane, Washington. Where
it Now is on Trial.

~ NUW 10 UlI EEldIr
Spokane, Wash, Oct. 21.-seven
months experience with the com
mission form of government in
Spokane, which is under the con
troll Of the people through the pre-
f6rential election system, the in
itiative and referendum and the
recall, has proved highly success
ful. Direct efficiency has replaced
irresponsibility and inc0mpetenoy
party bossism has been eliminated,
the laws are enforced, the tax
payers are obtaining 100 cents
worth Of work for a dollar, munici-
pal improvement bonds command
high premiums and the citys Gre
dit is gilt edge in the financial
centers throughout the country.
People Satisfied.
Charles NJ Fassett, commission
er OF public utilities, speaking for
the commission, says the people,
as a rule, are satisfied with the
change and that it is doubtful if
even those who were most active
against the present charter would
vote to return to the old system.
There are some, of course, who
honestly believe the old form is
better, he added, but the chief op-
position to the adoption of the
charter and its continuance comes
from those whose private selfish
interests are being interfered with
by the beneficial change in admin
stration introduced by the present
government.
Chief Advantages.
Enumerating the chief points Of
advantage of the commission form
Of government over the party sys-
TEN, Mr.. Fassett says:
For the first time in its his
tory the community is not disturb
ed bv political wrangIing at the
city hall. Our commissioners often
do not agree on various measures.
but differences are soon healed and
there is harmony and good feel
ing between them.
Each commissioner has charge,
under the authority Of the whole
body, of his departments and the
taxpayer knows to whom to apply
for his needs. The result is that
business is dispatched in hours and
days, where it formerly required
weeks and months.
Street and other improvements
are made for from 20 to 40 per cent
less than in recent years, without
reducing our standards Of quail
ty. The contractors ring is brOB-
en- and most Of our work goes to
those who have done the best work
in the past For the first time in
our history, a contractor has been
fined delaying public work.
"Our tax levy will be the same
as last year, Notwithstanding a
deficit of about $4,000 left by the
former government and the settle
ment of many claims and cOmplica-
tions, neglected for years.
''The various departments are
being managed with efficiency and
common sense. The water depart
ment, which has been permitted to
run heavily in debt, has been plac-
ed upon a business footing; free
water has been cut off, the num-
Der of meters has been doubled in
seven months, wastes have been
stopped and an adequate supply Of
water furnished for all purposes
during the hot months, where
every year heretofore there has
been a famine in certain districts.
Streets Well Paved.
"Our streets are well paved and
kept clean and sewers are main
tanned; the health of the city was
never so good; public service cor
porations are encouraged and en-
forced, when necessary, to give
good service; back franchise taxes
are collected and the affairs Of the
city generally are conducted along
modern business lines.
''The preferential system Of Tot-
ing, the short ballot and the cleo
ton of commissioners at large, who
select one Of their number as may
or, are other features which have
strong arguments in their favor.
Hereafter not more than three com
missioners will be chosen at any
election, giving the voter no ex-
cuse for ignorance of the men or
their duties. We require a non
partisan affidavit and restrict the
use of money for election purposes
to $3.50 for any candidate.
"By our system Of voting the
results of the election expresses