The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-13
THE CITY OF DIES MONIES.

After four years trial. Mayor
James r. Hanna. Of Des Moines,
Iowa. thus sums up the commission
plan OF municipal government:
The commission form OF government
tooishes ward lines. party politics and
ne old division OF city officers into Leg
rslative. executive and judicial depart
nonts- In place OF this IL substitutes a
board. consisting OF tho mayor and four
commissioners. who manage the affairs
d the city just as "A board of directors
manages the business OF a bank or any
arse corporation. who are Invested with
al the powers OF city government and
40 arg eleete1 ~ the people or the
Nnole city. but without any party deslg-
1auon- These five men divide the duties
~ the city government among them
elves into five departments OF public
affairs. accounts and finances, bubble
Fafety. streets and public improvements.
nj parks and public property. They
non elect all the subordinate Officers
necessary TO the conducting OF the city
business. such as chief OF police. police
,ndge. city clerk. city engineer.
These saSoTdinat S,'y ot nfqsiTSr' may sSS
pc discharged at any tlme Tor
my misconduct or lack Of a.
IGNITION to duties. All other subordinates
except common laborers are selected I'M
ler civil service rules administered by
OWL service commission, ana are re
movable only for misconduct or lack OF
attention 10 duties, or activity in poIitt-
kal matters
The four .councilmen and the mayor
pct as the administrative heads OF their
respective departments. and also cou~tI
ute tho city council. and as such legL
ate for the city. The councilman under
ne yes Molnes plan are elected for a
1T Will be seen that directness and
Eimplicity are the main Characteristic
pt the Des Aolnes plan OF commission
government The srcat purposes are. 10
make the city government feel respou-
five 70 public opinion. and also 10 maze
|it efficient in administration. To carry
|put these two fundamental ideas Two
Pther great principles have directed near
4 y all the details OF our charter. viz. 10
1 'onier upon the governing body great
| power. and 20 hold the governing body
| itrictly responsible for the right US. OF
4 nat power. Publicity and efficiency are
5lan.
Candidates must make n public state
Hnent oi their campaign expenses. there
an be no secret meetings OF tie CITY
Eouncil; every ordinance approprlattur
| money must be ca public flle for seEe.
lays before IL becomes effective. all
ranchlses must Dee Submitted 90 "A vo..
n the people for approv1. before they
become operative. officers must have no
ecret obligations o. public service com
g'anies In the way OF passes. special
ates. or free services etc. These .p,.f-
&c provisions Tor publicity have created
A. general spirit OF urluEins everything
/ n connection VIII the city ros.rumtut
put INTO the open IgHt. Clmpulrus afe.
conducted practirlIy ALTOGETHER in 1-l..1
meetings. hundreds OF which occur IN
very city election. Every meeting OF
he city council is infinitely reported iu
ne daily news papers Tie result Is that
pIbHc opinion is well Informed ana in
Fellsent, and u moulds the action % the
Pity council; aa1 the power or TITS pub
nc opinion IS rendered SIN more eFfec-
I've by the existence OF me tr.yIs'.,.,..
-or the initiative. referendum and recall.
Tho result o. prompt. efficient
Pusinesslike administratiou Of municipal
Niffairs, That would seem 90 be some
hing ike the fuifillment OF dcmorra--.
FNhen you can have INTELLIGENT r...f.t
opinion making itself felt 90 "A business
Ike administration OF public bus ness
Mayor Hanna IS a university pro.
Hessor. a deep student OF municipal
Economics. Under his administration
Oes Moines has become tho model
Gesidence city Of the United States
Beautifully situated in the midst OF a
ich agricultural section. 70 has been
Drnamented and improved until its
condition has become a subject OF
General attention Ray Floyd Wei.
tick, writing in the American Citv."
iays that on dozens % public avenues
any night in the year there rs bc,.
.er distribution OF illumination than
wen on tho celebrated place DE Ia
Concord" OF Paris. said 20 be the best
lighted street In Europe About .hir.
different clubs. leagues and other
improvement associations actively
participate in the Dcs Mo.nes city
government Tho strongest of these
8 the Commercial Club. correspond.
ng in some measures % Tho Board ~
Trade or Business Mems Protective
association Of Wheeling This club
gntertains on an average Of $50 dis.