The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18

10 the waste. ileN 0I GeSphllSluililN dHh tnefficiency which has generally char acterized the old aldermanie system?
 Is it dde to dissatisfaction with the old system and the prevalent leliel thai any change, however radical. could not make conditions N orse and might make them better?
 On the other hand, is this sentiment in favor of commission government pro- duced by a deliberate public convlc- tion that il does solve the problems ot municipal government overcome its ad- mitted evils and that it's superority has been abundantly established where 1t has been trieda
 Whatever your answer may be to those questions. v-e must not overlook the fact that commission government though claimed 10 be eminently sue cessful wherever tried is still an inno- walton and an experiment. in American municipal affairs. and must necessarily be considerably modified and changed by the practical tests of admlnistra- tion in cities of varying sizes, condi- tions and population. Time and eNperl- ence alone can determine whether it will secure that efficiency and economy fin municipal government which it's earnest advocate, now so insistently claim. A form of government that may work well in one community may be wholly impracticable in another. In
 
 you may see proper to adopt you may safely embodY the sound fundamental principles which underlie that system. Its decrease of the size of governing bodies; it's adoption of vigorous and honest business methods; its increase or the power and responsibility of the chief executive officers of the city, and its concentration of authority and re- sponsibility; its requirements that those charged with city government should dedicate 10 their work all thelr time and talent, with provisions for adeuuate compensat tion--all so modified as to be adapted to the interest and conditions of our municipalities We should not reject those fea lures of our present laws which have stood the test of experience by substituting in their stead wholly new invention But l am convinced the besI practical results can be achieved by amending and modify ing our present system to meet the undoubted evils which exist, by adopt ing such provisions of the commission method as are sound in theory and in principle.
 The Recall
 l am not prepared to give my ap- proval to that pros ision generally found in laws establishing commission form of government flown as the recall
 All classes of public officials can 
 lowing offenses:
 'Willful neglect of duty, corruption in office incompetency or intemper- ance in the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics to such an extent in view of the dignity of the office and inn portance of its duties as units the or ficcr may not be guilty of a single or for any offense involving moral turpitude. or committed under color ol office or in connection herewith The method by which such removal under our law can be securM is by i'm peachment proceedings before the sen ate or supreme court sitting as court of impeachment or by impeachment proceedings in any circuit or other court of like jurisdiction. or criminal court of any county in which such of ficer holds his office. The recall would substitute for the regular and orderly course of judicial procedure by impeachment proceedings, with it's well defined charges, trial be- fore the people fodnded upon an indict- ment which need not allege any specific facts. nor show tl,e commission of any cffense, but which may be the out growth of injustice, passion, prejudice or private vengeance. Although the of flyer may not be guilty of a. single offense which would justify his i'm peachment he could under the system
  at the arbitrary caprice of a majority vote and branded with the disgrace or being unworthy of public confidence. An officer may incur popular denuncia- ton and disapproval and yet have act ed with fidelity and with conscientious desire to efficiently discharge his pub lie duties. The recall would destroy that independence of character, that firmness of conviction and that loyalty to principle so essential to efficient public service. It would convert the official into d spneless and servle hire lng stirred by every passing breeze of public opinion. obeying every pop ular impulse and yielding to every wave of popular passion or prejudice. In all free governments the cool, delib- crate and mature judgment of the peo ple should and will in the end prevail. But there are periods in public affairs when misled by False and bernicious theories. lured from the paths of justice and rectitude by the Misrepresentation or delusons of ignorant and misguided men the people may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready "a lament and con demn." In such critical moments how invaluable is the service of the public official, who, disdaining the temptations of popular applause, to be gained only at the sacrifice of honest conviction,
 
 by bravely following. the path laid out by duty, checks tie misguided career of public opinion and "suspends the blow aimed by the people agalnst themselves, until reason, justice and truth can re- gain their authority over the public mind.'
 Our history is full of illustrations of men who by courageouslY following the dictates of d high sense of public duty temporarily incurred storm of public disapproval, and yet whose course was subsequently vindicated aX the logic of facts and indorsed by the popular verdict.
 No public official should be subjected to the disgra ce and iGnominy of re- noval from office to which he has been elected unless he has been guilty of one of the offenses which would justify his conviction on impeachment l am con yinced that the system of recall, em- bodied in any of our statutes, in view of the provision Of our consultation on the subject of impeachment and the de-