The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-02-01
GOVERNMENT
OF THE CITIES
Studied by Voters-to-be Among
Members Of Women's Christ
ian Temperance Union.
HELPFUL ADDRESS GIVEN
BY WOMAN ATTORNEY
Miss Carrie Crosenbaugh Thinks
the Commission Plan Would
Remedy Many Of the Existing
Evils-Oficials Should be Paid

Men who are paid for their time
and held personally accountable for
their services to the city are bound
to give better satisfaction in munich
pal government than those whose SER
vice is side issue to personal bust
ness, according to Miss Carrie Grosen-
baugh, who talked to- the members
of the North Yakima w. C. r. u. yes
terday at the home of Mrs. C. IL.
Hoffman on city government.
She reviewed the rights, powers. and
privileges of a city of the third class,
and said the plan seemed comprehen-
sive and a good working system, but
that as a matter of fact, thousands
of American cities had found it UNI
satisfactory.
'The greatest evil, and the one most
strongly discried in our cities" said
Miss Grosenbaugh, lis the lack of
business administration. The great
function of the city is concerned with
caring for it's own needs, including
building bridges. paving streets, con-
structing sewers. maintaining fire de-
partments. police DEPARTMENTS. public
health and giving relief to the sick
and poor"
ward system BAD
1.-THE ward SYSTEM" she said, lis
fraught with many evils. The coun-
cilmen elected from certain section
Of the city, feels bound to get for
that section what he can In the way
Of public improvements, and soon
finds that he can do 80 only by
trading with other councilmen who
want specific things for their sec
tons"
you cannot get something for
nothing" said Miss Grosenbaugh
1.-THE councilmen are not compensated
for their labor and will not, in the
nature of things. render efficient SER
vice. Men are not philanthropists.
Public moneys are not carefully dis
bursed-they are public moneys. you
know"
Improved Franchises
Miss Grosebaugh said that perhaps
the greatest loss to the Public under
present systems came from improvi-
dent franchises granted to public SER
vice corporations.
The commission form Of govern
ment, coming in answer to the gen.
eral unrest among cities, has made
rapid growth. First put into opera
ton in Galveston, Texas, after the
storm of 1900, up to August, 1909, it
was being used in SO cities, and the
past year has added many more to
the list.
Outlined Plan.
The general plan Of the commits
sion form was outlined with tho COM
missioners nominated by direct bal
Id Of ortfc
chosen at a regular election. If there
are five commissioners, the usual
number, each is made head of a de-
partment and is responsible therefore.
The divisions are generally spublic
safety which embraces fire and po-
lice departments; finance: streets and
alleys; public health; and parks and
improvements. The commissioners re-
ceive annual salaries of from $500
to $4,000 and meet daily to carry on
the business of the city.
Under this form of government In
Des Moines, Ia, the redlighr district
was expeditiously and effectually done
away with. Numerous citizens went
to the commissioner Of public safety
and told him that he was considered
personally responsible for existing con-
dItions. The commissioner did not
care for the responsibility and the
Objectionable district ceased to exist
Salaries Saved
Miss Grosenbaugh said chat the sal
aries paid the commissioners have
been more than earned in the saving
in the various departments.
Her listeners displayed keen inter
est in the matter, saying that as citi-
zens and voters they wanted to under
stand city government and to be able
to fo,m intelligent judgments in such
matters.