Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-12-19
THE COMMISSION FORM.
Mass Meeting Last Thursday Night Was
Well Attended

The capacity of the circuit court
cient THURSDAY evening to accommo-
date the people who turned out to
hear the discourses on the commits
sion plan of government. The room
was jammed with people, many stand
ing out at the top of the landing,
while others, who found that they
could not get admission, turned away.
Addresses were made by I'll. H..
Manson OF Wausau, and Mayor j. P.
Fleming of Eau Claire. Judge A. II.
Reid presided, and Robt. Schmidt
acted as secretary.
Mr.. Manson explained the commits
sion plan and the procedure to be en-
ployed in adopting it. He cited the
difference in the cost of macadamiZ-
ing in this city and that in Eau
Claire, as in favor of the commission
plan. While rock costs but half here
what it does in Eau Claire, he said,
the cost Of macadam is no cheaper.
He spoke on the finances of the city
giving figures to show that the city's
bonded Indebtedness at present
amounts to s288,OO0 This debt was
created through the building of school
houses, extension Of water mains, etc.
In addition to this Mr.. Manson sup
piled figures to show that the city is
owing S4I0, 83O.52, which is partly Off
set by $4,000 on hand. Figuring at
per cent Of the assessed valuation
of the city's property which has been
placed at s6,739,73 the statutory
debt limitation of the city would be
1885, 1865. Thus it appears that the
debt of Wausau is $50, 344,67 in excess
of the limitation.
Mr.. Fleming of Eau Claire related
the facts concerning the adoption of
the commission plan in his city. The
administration and council in power
at the time opposed the plan bitterly,
but when it came to vote of the
people the plan was adopted by y
large majority. The vote was larger
than it had ever been at a state cleo
ton, evincing keen interest in the
outcome. Eau Claire today, he said
had q very efficient government the
work being carried on by men who
| devote their whole time to its affairs
and business is thus expedited. He
told of numerous instances of where
the city had saved money in making
improvements, over what it would
have cost under the old council sys-
TEN. These savings had made it pos
sible 20 reduce the tax rate.
He said that the form itself will
| not bring good government unless
competent, careful, intelligent men
are selected to carry on the work.
The mayor said that the tax rate
for 1912 is .02376, which is considera-
bly, lower than it has been in his city
for the past six years. With the
money to be derived from this low
tax rate he said the commissioners ex-
pect not only to pay the expenses OF
all departments of government, but
to pay bond issue of $4,000 which
falls due during the year, and this
without impairing any branch of the
service.
There was keen interest manifested
in these addresses. Petitions asking
for especial election on the subject
were handed out and we understand
are being freely signed. 1T will re-
quire about COO signatures to bring
the matter up for the voice of the
people 10 be heard from. These petit
tions read as follows:
1--WE, the undersigned electors of
the city of Wausau, city of the
third class, hereby petition the mayor
of said city to submit by proclama-
ton the question of the reorganiza-
ton of the said city of Wausau, un-
der what is known as city commission
plan of government, as city under
sections 529m-30l TO 325m-3lS inclu-
Sive, of the Wisconsin statutes of
1898 as amended by chapter 44S, laws
of 1909, and chapter 3S7, laws of 1911,
at a special election to be held at a
time specified in said proclamation
within TWO months after the filing of
this petition, all as required and pro-
yided by said sections"
In conversation since with many
people who attended the meeting we
find strong sentiment for the COM
mission plan. People have told us
that they went to the court house OPP
posed to the plan but after listening
TO the addresses are convinced that
iU is good scheme and that they
will vote for il.
1t is possible that other meetings
will be held TO further enllghten the
people on the plan.
N0TVNr