The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-17
RIGHT VERSUS WRONG WAY.


forms of municipal governmental
dermanic or commissioner bette
accomplish the ends they have IL
view. In reaching a decision the ex
perlence Of cities that have made
the change from the old to the new
form should be given due weight
mere are now nearly 200 of these In
various parts of the country, and
without exception they are pleased
with the change. Not one of them
as far as can be learned, would viii
lingly go back to the old system OF
municipal government.
There's reason" OF course. and
1t is to be found in the fact that the
commission plan is simpler. more di.
rect, more efficient and more econom.
zeal. This has been Keokuk's ex.
perience and the experience al.
SO OF every other city that
has given the new arrangement fair
trial. 1t Is simpler and more direct
because authority is concentrated in
the hands OF three or five men. accord.
ing to the size of the city, instead of
being divided among a dozen or more.
These few officials are in session .prac-
ucahy all the time and matters need.
Ing attention can be brought to their
notice promptly, without any prelimi.
nary proceedings or delay from any
cause. They are in position to in
vestigate and act at once. There are
no long waits for committee reports
and no cumbersome machinery to be
set in motion before anything can be
done. The premptness and directness
with which desired results can b.
reached under the commission plan
is strong point In its favor.
The greater efficiency of the CON-
mission plan is due largely to the
concentration Of authority noted
above and to the correlative fact that
responsibility can be definitely 10.
Gated. Under the old system of city
government it is practically impossi-
Bile to place the blame where 1t prop.
erly belongs for any wrong, either of
commission or of omission. There
are SO many persons involved that it
is usually an easy matter to shift re.
sponsibility. Not so under the com.
arrangement. In city the
size of Keokuk the mayor is answer
able for everything connected with
the management of the finances of the
One commissioner is
responsible for everything pertaining
to the public safety, and another CON-
missioner has charge of the streets.
alleys, sidewalks and parks. Respon-
slbility, like authority, is concentrated
and direct. 1t cannot be shifted to an
others shoulders or avoided in any
way. In case of fragrant mismanage-
ment or dereliction of duty the IRE
calf arrangement affords a ready
means of getting rid of an incapable
Or unworthy official and of electing
worthy man in his place.
The commission plan is also more
efficient when properly administered
because it ensures more capable city
employees. These are chosen, after
civil service examination, on the
ground of fitness for the duties of the
various positions, and not because of
services rendered in political way.
Under the commission plan politics
cuts no figure whatever. Realization
Of this fact comes as something OF a
blow to the ward workers and their
and political friends, but the
makes for efficiency in
he public service and the promotion
If the general good. It Is the idea of
he commission plan to apply bust.
hess principles in the transaction of
public as well as of private business.
No one engaged in trade or manufac-
.uring or transportation or any other
legitimate industry would think of en-
yaging or retaining an employe except
IN the ground of his real or supposed
illness for the place The practical
application of this idea in the selec- /
ion and retention of subordinates
soes far toward making the commits /
lion plan more efficient than the old
Of political promises and
ewards.
Greater efficiency means lessened ex-
,ense. Smaller expenditures are re- /
luired to secure the desired results. !
The saving on this account under the I
commission plan is not inconsider-
sble. But the greatest saving comes
rom the avoidance OF unnecessary ex-
Experience has shown
hat "logrolling" is inseparable from
! legislative body made up of repre- /
entatives of the several wards in /
,ity. Every alderman seeks to get
IS much as he can for his ward. In I
he accomplishment of this end he is /
prepared TO do little trad |
ng, if need be, and the need is sell I
iom absent at roll call. In order to
ecure enough votes for a necessary
Improvement he finds 1t advisable to
-ote for one or more unnecessary
mes. This is avoided under the COM
mission plan The commissioners, as
veil as the mayor. are elected by the
.ity az a whole and represent the
Whole city Not only are useless
avoided, but needed Inn
,royements are made in accordance
,yf4Js rl.,