Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-08-14
OF the Commission Form Of
City Government Over
The Present Form
1T CENTRALIZES POWER
But 1t Also Centralizes Re-
sponsibility, Has Initiative
Referendum and Recall

The petitions, asking Mayor Parks
to call a special election for the pur-
poie Of deciding whether or not Abb
erdeen shall adopt the commission
plan of government have already
nearly signatures enough to demand
the election, and in view of the fact
that the people of this city will soon
be called upon to decide this impor-
tant matter, this article is written
with the purpose Of showing some of
the advantages of the new system.
To begin with, three commissioners
will have entire charge of the city's
affairs, to which they must. devote
their entire time, at reasonable salar-
les. This feature is opposed in some
quarters as being too great central
| ization or power, and the objection
| would be we'll taken were not that
power safe guarded by the provisions
of the law for the initiative, referen-
dunn and recall, and the section that
requires all ordinances-except those
for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health or safety-shall
not become effective for thirty days
after their passage, to give time to
call for referendum if desirable.
The executive and administrative
powers and authority are divided into
three departments: public safety, f.
nance and accounting and streets and
public improvements. The mayor will
be in charge of the department of
public safety and the other two COM
misioners will each have a depart
ment. A commissioner may fill any
or all of the appointive offices in his
department, but without extra CON-
pensation. or instance, the mayor
might also act as police judge, the
commissioner of finance could be
treasurer, with clerical assistance, and
the third commissioner would be prac
! tically the superintendent of public
works, employing competent foremen
in the different lines of work. All
officers and assistants are appointed
by the commissioners, but no relative
by blood or marriage of any of the
board can be so appointed.
To prevent the possible misuse of
the large power conferred on the COM
mission, the law provides that all or
dinances appropriating money, order
| ing street or sewer improvements, or
granting an franchise must remain
on file with the clerk in it's complete
form one week before it's final pas
sage, and, when passed, must not be-
come effective for thirty days, pend
ing referendum should the people
believe it is against their interests.
The commission must publish each
month an itemized statement of all
receipts and expenses of the city, and
summary of it's proceedings during
the proceeding month, and at the end
of each year must cause a complete
examination of all the books and ac-
counts of the city by a competent ac-
countant and publish the result.
Any commissioner may be recalled
after he has served six months, the
election therefor being called upon the
presentation of petition signed by
at least 80 per cent of the vote cast
for mayor at the last election. To in
itiate an ordinance the petition must
contain the signatures of % per cent
of the same vote, and the same num-
ber may call for the referendum on
any measure before it becomes effect
i've. All petitions provided for in the
act may be signed by none but quail
fed electors, and must give the street
and house number of the signer, as
we'll as the age and length of time he
or she has resided in the city, and
of legal voter that the names there
on are those of legal voters of the
city.
Before anyone may become a can
didate for mayor or commissioner, he
must secure petition signed by not
less than 100 voters. asking for his
nomination, and provision is made for
a close scrutiny of all petitions filed
under this law. The act provides that
all existing laws applicable to this
city, and all city ordinances in force