The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-03-24
SPOKANE'S IDEAL FORM OF
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT


vanced practical plan of municipal
government by commission in Amer
lea is now in operation in Spokane.
Five commissioners, chosen from
among 92 candidates at special cleo
ton on March 7, when women exercis-
ed the right of the ballot for the first
time in the history of the city, were
formally inducted into Office on March
Ia, retiring Mayor Nelson S. Pratt and
ten councilmen The commission has
been organized as follows:
Mayor and commissioner of public
affairs, William j. Hindley, formerly
pastor of Pilgrim Congregational
church.
Vice chairman and commissioner of
finance, Robert Farley, formerly city
comptroller.
Commissioner of public utilities,
Charles NJ. Fassett, formerly president
Of the Spokane chamber of commerce.
Commissioner of public works, David
c. Coats, printer; former lieutenant
governor of Colorado.
Commissioner of public safety Fora
f. Hayden, retired lumber mill oper-
ator and capitalist.
The first three were elected for
terms of five years, the last named
for three years. The salary is $4,000
year. the bond of each being fixed at
$25, 900.
The commissioner of public affairs
appoints and supervises the city engi-
neer, corporation cunsel and inspector
of weights and measures; the commits
sioner of finance controls the books
and offices of the city treasurer and
auditor; the commissioner of public
utilities has charge of the city water
works and power plant, street rail-
way, telephone and allied affairs; the
commissioner of public works has
supervision Of streets, pavements and
sewers, and the commissioner Of pub
llN SAFETY 1OillOlS TIC DOllCt anu III c
men. The commissioners also look
after all the ramifcations of their
various duties and may change and
alter these by agreement.
Three civil service commissioners,
to be appointed to serve without pay,
demand the merit system examin-
ations, probations, Investigations and
removals on charges. The purpose is
to make permanent all municipal ap-
pointments, calling for special fitness
so that a faithful public official may
plan a career and fit himself accord
ingly, without fear of displacement by
disfavor
Another feature of the charter is the
provision for publicity. All the meet
ings are open to the public and all
ordinances and other notices must be
published in the Official Gazette.
which is distributed free of charge.
The mayor has no veto power
The charter provides for the initia-
tive and the referendum and the re-
call Fifteen per cent of the vote is
required to recall any commissioner
who has been remiss or unsatisfac-
tory in his duty.
The system of voting for the com
missioners is ingenious. Twenty-Five
electors may nominate a candidate by
taking an oath that he is qualified and
a desirable man and that they desire
to vote for him.
The ballot contains the names of all
the candidates in alphabetic order.
followed by spaces marked for first
second and third choice. The votes
mark Is crosses on the ballot, voting
for five men as first choice, five others
as second and five as third choice
However, they may vote for third
choice the entire list after eliminating
first and second choice.
The majority of all votes cast elects
on the first choice. Then the votes
for the candidates. who are unsuccess-
full in the first choice column and are
in the second choice column, are count
ed with the stragglers of the other
two and the third choice selections fill
out the five The third choice men
are elected by a simple majority.
The Spokane plan varies from all
others by making the contest free
for-all and not designating the office
sought There were 81 candidates at
the beginning of the recent campaign
Three declined to make the race and
two withdrew just before the election.
1t provides that candidates must not
spend more than $3.50 during the cam
paign, also making it compulsory to
submit an itemized statement of ex-
penditures, and no paid workers, car
riages or other conveyances are per-
mitted on election day
Party lines are absolutely obliterated
and personalities are eliminated. The