The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-24
COMMISSION vs.. PARTY.

1T appears to be so generally as.
sumed that a commission form of gov
ernment for cities is the true and in.
fallIble, If not inspired, plan. that it is
almost shock to find anyone now come
out openly In opposition to the commits
sion form and in favor Of the old fash
Toned system of party government for
cities. And yet Comptroller Prendergast
of New York City is the courageous per-
son to take that stand. He recently
made an address before the New York
Bankers Association, discussing mu.
nicipal affairs and government, and
emphasized particularly the value, in
has estimation, of party government as
against any form of administration
without party foundation and support.
His contention was that the enthusiasm
and loyalty of party government made
Tor greater efficiency and steadiness in
the administration of city affairs than
could be expected from the somewhat
abstract sentiment which most of the
employees Of an independent or reform
administration exhibit
The Boston Globe. commenting upon
the position taken, says that tThere is
much truth in the Comptroller IS asser.
tion. The running of a municipal gov.
ernment without any political party be-
ing held responsible therefor is a
doubtful experiment
1t is recognized, however, in the dis.
cussion on that side Of the question.
that while it is important that a city
administration should recognize al.
leglance to some party organization
with a formulated body of principles
and policies, for which it can be held
responsible bv the people at subsequent
elections, there remains still the fact
that the issues which divide the voters
IN national affairs are not usually ap
plIcable In municipal administration.
There Is recognized everywhere a laxity
In this regard that loosens party ties in
citv elections; and voters of partv
are not held TO the strictness in party
allegiance, so far as city elections are
concerned, that they are in general cleo
tions where political principles have
more direct application.
AS to the general application of prin-
ciples involved in this discussion. we
Ind in an Eastern contemporary this
summing up:
Municipal government with parties
eithe- national or local, a the founda-
tion OF II. would be entirely Incompatible,
uJl he ft,
Gently put In vogue In some of the small
er cities Of the West and South, and
known as the commission system. the
necessary correlatives of which are the
referendum and the recall. The former
represents comparatively stable body of
public sentiment and purpose: the latter
a hnctuating one Under the former an
is secure for a period long
enough to accomplish something, to prove
Its good intentions and efficiency: under
the latter It's plans and work may be
the populace and another commission
with other plans substituted for IL. The
responsibility In the latter case Ia a per-
sonal responsibility and involves endless
confusion and uncompeted work: in the
FORMER case II is party responsibility and |
the remedy for wrongdoIng is found AT
the next periodic election.
All of which is instructive in this
community. where we arc about TO have
commission form of government with |
out any choice on the part of the peo. |
pie whether they will have it or not.
Ii is usually the case, as stated in that
summing upr that the initiative and
referendum, as well as the recall are
'the necessary correlatives' Of the |
commission form of government. Here,
however, we have the commission form
of government forced upon us without |
those necessary correlatives'' so |
that. so far as this form Of government |
is concerned, we are striking out on |
new limo of our own. In fact, it is a |
total departure from the Des Moines |
form of commission government, which |