Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-16
THE COMMISSION
FORM Of CITY
GOVERNMENT

UUTLIIIftFIEUl
Wausau people are agitating the
Commission Form of Government and
they appointed a committee Of CT
items to look into the new form and
publish tnCir findings. AS they ap-
ply here we shall publish them. They
are lengthy and We may continue
them in two or three issues. They
follow:
It must and will be conceded by
every good citizen that if the present
offers anything better in City Gov
eminent than the system that Dwe
have had for years past, it is not
only a right but a duty to consider
it.
You will agree that we should not
only consider it, but if it really
offers US something better, we should
not hesitate to change from the old
to the new.
Although over one hundred cities
in the United States have adopted
this modern, up-to-date system of
City Government, known as the Com
mission Plan, it is possible that a
good many voters of this city do not
fully understand its various feat
ures, and for that reason we present
in this form an outline of the plan
of which we ask you serious con
sideration Be sure to read thru
to the end so as to get clear I'M
derstanding of this question. 1t
means much to yoI, Mr.. Voter.
Commission Government is the APP
plication of modern business methods
to the conduct of municipal affairs.
1t concentrates responsibility in the
city government and exacts accoun-
liability from those elected to admin
lister the public business, thereby
making efficiency the principal re
quirement in civic rule.
1t abolishes the old Ward repre-
sentative plan which provides for a
Mayor from the city at large, and two
Aldermen from each ward, and substi
tutes therefor Mayor and two Com
missioners elected by all the people.
Under the Commission plan the
business of the city is divided into
General departments, with each com
missioner specifically responsible for
the work of his department, subject
only to the general supervision OF
the entire Commission.
Under the old Ward plan there is
no specific responsibility on the part
of any member of the council for any
particular branch of the city's bu-
siness.
Under the new plan the Mayor and
Commissioners are elected without re
ference to their politics or nationality
their fitness for the office being the
test.
Under the old plan the Mayor and
Councilmen are elected as representa-
tives of a political party or as a can
didate representing some particular
faction in the city.
Commission Government establish
es a standard in city affairs. 1t re.
qufres the Commissioners to do GER
tain things or forfeit their office
Ward government requires nothing
in particular, establishes no efficient
order of procedure and exacts no ac-
countability for failure to do what
the people demand.
Commission Government requires
that each commissioner be respon-
sible for a certain part of the City's
business. For instance, one would be
responsible for maintaining efficient
fire and police departments; of anoth
err that he keep the streets clean and
in good repair, etc. If there is fail
ure in any department, the Commits
sioner responsible for that depart
ment cannot say that was occasion
ed because he other Commissioners
or that he was forced to employ in
competent assistants. Neither can
he offer any of the excuses so COM
mon under the old regime. That de
partment is under his exclusive man
agement: the authority to employ
competent help or to discharge in
competent help is his. If there is
failure, the failure is his. and every
citizen of the city knows where to
place the blame, and in case he does
not give satisfactory service he
may be recalled and a new Commits
sioner elected at ANY time.
Our present form provides that
The Mayor and Council shall per
form the general services mentioned
in the statutes. Nowhere is there
provision for individual obligation
The enforcement of law rests with
THE Mayor and Council; the col
lection of taxes and the supervision
of revenues is entrusted to THE May
or and Council. The best and most
capable man in the Council can rem
der no greater service to the city than
the most incompetent will permit him
to do. And where there is failure
no citizen of the city is able to place