El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-06
wv = HEN the trainers of the con-
w stitution of the United States
" Wrought ont ollr nrescnt nIan


sought to apply me national lesson to
local conditions posteiity was destined
to find a failure In fact, the federal
idea of checks and balances, of di---
vided power and unconcentrated re-
sponsibility, has been such a failure
when applied to municipal government
that all foreign observers have been
wont to say that the American spends
more, and gets less out of his city gov
eminent than any other nationality.
The present British ambassador, Mr..
Bryce. in his incisive study of Ameri-
can politics, declared that our munich
pal rule was the one conspicuous fail
ure of American institutions.
Americans See the Difference.
Progressive Americans. often have OBJ
served this fact. They have seen graft
and corruption go on unhindered and
unchecked-the rule rather than the
exception. They have seen irrespons-
ible and low-purposed city officials
quite as often as officials OF high ideals
and right actions They have seen city
bossism seeking it's own ends quite as
often as they have seen public spirited
ness seeking the good of the city. And
when they have gone to Europe they
have seen none of these evils. for the
European city, no matter what its ma
tionality, and no matter under what
free from graft, commands the service
Of its best citizens. and its govern
ment is conducted for the good of all its
inhabitants-no class being preferred
at the expense Of another.
This advance guard has sought to
discover the underlying principle OF
European municipal government and to
transplant 1t TO america They have
all agreed that it is nothing else than
l. - L - IL III
represen tatives. who have vested IN
them ali Of the power of the people and
all the responsibilities it carries with
IT. AS the American city government
approaches that ideal it finds itself ap-
preaching the Europeon standard OF
good municipal rule.
Tracing the Idea.
One might trace the present idea OF
commission government back to the
county system of boards Of supervisors.
or to the New England selectmen, but
from city standpoint it begins at
Boston. When that municipality threw
off, the swaddling clothes Of townhood
and blossomed into a city its first
charter, according to professor Beale.
of Harvard. provided for a commission
form of government. TO consist Of a
small board With large powers. The
next time we hear of the commission
form of government is In 1870, when
charter was enacted by the Louisiana
legislature giving New Orleans what
was known then as an administrative
system. the government being vested
In q mayor and seven administrators.
The seven administrators were each
given charge Of one Of the departments
of the government, and together with
the mayor they formed the city council.
In this regard it was like the Spanish
Cabildo. The members were elected
by the city at large, and they conducted
the business Of the city on substan-
italy the same lines as characterize the
Galveston plan. The New Orleans adj
ministrative system continued for a
decade. but was abolished under the
city charter Of 1882.
The Memphis Plan.
Memphis also claims the honor Of
having had a hand in the propagation
of the commission government idea. In
fact. the Galveston authorities say they
borrow ed their system from the old
Memphis taxing district committee.
Washington. d. c., when the local gov
eminent became too corrupt by reason
OF the large percentage of ignorant
negro voters. was given a commission
form of government, with the appoint
ing power vested in the president.
Chelsea. Mass. also is governed by an
appointive commission.
The term Commission government
as today used is a missioner. The word
commission carries with it the idea OF
appointment rather than election, and
so long as a majority of the members
of the Galveston commission we're ap-
poiEted by the governor, 1t was appro-
priately used But when they were no
longer appointed. the term became a
misfit. But to the people Commission
government" still expressed their idea.
and even the purists are becoming
reconciled to It.
The Galveston Idea.
That the Galveston plan embodies the
underlying principle of European mu-
nicipal control is vouched for by pro-
lessor Deming, who pronounces il Ian
adaptation of the English plan of To-
cally elected council which shall exer-
else such powers as the city has under
its charter after essentially the same
fashion as a board of directors exercise
the powers of corporation" Since the
Galveston plan, in which the mayor is
merely the presiding officer Of the
commission, was adopted Houston has
come forth with another plan. in which
the mayor is almost the supreme au-
theEity. With these two general types
70 build upon. many variations and
frills have been added.
Principal among THESE ADDITIONS Is
the referendum, which usually carries
with it the initiative. These two en-
gines Of direct legislation have been in
use in Switzerland for many years, and
have worked most admirably, the peo-
pie showing rare discrimination upon
matters referred to them. The extra
ordinary thing about it is that the So
cialists of Switzerland are against
these provisions. They say the people
have proved themselves too conserva-
tive and that progress is not possible
where the referendum prevails. But II
is to be noted that the referendum Is as
old as the United States itself. and thk
initiative claims TO be equally historic.
In colonial America many matters We're
determined only after a vote OF the
people, and certainly a majoritysor az,
the past and present state constitutions
have been adopted through submission
to the people. OF the $50 Cities and
towns which have adopted the commits
sion form of government about 100
have the referendum. and many cities
have it which do not haye the commits.
sion form Of government.
Referendum In State Affairs
Nearly a dozen states of the Union
have adopted the referendum for state
affairs It's friends decla4a tbot co,,~,la5