Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-11-07
THE COMMISSION FORM OF GOV
ERNMENT.

The COMMISSION FORM Or CIV
ERNMENT.
1t must and will be conceded by
every good citizen that if the present
offers anything better in City Govern
ment than the system that we have
had for years past it is not only right
but 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 ofCity Gov
ernment, known as the Commission
Plan, it is possible that good many
voters of this City do not fully under
stand its various features, and for thai
reason we present in this form an out
line of the;plan of which we ask your
serious consideration. Be sure to read
through to the end so as to get a clear
understanding of this question. 1t
means much to you, Mr.. Voter.
Commission Government Is the ap
plication of modern business methods
to the conduct of municipal affairs.
1t concentrates responsibility IN the
city government and exacts accounta-
bility from those elected to administer
the public business, thereby making
efficiency the principal requirement in
civic rule.
1t abolishes the old Ward representa-
tive plan which provides for Mayor
from the City at large, and two Alder
men from each ward, and substitutes
therefor Mayor and two Commission
ers elected by all the people.
Under the Commission plan the busi-
ness of the city is divided into general
departments, with each commissioner
specifically responsible for the work of
his department, subject only to the
general supervision of the entire Com
mission.
Under the old Ward plan there is no
specific responsibility on the part of
any member of the council for any
particular branch ofthe city's business.
Under the new plan the Mayor and
Commissioners are elected without ref
erence 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 candi-
date representing some particular fac
ton in the city.
Commission Government establishes
a standard in City affairs. 1t requires
the Commissioners to do certain 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 responsible
for certain part of the City's business.
FJr instance, one would be responsible
.or maintaining efficient fire and pO-
lice departments; of another that he
keep the streets clean and in good re-
pair, etc. If there is failure in any de-
partment, the Commissioner RESPONSE
ble for that department cannot say
that it was occassioned because the
other Commissioners were negligent
in their departments, or that
he was forced to employ incompetent
assistants. Neither can he offer any OF
the excuses so common under the old
regime. That department is under his
exclusive management; the authority
to employ competent help or to dischar-
ge incompetent help is his. If there is
failureI 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
auu uC" SlcINCu
ANY time.
Our present from provides that ''The
Mayor and Council" shall perform the
general services mentioned in the sta.
tutes. Nowhere is there provision fol
individual obligation. The enforce.
ment of law rests with 1.-The Mayor and
Counciln; the collection of taxes and
the supervision of revenues is entrusted
to 1.-THE Mayor and Council. The
best and most capable man in the
Council can render no greater servics
to the city than the most incompetent
will permit. him to do. And where then
is failure no citizen of the city is abl,
to place the blame upon any particular