The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-06-12
STILL GAINING rAunn

First tried at Galveston. Texas af.
ter the disastrous flood that swept
over that city. a few years AGO. the
commission form Of government has
heen gaining steadily In favor since
that time.
y born natural and logical that
the Idea should have spread quicker
u the West and Southwest than III
the East i has been aaopted bV
| some OF the Pacific coast cities hns
| found It's way into Montana Iowa
Minnesota, South Dakota. Illinois.
etc
The chief merit Of the plan--and il
las many--is that the more II II
discussed, the more popular II Be.
cemes There are things that lose
nuch 0f their charm or worth by be.
ing serutinigea al close range. But
not so with the commission plan A
lice and full discussion OF the
scheme under all its phases win bring
out It's best features in such n way AS
VIII win the favor of me friends OF
good government. The fact that in
many instances, the plan was FIRST
defeated. and then adopted at a sub
sequent election shows TINT the
cause of the failure to carry il out
was largely due TO a lack of compre.
hension of what il really means.
The plaa has found its way into
the conservative East. In Massa
causetts, Gloucester, Hayerhill. Taun.
ton and Lynn have adopted il And
there is no reason to believe It has
been found wanting.
Such large cities as Buffalo are
Inclined TO experiment with the com
mission form though In somewhat
modified way II adopted ia such a
large city it would afford work in
Improving the municipal rule or mis-.
rule Of such communities.
For third class cities IN New York
a bin was introduced in the legisla-
tnre known as the Lockport plan.
1t differs from the original commits
son plan just as the Des Moines
plan differs from that Of Galveston
Under this plan, power is vested
in q council Of five aldermen elected
at large on a non-partisan ballot Tor
"a reriod Of Eve years, and they are
subject to recall after six months up
en- petition signed BY twenty-five
per cent of the voters at the previous
e'eetion. Nomination is made either
by petition, or depositing," this last
method being adopted from the Ca
madam election act The deposit isl
retnnahle II the candidate receives
enough votes To show that he was a
serious aspirant for Office and not
nerely a tignrehead or a joke.
The alderman receiving the larg-
est number of votes Is chairman OIL
the board and is called mayor only
by courtesy, but has no veto power
The Lockport plan also provides |
the initiative and referendum.
The most radical feature of the
whole plan Is the selection of a 1
city manager who has entrusted 10
ann the appointment OF all city EN-
ployes subject to civil service rules.
That official is to prepare the an
nual budget Of the city and is held
responsible for all departments Of
local administration except the city
schools.
Advocates OF the plan sav that It's
best feature and the one that differ.
ontiates II from the usual plan ii the
Of the city manager,
which, they claim, Is All improve.
ment over the iiye-headed system oil
INC lies Molnes plan.
Whether the Lockport plan be.
comes a law or not, one thing ISL
syident SO far as the wdole scheme Of
administration is iconcerhl !
"a "a s.
The old methods have proved un-
graft and other evils
nave flourished under them. aud thel
'eople want i change,
The great problem now Is to aseer
ain what particular form OF local
Government will prove efficient for .
Ae large cities Their problems are
q such magnitude that it peQunes
retty broad and safe plan OF gov
lrnment to adjust them satisfaciorl.
N.