The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-20
SPOKANE SAYS ITS
GOVERNMENT BEST
Practical Plan of Commission
Government Now in Op-
Grafton There.
palladium Specially

government Oy COMMISSION III Amer
len IL now In operation In Spokane.
Five commissioners. chosen from
among 90 candidates at "a special cleo
ton on March z. when women cSer-
ciscd the right of ballot for the first
time in the history OF the city. were
formally indicted into Office on March
~. retiring Mayor Nelson s. Pratt and
ten councilmen. The commission has
been organized as follows:
Mayor and commissioner of public
affairs, William j. Hindley. formerly
pastor of Pilgrim Congregational
church.
Vice chairman and comm ssioner of
finance. Robert Farley. formerly city
comptroller.
Commissioner of public utilities,
Charles NJ. Fassctt, formerly president
OF the Spokane chamber of commerce.
Commissioner OF public works. Day.
Id &. Coates, printer. former lieuten-
ant governor OF Colorado.
Commissioner of public safety. Fora
Il. Hayden, retired lumber mill oper-
ator and capitalist.
The first three were elected for
terms Of five years, the last named
for three years. The salary Is $1,000
year. the bond of each being fixed
at $4,000.
Has Appointive Power.
The commissioner of public affairs
appoints and supervises the city en-
ginecr. corporation counsel and inspec-
tor of weights and measures; the COM
missioner Of finance controls the
books and Offices of the city treasurer
and auditor; tho commissioner of pub
lie utilities has charge of the city wat
or works and power plant, street rail
way. telephone and allied affairs; the
commissioner OF public works has SUI
pervisIOn Of streets, pavements and
sewers, and the commissioner of pub
lie safety controls the police and fire.
men. The commissioners also look af-
ter all the qualifications of their var
ious duties and may change and alter
these by agreement.
Three civil service commissioners,
to be appointed to serve without pay.
demand the merit system, eXamina.
lions, probations, investigations and
removals on charges. The purpose is
to make permanent all municipal APP
pointments. calling for special fitness.
no that a faithful public Official may
plan a career and ut himself accord
ingly, without fear of displacement by
disfavor.
Another feature OF the charter is the
provision for publicity. All the meet
saw ~ hn u11
ordinances and other notices must be
published In the Official Gazette,
which Is distributed free of charge.
The mayor has no veto power.
The charter provides for the initia-
tive and the referendum and the re-
call. Fifteen per cent OF the vote is
required to recall any commissioner
who has been remiss or unsatisfactory
In his duty.
The system of voting COR the COM
missioners Is ingenious. Twenty-Five
electors may nominate candidate by
taking an oath that he Is qualified and
a desirable man. and that they desire
to vote for him.
Ballot Arrangement.
The ballot contains the names of all
the candidates in alphabetic order,
followed by spaces marked for first
second and third choice. The voters
mark Is crosses on tn ballot, voting
for Ave men as first choice. five 9th
ers as second choice. However. they
may vote for third choice the entire
list after eliminating first and second
choice.
The majority of all votes cast elects
on the hrst choice. Then the votes
for the candidate. who are unsusccess-
full In the first choice column and are
in the second choice column, are
counted to select the rest.
II Ave candidates having a majority
not elected, the votes Of the third
choice are counted with the stragglers
Of the other two and the third choice
selections al out the five. The third
choice men are elected by simple
majority
The Spokane plan varies from all
others by making the contest free
for.all and not designating the Office
sought. There were 81 candidates at
the BEGINNING u tue recent Campaign.
Three declined to make the race and
two withdrew just before the election.
II provides that candidates must not
spend more than $3.50 during the cam.
paign. also making 1t compulsory to
submit an 'tcmized statement Of eX.
pendituros. and no paid workers. car.
riages or other conveyances are per.
mitted on election day.
Party lines are absolutely obliterat.
cd and personalities are eliminated
The candidate must take an oath that
he represents no political party in the
election nor any special interests.
Had Fierce Battles.
Spokane did not win its new gov.
eminent without series of stubborn.
~ fought battles. Late last fall May.
or Pratt. Democrat, working with a
Republican council. composed of lcgis
lativc and administration branches
Informally appointed committee o!
business men to prepare u charter un
der the commission form. The draf,
was presented TO the city council three
months afterward. but the 10 repre-
sentatives paid little or no attention
TO Il.
A petition signed by more than 81
pcr cent Of the voters, was then sub