Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-02

ons for supporting the old form of gov
eminent The new charter is similar to
that of Houston, Tex, and provides for
a mayor and four commissioners to be
paid salaries of $4,000 and $500 a year.
respectively. and to be elected by the peo-
pie at large on nominations by . per
cent petitions. These officials are to
hold Office for four years, one of the four
commissioners being elected every year,
so that there will be no danger Of all
being green men. All other employees OF
the city are to be appointed upon competi-
tive examination by the mayor with the
approval of the commissioners. and pro-
motions are to be made by merit
The initiative and recall are provided
for upon 20 per cent petition, and the
referendum upon IL per cent petition.
The other features are almost exactly
like those that have become SO popular
in Texas. The new charter concentrates
all legislative and executive responsibility
in the mayor and the commission, with
the recall as a rod of discipline In case
1t should be necessary. Prohibition vas
rejected and the commission has been
given power to license saloons according
to it's Judgment.
The same system has been In operation
for two years in the neghboring cities OF
Lynn and Haverhill, both manufacturing
centers with a large foreign population
and similar conditions 1t mas been re-
markably successful and satisfactory to
everybody except the liquor sellers, pro-
fessional politicians and certain contrac-
tors who have lost privileges and profits
they were enjoying under the old system
The citizens of Lynn are so we'll SATISFIED
that they recommended their neighbors at
Lowell to adopt the commission plan
without qualification, and 1t is DelleVed
that other manufacturing towns will ap-
ply for charters at the next session OF
the great and general court.
The commission plan is just as Tar from
the ancient town meeting system as one
form Of government can be from another;
1t is the essence of autocracy. but Its ad-
vocates insist that it has become neces-
which cannot be deprived of citizenship
and is not capable Of self-government
The town meeting, they say, was no
doubt an ideal system tor q community OF
farmers with common interests, common
ideas and equal intelligence. but IT Will
not work with a community that does not
appreciate or understand the INSTITUTIONS
of this country
REORGANIZATION in Boston.
Boston obtained a special charter last
year under which the municipal govern
ment has been reorganized and central
ICED in a radical manner. The old method
of nominating candidates for once ny
caucus and convention is abolisneo. olrect
nominations by petition being substituted,
and all municipal authority Is concen-
trated in three agencies-the mayor. a
! finance commission and council. Tne
mayor is elected for four years, with a
salary of $4,000 but. II he does not suit
NAV be recalled by the voters at the end
of his second year without petition. Elec-
tions are held biennially. and on every
alternate election the secretary OF state
will print upon the ballot the question,
"Shail there be an election for mayor:
| II the majority of the votes are cast IN
the affirmative q new mayor IS eiecteo
| within the next thirty days IN TINS way
an unsatisfactory executive may DC ousteu
| without much difficulty.
The mayor has the authority to appoint
all the heads Of departments ana en-
Moves Of the city upon the recommends
| ton of a civil service commission, out II is
provided that heads OF departments "shall
| be recognized experts. specially ntteo py
| Selected without regard to residence or
party affiliation." They may be removed
at any time by the mayor for cause after
an Investigation or hearing by the civil
service commission. That Is very near
| the German plan. .,
Expenditures not in excess OF $1,OOo
NAV be made without advertising or con-
! tract but the executive taking this re-
sponsibility is liable to prosecution II ne
| exceeds his authority or is guilty OF graft,
and IL convicted may be imprisoned for
not less than six months or more than
| two years.
Council and Finance Commission.
The council is composed of nine me-n-
hers elected at large for terms of three
wears. and one-third of them go out every
wear. They receive salaries Of $500 a
! year. None Of their relatives by blood Or
| marriage can have q financial interest In