The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-08-18


wards, as formerly; to make the com
missioners subject to the recall by tn
people at any time; to give the people
the right to veto the commissioners leg
islation through the referendum, and tC
supplement it through the initiative.
In its best development, the plal
takes all party politics out of munich
pal government. No party name, EN-
blem, or slogan can be attached to any
mans candidacy. The office seeker must
run as a citizen, not as a partisan
standing on his own policies, not on a
platform made by II convention that
can never hold him to accountability.
Here are the essentials of
the plan which Des Mones and Cedar
Rapids both adopted and simultaneous
ly set in operation on April 6, 1908:
The old division of the city into
wards, each choosing an alderman, was
wiped out.
Political conventions and party names
were abolished so far as concerned city
affairs.
The ancient system of having a long
''city ticket" of mayor, engineer, treas
urer, auditor, and so forth, elected each
alternate year, by the vote of the en-
tire city, and of having an ALDERMAN
elected from each ward, was ended.
Under the new plan, nobody was
elected but five commissioners. One of
these was called mayor, and presided
over the commissions; but he had only
the same veto as any other commits
sioner and no veto.
Any citizen could be candidate for
mayor or commissioner by securing the
petition of twenty-five citizens. This
required that his name be placed on the
first or primary election. Names were
placed alphabetically OH the ticket; no
name or party emblem was allowed.
The eight candidates for commission
er and the two for mayor, having the
highest votes in the primary election,
then made up the ticket for the final
election. This was again arranged alph-
abetically and without political designa-
tion.
At the final polling, the one candi-
date for mayor and the four for commits
sioners, receiving the largest number OF
votes, were declared elected.
Each commissioner had general super
vision in his department, running it just
as if he were head of a department of
a great business. The five, sitting as a
commission, made policies, passed or
dinances, prepared the budget; levied
taxes and generally bossed the town.
The could not, however, give away
any public franchise. They could frame
and recommend grant, which must
be submitted to the voters at special
election, and get majority vote, to be-
come effective.
Such is the referendum as to fran
chises. As to legislation the plan pro
vides that if the council passes objec-
tionable legislation, twenty five per
cent of the voters, by petition, may re
quire that its operation be suspended
and that an election shall be called to
pass upon it. Likewise, if the council
refuses to pass any desired legislation,
then like petition can command the
commission to submit this legislation to
special election. In either case the
legislation stands or falls as the ma
jority of the people vote.
Similarly as to the recall. If the peo-
pie get a crouch" against a commits
sioner like petition requires the com
mission to call an election to fill his
place. He is candidate if he so desires;
other nominations are made as already
described; and in the election the man
with the majority of votes wins.
BY this plan party politics is elimi-
mated. The city administration cannot
be subordinated to and used by any po-
liticaI organization. Appointments are
made on the basis of merit, during good
behavior and service, from lists of eli
gibles certified by the civil service com
mission as the result of competitive eX-
aminations.
Under this system responsibility is
centralized politics eliminated, the spoils
system rendered impossible.
In the beginning there was fear of
building up more dangerous, because
more centralized, boss ship than before.
One class of objectors feared that the
initiative, referendum and recall would
keep agitators circulating election petit
tions day and night, and the people
voting constantly on unimportant is
sues Another feared that the commits
sion would be so powerful that it could
prevent any special elections, perpetuate
itself in office, and work its own will.
Between these two pessimistic but
antopodal views there was much de-
bate. Theorists shook their heads ON
inously and pointed out that the plan
violated that fundamental government
which requires complete separation Of
legislative, executive and judicial func
tions; the legislative became also the