The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-10-21
|SPOKANF'S Gov
|[RNM[NT A SUCCESS
Especial to the Silver State.)

SPOKANE, WASH, Oct. 21.-6even
months experience with the commits.
sion form of government in Spokane
which is under the control Of the peos
pie through the preferential election
system, the initiative and referendum
and the recall, has proved highly sue.
cessful. Direct efficiency has replac
ed responsibility and incompetency.
party bossism has been eliminated. the
laws are enforced, the taxpayers are
obtaining 100 cents worth Of work
for a dollar, municipal Improvement
bondse command high premiums and
the eity's credit is gilt edge in the
financial centers throughout the coun.
try.
Charles M. Fassett, commissioner 81
public utilities, speaking for the CONF
mission, says the people, 40 q rule, ara
satisfied with the change and that IL
is doubtful if ever those who were
most active against the present chart
er would vote to return to the old sys4
TEN. There are some, of course, who
honestly believe the old forn is bet.
ter, he added, but the chief opposition
to the adoption of the charter and it,
continuance comes from those whose
private selfish interests are being in
terfered with by the beneficial change
in administration introduced by tho
present government.
Enumerating the chief points of adj
vantage of the commission form Of.
government over the party system, Mr..
Fassett says:
For the first time in it's history the
community is not disturbed by pOliti.'
oaI fvlt "a 1.% lo11
commissioners often do not agree on
soon healed and there is harmony and
good feeling between them
Each commissioner has charge, un-a
der the authority of the whole body,
of his departments and the taxpayer
knows to whom to apply for his needs.
The result is that business is dispatch
ed in hours and days, where it former
ly required weeks and months.
"Street and other improvements are
made for from 20 to 40 per cent less
than in recent years, without reducing
the city wage scale or decreasing our
standards of quality. The contractors
ring is broken and most of our work
goes to those who have done the best
work in the past. For the first time in
our history contractor has been fined
for delaying public work.
Our tax levy will be the same az
last year, notwithstanding a deficit Of
about 100000 left by the former gov
ernment and the settlement of many
claims and complications, neglected
for years.
1.-The various departments are being
managed with efficiency and common
sense. The water department, which
has been permitted to run heavily in
debt, has been placed upon a business
footing; free water has been cut OH,
the number of meters has been doubled
in seven months, wastes have been
stopped and an adequate supply of
water furnished for all purposes during
the hot months, where every year here
tofore there has been a famine in GER
tain districts.
Our streets are well paved and
kept clean and sewers are maintained; ;
the health of the city was never so
good; public service corporations are
encouraged and enforced, when neces-
sary, to give good service; back fran
chise taxes are collected and the affairs
of the city generally are conducted
along modern business lines.
"The preferential system Of vot-
ing, the short ballot and the election
of commissioners at large, who select
one of their number as mayor, are
other features which have strong ar
guments in their favor. Hereafter not
more than three COMMISSIONS will be
chosen at any election, giving the
voter no excuse for ignorance of the
men or their duties. We require non
partisan affidavit and restrict the use
of money for election purposes to $3.50
for any candidate.
"By our system of voting the re-
results of the election express the will
of the majority much more closely
than could be obtained by caucus, con-
vention and word representation. On
the whole, We believe Spokane has the
most advanced and Characteristic COM
missioner charter yet adopted by any
city in this or 9TH counfrinS -