Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-05
GOVERN MENT BY
COMMISSION is
FEOERAT|0KS AIM
East New Jersey Organization
Discusses PraCtiCability Of
Des MOines Plan.
III

AT the conference of the East New
Jersey Civic Federation held in the
Council chamber of the City Hall yes
terday the commission form of gov
eminent as practised In Des Moines
and other Western cities was discussed,
and before adjournment 1t was decided
to hold another meeting on the sub
ject, probably on January II. 1t Is ex-
pected hat at that time the Passaic
Board of Trade will submit a draft for
commission form of government, which
will be discussed by the members Of
the conference. following which it Is
hoped thai some definite form of ac-
ton can be taken by the federation.
There was no fixed program for the
conference yesterday, and 1t was con-
Quoted informally, all those desiring to
do SO giving their opinions on the vari-
Gus methods of municipal government
whereby a small council governs a
large city. s. H. Hartshorn, of the
Jersey City Board of Trade; Richard
d. Childs, of the Short Ballot Associa-
ton, of which Woodrow Wilson is
president, and City Clerk James L.
Connolly were among those who made
valuable suggestions. The Rev. Adolph
Roeder, of Orange. president of the
federation, was chairman of the con-
ference.
According to the Des Moines plan
all municipal powers are centered in a
small council of which the Mayor Is q
member, but without veto power. MI.
Childs claimed that this was necessary
so that on election time the Mayor
would not be a more prominent figure
than the other commissioners who In
this case would receive the same scru-
tiny as to their ability and merits as
the Mayor.
Whole school Board "RecaIIed."
The plan further provides the right
of recall or the principle of it, and
Mr.. Childs explained that this had had
a good effect in some of the cities where
1t was in force. He quoted a case
where the whole school board had been
recalled because it had refused to do.
the will of the people. The depart
ments Of the city are to be organized
by the commission and on commits
sioner is placed over each department.
Appointments to office are made by
the commission under civil service SUI
pervision and the plan also comprises
the right of initiative and referendum.
There was no discussion on this point,
howere, at yesterdays conference,
Mr.. Hartshorn further suggested that
the plan provide a uniform system of
municipal accounting so that the cost
of the city government for one year
could easily be ascertained.
City Clerk James F. Connolly made
a strong plea against a commission
government that would continue to
separate the educational fund of the
city from the rest of the city funds
and referred to the last message of
Mayor Hausling in which the Mayor
recommended that the city be allowed
to borrow money from some of the
school funds as long as they are DOR
mant.
How TO Govern Newark
Mr.. Childs declared that while the
favored commission gov
eminent he did not believe that
small commission of five men,
most of the plans provide. could
govern successfully a city like New
ark. MIR. Childs declared that a large
city should have so many members at
least that five could be elected at the
end Of every term.
Those who were present at the con-
ference We're: New Brunswick Board
of Trade. f. S. Yorston, ID. d. Will
liams, Charles NJ. Mccormick, Edward
r. Van Pelt and william r. Reed;
Hugo Winckler and John Groom, of
Irvington; Fred w. and Frederick K.
Fischer, of Newark; Mr.. n Mrs. Will
liam Radford De Bots, of Bayonne, and
the following representatives of the
Board of Trade of Jersey City: Will
liam II. Richardson, J.. w. Heck. Frank
Stevens, S. H. H%artshorn and B. L.
Stowe.