University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-02-01
The Commission Form, Of Municipal
Gopernn,ent--PLan That "Does hlngs

the political macnlne oue oi
and opening the door to every ci'iZen
who has the desire and the capacity
to serve the city in office.
More than 100 cities in twenty-ohe
different states have within less thah
tree years adopted new charters along
l,besa lines and several hundred addi-
tiou of Ike measures whenever the
legislatures will permit.
Many commission charters vary III
more or less essential particulars. For
example, some Colorado cities eject
each commissioner for the specihc ae-
nartment in which he is to serve, III
stead of leaving it to the commission
ito assign its own members TO the sew
oral nlaces. believe though that TINS
makes the commission less elastic and
Idepriyes the city of the possipie ad-
vantage of a reassignment of the COM
missiopers if the first allotment proves
not TO be the best. Besides, II reduces
the responsibility of the commission
as whole.
BETTER service is secured under the
commission plan because the city gov
Iernment is constantly IN the llmelight
of publicity; because being elected at
!, large and therefore free from ward IN
Guences. and when upheld by the
whole city, the official is able>to render
? more independent service; because
, owiuy both his nomination and his
election directly to all the people, he
j. emanc:pated from partisan pressure
= and the clamor for rewards for service
p rendered; because representing the
A entire city and not a small fraction ol
+ it his service trains him to take
lbroader view OF both his duties ano
i his opportunities for public service
f The initiative and referendum place
:. lin the hands of the people the means
n Ito prevent unwise and wrongful acts
!. on the part of officials, and permit
n direct voice in enacting or repeating
d wise or unwise measures.
q Whatever may be the merits or de
n merits of the Des Moines plan, it ha
Il brought results in Des Moines. 1t ma
created a new, active and intelligen
IS citizenship
:. Modern labor-saving appl. hav
o been added to the public works dc
n. partment and the former shiftleS
&c conduct has been replaced with mos
@ efficient system, and no private cor
a. tractor in Des Moines gets more faltf
m full service from his workmen tha
s. does the city.
IN Money formerly wasted has bee
n conserved to prevent the annual deiici
n or used to repair neglected pavement
10 and to increase the street cteanin
H. funds. and the streets and alleys al
5: for the first time actually cleaned.
pc 1.-The end of the first year of commlsSlo
10 government, the general deficit
g more than 100000 in 1907 was turne
rs into 4 surplus of 100000 in 1908. Tia
n levleS were TeNlSeu uo"h"""' -"
ne public improvements multiplied. I'll
Mt city. for the first time, discounted IL
Ily bills and collected interest from ii
he banks on its daily balances.
,c- Our acts have not been faulties
ge We have simply abolished an antlqu
a ted and complicated system that MAJ
di- it practically impossible for hrst-ra
ice men to accomplish anything, and ha
in installed simpler system under whl
he It has become difficult for even Sc
nd ond-rate men to avoid, giving go
We service and themselves grow in efh
ng ency and self-respect.