Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-10-13
sLAGLB FAvORs
COMMISSION FORM
tContinued from First Page.)

citizens didn't do their duty? The
citizens privileges of exercising their
duty have heretofore stopped until
the next election, when they had
chosen on election day their repre-
sentative to administer the law, but
under the new form the itizen's
privileges to perform their duty only
begins when they have elected their
officers. Theirs is the right to have
matters of public concern referred
back to them before final passage.
and the right to demand the passage
of law originating with the people;
also the right to expel on recall from
office their commissioners for in
ability or misconduct without wait
ing for the expiration of their term
of office.
The second objection was, 'the
commission form of government in
places the size of Pullman has not
yet passed the experimental stage,
and the financial condition of this
city does not justify any experiments
at minimum cost of $1,000 a year"
Are we to wait for other towns
to prove what has already been
proven in larger cities to be the most
economical and satisfactory method
of municipal government, or may we
proceed to set an example for other
towns to follow? Is not this the
| Psychological moment for consider
| ing such an important question?
Must we lose this opportunity simply
because other towns are yet in the
experimental stage? If our financial
condition is impaired what is a bet
ter reason for seeking change
promising improvement, a change
that would make impossible the re-
fusal of our legislative body the
amicable settlement by the payment
of few hundred dollars of dam
age claim against our city whereby
judgment is now imposed upon the
town of Pullman to pay sum aggre-
eating almost $4,000.
If the refusal to settle that case
had been the wish of the citizens
the responsibility for the judgment
would have been theirs, and think
you not that would now be a relief to
the council?
The third reason was "a very
| praVa dOuhf 10 nc oood WOW oo,,l1
be induced to serve as commission
ers for the paltry salaries allowed
as could be secured to serve on the
council without pay"
If good men are willing to serve
without pay, why wouldn't they
serve with pay? What is there in
a councilman's office without pay
more attractive for good men than a
com missioner office with pay?
The editorial says 1.-THE people are
the power back of the council, and
would be the power back of the COM
missioners." In order TO assume
their civic responsibility and exer-
else their power" they must have
the privileges given them under the
law permitting commission form of
government. The proposition then is
this, do we, the people of Pullman
wish TO place the management of our
municipal affairs in the hands of
three men for three years, who shall
be elected at large, every voter vot-
ing for his choice of three men from
all the candidates, whose duties will
be divided into departments and
each one held strictly accountable
for the good conduct Of his depart
ment and the three commissioners
responsible for the whole, whose
official acts are subject to the will
of the citizens at all times under
conditions prescribed by the law,
even to their recall before the expira-
ton of their term; or do we wish
TO continue under the present form
by electing the mayor and one coun-
Gilman at large and two councilmen
from each of three wards, who are
the choice of only the voters in their
respective wards, whose duties are
collective, their responsibility dele
gated to committees or even to en-
ployes and whose official acts are
only subject to criticism without
power on the part of citizens to cor
rect? Which do we wish? It's up
to the people to decide and the solu-
tion is by our votes.
No person can become candidate
for commissioner without first filing
a petition of candidacy with the city
clerk within rs days after the adop-