Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22

number Of Burlington men interested
in the new plan had been engaged IN
securing all the information obta1naole
upon the subject After the CONNER
.cial Exchange took the matter up, COM
mittees interesting themselves in the
question of commission plan of govern
ment, went out to the various fac
tories and talked to the working peo-
pie about the plan. After the people
became interested in the plan, it was
then submitted to a vote. He urged
upon Ottumwans that before they sub
NIT the question to the people that
they be sure the people understand 1t
and want the change of systems, other
wise, stated he, it will be unwise to
submit it to vote If the change is not
desirable, he would urge leaving the
present plan in vogue. However, he
maintained that after 1t was once
given trial the people would not care
to return to the old plan.
Mayor Norton cited the case of Gal
weston. the originators Of the commits
sion plan; of Des Moines, Cedar Rap
ids, and dwelt to some extent on Keo-
kuk, where he stated the salary Of
the officials was $1,000 for the mayor
and $3.50 for the aldermen. In Burling-
ton it is $500 for the mayor and
$1,000 for the aldermen, of which there
are four aside from the mayor. In Of
tumwa there would be three commits
sioners including the mayor and their
salaries would be $1,5OO for the mayor
and $1,000 for the councilmen.
For a city the size. of Ottumwa, or
u, p,,r 1frr $~ ~ -
10000 population, in his judgment,
three commissioners are sufficient.
He approved of the features Of the
commission plan, that makes effective
the initiative. referendum and recall,
and argued in favor, saying that they
serve as clubs to whip what might
prove careless officials into line as
faithful office holders. He also ap-
proved Of the feature whereby anyone
may become candidate upon securing
twenty-five signers to his petition for
candidacy.
Fixes Responsibility.
He insisted that the commission
plan brings the people closer to the
officials and by making the official re-
si1onsible to all of the people makes
him feel the obligation of giving his
Best efforts to the city's management.
fIe cited the ordinance laws under the
form of government
an ordinance must remain on
file seven days for the public inspec-
lion before it can be passed. Rela-s
tive to the saving between the two
systems, he stated that two years ago
II; rf< nnn nd hos at
year there was nothing saved, while
this year there might be an indebted
ness, but these things all depend upon
what manner Of improvements are be-
ing made and to what extent they go.
He argued that under the old plan
he division of the general fund among
he different wards, by each alderman
claiming his share for his wards i'm
is done away with under
he commission plan and more effec-
i've improvement is made. Instead of
each ward getting little dribble OF
practical improvement
will be completed each year and thus
insure more business-like improve
nent of greater benefit to the whole
,ity. He urged interesting the press
n the movement In order to make the
fer change of government,
because of the means thus afforded of
the people of the merits
# the new plan. The meeting con-
inued until we'll into the afternoon, as
Mayor Norton, was bombarded with a !
of questions by the audience
hat took long time to answer and
he meeting broke up with all feeling !
hat they had learned something new
bout the commission plan OF city gov.