The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-04
THE COMMISSION PLAN.


portant to the welfare OF Keokuk that |
the commission form of city govern /
ment, under which this municipality t
is now operating, should be continued
indefinitely. 1t will be recalled that |
this paper was the first to suggest /
adoption of the commission plan and
earnestly and persistently urged the
Change until it became an accomplish
ed fact. The argument was advanced
that the new form of government is
more simple, more direct, more eff
Gent and more economical: that au
thority is more concentrated and re-
sponsibility more readily determined;
that in entering upon new and great
er era growing out of the development
of the water power Keokuls owed 1T to
itself to profit by the advantages af-
forded by the best form of city gov
eminent devised to date.
Keokuk has now had almost two
years experience with the commits
sion plan and that experience has been
wholly conirmatory of the expecta-
tons that were entertained concerning
/ it, Mistakes have been made, of
course, but they were mistakes of ad-
ministration, due to inexperience. mi
nor in character and easily remedied.
Nothing that has been done an1iss re-
fleets in the slightest degree upon the
value of the plan itself 1t has yindi-
Gated itself signally and fairly earned
continued existence and increased
public confidence as the best means to
the best ends in municipal govern
ment The most important step Keo-
kuk ever took as municipality was
taken on that day something over
two years ago when an overwhelming
vote was registered in favor of substi-
tuting the commission plan for the
ward-aldermanic system then in vogue.
That splendid achievement marked the
beginning Of the renaissance of Keo-
kuk
In order to make sure that the com
mission plan will be continued in
Keolsul1 the best men available should
: be elected to administer it. With al
: its points of superiority, the commits
sion plan will not administer itself
No plan can do that. 1t is simply {
means to an end, and other things be
ing equal, the more capable the mel
y selected to make use of 1t the bette
y will be the results. AS matter of en-
lightened selfishness Keokuk shoul'
choose as mayor and commissioner
lie the candidates it honestly and sincere
n ~ believes are the most capable an
OIL worthy. If a commission composed Q
Id incompetent or unworthy men shoul
be nominated and elected the commits
zion plan would be seriously handical
h. ped as means TO good government
at and its life would be endangered. Tha
or is contingency that should be car,
1e fully guarded against
Keokuk did we'll when ii adopted th
commission form of government Tw
lily years' experience has fully confrme
mt the wisdom of its judgment in maxim
re the change That the municipalit
ng may continue TO prosper under III
IN commission ARRANGEMENT and enjoy i
advantages to the fullest possible e
tent let every voter put personal fee
he ings and prejudices aside and yo
on, only for the best men, in the intere
oh of Greater and still Better Keoku
ich The Gate City understands that 9
en- of the candidates for Office at the col
be ing city election are in favor of Il
on commission form of government.