The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-12-28
BtNcHAM SAYS COMMISSION
GOVERNMENT IS AN IDEA

GOVERNMENT IS AN IDEA.
Editor Pensaoaia Journal
OF az the arguments which I have
heard recently in favor OF the com
mission form ~ government. there was
only one 90 which q satisfactory an
Ewer did not readily occur 20 me. This
argument was in the form o. . ques-
ton and was propoundsd By ms Eood
friend. the Hon. j. %. Walker. a. the
last courthouse meeting. On about these
words.
DO you think dear brother Binr-
ham. % would be- a rood fdea 90 make
the positions Of sawyer saw-nler.
marker etc. In the Muscovco mills
electvoT'
Poser. wasn't it9
Luckiiy for me. Mr.. walker made
a numher Of other arguments ~ the
aame time that I could answer on
band. and 7 DO not think my failure
r. answer the above question was no
ticed. II worried me. however. and the
big bell a. the city SAN was telling the
hour e midnight when the truth
flashed upon me This q the answer:
Yes. provided the mills belonged 90
the people OF MuscoEee. They couldn't
q" "NttNi ttAasA eAN@k AaeF Afa4t oG az
partments.
That answer brings the whole prop
osition home: The public owns the
streets parks. public buildings. water
works and a Aupcl the municipal
dock: the police End Ore Departments
are for the protection OF the lives and
homes 81 the public. 80 one. or three.
o. Eve. can say better than the public
Hl.h
should be-
So q b. with the rect of the COM
mission form arguments. except thar
"a majority 20 them are not nearly 80
plausible, and large part % them
apply with equal force On favor o. the
representative frrm
TIE commission form ~ an idea
not a form. Tor no two forms are
alike. All the forms are claimed %
he the best. a thing tHat cannot be.
vet an 81 them are Being amended.
and many of them now hear bat slight
resemblance Co The ORIGINAL Galveston
commission FORM. which form. b. the
way, was designed ty the state OF
Texas 90 meet The needs ~ e wrecked
cily. Just a. tle federal government
desiEncd the recelveraidp method Tor
preserving fhe resources ~ wrecked
railroad and Industrial corporations.
There are numerous Instances whore
such receivers managed properties Co
better advanzare than did the oriEl-
nal owners. yet business men are not
tumhiinE over each other 90 get their
businesses in the hands ~ receivers.
The tendency gf the amendments 20
I the commission idea. dictated IS exc
! perience Oh toward a complete reEer-
sal 90 the original form.
Mayor Rice. OF Houston. q success
u fal receiver of wrecks. has recently
I gone squarely back on the "rcraIr and
Y Fas-s. in Cdeet. that o. won't work and
u that Dc g. o. relic az popuHsm. The Dcs
4 htoines form has Incorporated raid
1 civil service rule and with Go goes
. the EoBi-stirrinF slogan 90 the advo-
Gates % the commission idea. as well
az the battie-cry OF Admiral Dewey.
VIA you may IRE when you're ready.
Gudley'"
stripped 81 these two arguments.
there would be little for our Pensa b.
celia enthusiasts 90 say, $50 they are
San using them" In bold defiance of
the experience ~ their elder brethren
ir the salvaEinE ~ wrecked muuiCl-
paiitios
My use o. me word wrecked" VIII
be objected co. But wasn't Galveston
wrecked" Wasn't Houston. with a
f4oo o0o floating debt and 80 bad a
credit that her own merchants would
rot sell her supplies wrecked -
Wasn't Dcs MoInes. with = tax rate of
over nInety-tWo mills EEainst our %
milis) nigh-ahout Wrecked And "a
on.
Another feature that is dwelt upon
by those that possess The Idea" q
that the minor afHceholdors the heads
os departments, not owing their Of
Gees 10 the mass Of voters. would not
play politics
How ridiculous and utterly faise'
They owe their election 90 some