New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-05-18
THE NEW CHARTER.


Some of the opponents Of the
New Charter for New Iberia say
that successful administration
of the City affairs under any
form Of government depends
manly on placing the right men
in Office. That it We elect good
men to govern onr. City theJ.
will give us good results, either
under the present. or under a
Commission Form Of Govern
ment. But that if the officers b.
men of inferior ability the COM
munity will be poorly governed
under either charter. They
urge, therefore. that practically
nothing could be gained by
changing the form Of govern
msnt and that effort should be
tEther directed to he placing OF
proper men in Office.
- 1t is undoubtedly true that un-
der either form Of government,
men OF high type will give the
City a better administration than
will men Of low type and that it
is always important to place In
Office the best men that offer.
However, q little thought will
show that any person OF fair in.
telligence could serve The ClAy
far better as Commissioner
under the new charter than as II
counc Imam under the present
system. As a Commissioner, his
entire time and attention would
be concentrated on the needs OF
the City and how best to meet
these at the least cost. He
would have no outside duties to
distract his attention and when
not actively engaged in the work
Of the City, would have leisure
to acQuaint himself with matters
pertaining to his work, whether
it be bridge building, road max
ing, sewerage construction, opc
rating the electric light plant
or any other work of the City,
which may come under his de-
partment. On the other hand, al
City Councilman has no such OPP
portunity. As a rule. he has ac-
cepted the nomination very
much against his own inclina.
ton and only at the earnest So
icitation Of friends. He has
done SO with the distinct proviso
that he cannot allow public mat
tiers to interfere with his private
business. Generally he is asso-
ciated with others who feel that
he should consult their wishes. |
To earn his living, he must give
practically his entire attention
to his own, or his employers,
business. He can barely do more
than attend council meetings once
. month, this, in many instances,
irregularly, and vote on ordi-
nances or resolutions. many Of
which he has never seen before
and which he has had no time to
consider or analyze. Evidently,
the same man acting as coun-
Gilman under the present charter
cannot give the town anything
like as efficient service as might
be expected Of him as a Commits.
Dioner paid by the City and CIV
ing his whole time and atten-
lion to its needs.
Under the present plan Of
slecting councllmen, the candi-
dates Of the opposing tickets are
usually picked by the rival fac.
tional leaders rather as strength.
,ning their respective tickets
han with any view to their f.
less for the position. Neither
Iide wishes to court defeat, and
the question Of a
candidates knowledge of public
fairs is Of small moment to the
actions if he can aid in pulling
through their ticket. But under
he new plan of government
here will be no primaries, NO
late, no factional tickets. All
ualified electors. whether Re-
ublican, Democratic. on Inde- !,
endent, win have an equal voice : !.
governing the City. If this 7
pes not eradicate. it will at :
ast lesson the evils Of factional :,
cities. Factions, and the bit !
'rncss they engender. are ser :,
Us drawbacks to . community, =
ID any syst EN- that lessons their i,
'wer Is . decided gain to the ,.
lblic. p
Again, the recall will be . pot RI
Z incentive to officers under ia
; New Charter to render en- N
mt service. We cannot con- d.
We Of such officers getting into H
Adlocks, OF refusing to act with 81
] another, or e. has happened
~ 49,. - - - - = fek..N