Bisbee daily review., 1912-02-03
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT VS. BUSINESS MANAGER

SihNt OudilSt III lhe lOlm or num- ciral government in Bisbee is contein- plated in some directions after such change is made possible by statehood and the action of the legislature. it is proper for the people of the city to look we'll into the governmental methods which it is proposed to adopt The old charter has not been satis- factory, it is therefore the part of wisdom to make as sure as human fallibility may that the form that is tried probably will give satisfaction. There is a general expression heard in favor Of some method along the lines Of what is known as commission gov ernment and it appears probable that something of this kind will be ulti- mately adopted In the consideration the matter is now receiving comment upon what is known as the staunton plan Is being made. This is also variously known as the "busines manager. general man ger" or tho single head plan Of government It will be well for the taxpayers of Bisbee to familiarize themselves with what these various governmental sys' tens mean before adopting one of them for their own use
 The commission form of govern ment is spreading widely and rapidl5, uot in any particular section of tire United States. but in all sections. be- ing adopted in New Jersey as we'll as California, in Minnesota and in Texas. r is rapidly passing from -he experimental stage and its friends ciaim that fl has been tried so suc- cessfulIy that there is nothing of the experiment m it. In a few instances it has been abandoned after trial but generally it is being commended. On the other hand the Staunton plan is purely in the experimental stage. Ii is being urged from Stauton but there has been nothing like so gen eraI adoption CT acceptance as has been given to government by commis' sion. It may work well everywhere it may work well in some particular pIaces and it may be failure in oth- CTS. It is open 10 objections to which the commission plan is not and, as stated it is essentially in the ele- mental stage, it is as yet a practically untried and improved experiment. at least so far as general usefulness is concerncd
 In government by commission the conduct ol the city affairs is not ln- ike tfat employed by corporations. A city is a municipal corporation and ii seems unobiectionable 10 employ the same methods of handling it's af- fairs that large corporations pursue. The commission Of city is like the hoard of directors Of the corporation II differs in that each commissioner is entrusted with some particul1r branch. he is not only a director bat be is also A department head. fl any thing is wrong in any department the citizens know who is responsible for inc omission or commission. Each commissioner gives his whole time and attention to the ahaWs of the city and is paid to do so. These are some of the advantages that arc uoin,ed out for this method of muni' ciraI government.
 The sraunton plan Is criticised in ina, il requires double delegatioa ,, minority. A council which is a legislative body is selected This il rss,,opgibls 10 the people, not indiTid- ua1y but. collectively. The council names busincss manager 1' deio-
 t. authority to a single man. I'm turn hh city business manager mnst navc under him department heads and he delegates authority to ,bcm In case there is mismanase meat in one department it can only be ,,sebcd ir thc gouDdscout ay,of tae