Bisbee daily review., 1912-02-02
COMMISSION FORM 0F GOVERNMENT IS
 WAKING INTEREST
Cochise County Senator Studies Subject for
 Legislation
WILL URGE MEASURE

Mayor Newman believes that the
 prOtagonisis of, the commission form
 of government should get busy right
 away and agree on a tentative plan
 Of the commission form so that when
 the legislature makes a provision en-
 abling any city to choose it's own
 form of government. the city Of Bis bee would lose no time in establish.
 ing commission form. The mayor
 thus expressed himself at the coun. 4 cil meeting Wednesday night, during
 an informal discussion of the ques-
 tion
 Senator-elect w. P. Sims of Co.
 chise county. is studying all forms
 Of commission government with a ! view 10 arriving at which of the sey-
 eral commission forms IS best for { Arizona towns. It is regarded as al most certain that the legislature will | enact this legislation, as the senti- ment all over the state seems to be unanimously in favor of it. The Cal ! ifornia plan allows each city 70 | trame it's own charter and to pre- scribe it's own form of government ! To Push Charter Bill.
 II the legislature meets as early as March and passes the charter measure within that month. there will still be time for Bisbee to frame charter calling for a commission form of government and returning it to the legislature to pass upon. May or Newman suggests that those who favor this form of government get together on a plan so that they will be agreed beforehand, thus saving time. Bisbee's city election comes of ID June and the mayor believes that there is time enough before the election to adopt the commission form.
 Many believe that the Staunton plan is the best commission form Of government for Arizona towns The city of Staunton, Va, has a mayor and a city council but it's only pur- pose is to legislate and serve as a check on an official elected by them and called the general manager" The constitution or the state of Vir ginia requires that Q city shall have a mayor and a council. The sane end could be attained by the election of a commission of three whose duty IL shall be to elect a city manager, who in turn shall name the other of ficers of the city, the marshal, po- lice judge, street commissioner. etc. It is understood that this plan is favored by a number Of Bisbee peo- people, including Mayor Newman. 1t is also favored by w. NJ Adamson, former mayor of Douglas
 The city of NoSales is The latest 10 investigate the commission form of government. Tucson is also in. yestigatlng this plan and it is like ly that it will adopt the city man. ager plan But if the suggestion of Mayor Newman goes through Bisbee would be the first city in the terri tory to adopt 9 commission plan of government.
 Mass Meeting Considered.
 It is understood that there is a movement on foot to call mass meet Ing of the people of Bisbee to con sider the question of commission gov ernment, at which all who know any thing about the subject will be asked to talk, so that the question will Ue thoroughly understood.
 Senator-elect w. P. Sims is work ing on a bill which he proposes to introduce into the state senate which will permit cities of certain popula- ton to adopt their own form of gov ernment. subject to the approval Of the legislature. This bill will pro vide for the preferential system of voting, that is that the voter may register his first choice, his second choice and third choice, which will be added TO determine a candidates vote. A majority instead of a plural ity elects under this system of vot- Ing. The whole aim of the commis. sion form of government is to elim- mate politics from the conduct of d city government and Dr. Sims be iieves that the preferential system ia a means to this end. With the sal aries paid city officials considered. the primary plan is not regarded as practical for city government.
 Let Cities Choose.
 Dr. Sims bill will not go further l than to allow cities to choose theiI { form of commission government and | then it will be up to the people tO | say what kind of commission gov. ernment they will have.
 His idea for commission govern | ment for cities the size of Phoenix 1 Globe, Tucson, Douglas and Bisbee | is that each town shall elect con- | mission Of three men, to be paid the | salary of s200 a year and each com | missioner shall have jurisdiction over 1 certain departments, as commis- | sioner of public Improvements. com | missioner of finance and supply and l a commissioner of sewers, water and | lights. These commissions will ap- point a city manager which will | name his employees and will be d. | rectly responsible to the commission | CTS. the commissioners being respon- ! sibie to the people who elect them. |
 Dr. Sims Is not a resident of the | city of Bisbee and his interest in the | matter is that of the political econo- mist and the plan outlined above by | him is merely suggestion. Should | the proposed mass meeting be called | the ideas of all who are interested in | the commission form will be gathered | and tentative plan agreed upon, so that when the opportunity comes the | city will be in a position to accept it |