Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1912-02-09
MAYOR CALLS
SPECIAL ELECTION
HOT SPRINGS WILL VOTE ON
COMMISSION PLAN,
PETITIONS ARE PRESENTED
CITIZENS GENERALLY In FAVOR OF
CHANGE IN CITY GOVERNMENT
PLAN-.ELECTlON FEB. 10Th.

PLAN. ELECTION FEB. 10Th.
L, e. Highley, States Attorney L. II.
and G. F. Sage last week took
The initiative in the matter and COM
nenced the circulation of petitions
which when signed up by about twenty
I've per cent of the voters was presented
To the mayor and city council at their
regular meeting Monday evening, said
petitions calling for special election
FOR the purpose of deciding whether
Hot Springs shall have commission
form of government hereafter or will
continue as in the past. The petitions
which we're signed up in short order
we're headed as follows:
"To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of the city of Hot Springs,
South Dakota.
We, the undersigned. legal voters of
the city of Hot Springs, Fall River
County, South Dakota, respectfully |
petition the Hon norsble Mayor and City
Council of said city to submit to vote
of the electors Of said city the question
whether said city of Hot Springs shall
become Incorporated under Chapter S6
of the laws of the state of South Dakota
enacted by the Legislature of said state
for the year 1907, being an act entitled
"An Act to Provide for the Incorpora-
tion Of Cities Under Commissions" said
question to be submitted to said cleo
tors in the manner provided by and ao
oording to the provisions Of the afore-
said Chapter 81. Dated at Hot Springs,
South Dakota, February 5th, 1872"
The petitions after being presented
to the council we're found to be properly
signed by the number required by law
and the mayor then set the date of the
special election as Tuesday, February
Goth, at which time the matter will be
submitted to the voters.
This movement for q change has
caused some little discussion but We
have failed to hear anyone, who, when
the new system is explained to them,
but we're heartily In favor of it. All the
progressive cities, both big and little,
have adopted it and it has proven q
success wherever given fair trial.
Such towns In this state as Sioux Falls,
Huron, Rapid City, Chamberlain,
Dell Rapids and other place 9
are delighted with the commission
plan.
One feature, which many claim Is q
decided advantage over the old way, is
that electing the three or fve commits
sioners at large instead of by wards.
There may be twenty men on ticket but
the four receiving the largest number
of votes are declared elected. The
mayor acts as president of the board.
There are many other phases of this
new form which appeal to progressive
citizens such as the powers vested In
each commissioner. After the organiza.
ton of the board they shall, by q ma.
|jority vote Of all said commissioners
designate from among their members
one commissioner who shall be known
as "Police and Fire Commissioner
who shall have under his special charge
the enforcement of all police regula
tions Of said city and general supervi
sion over the fire department thereof
one commissioner for each of the follow
ing offices: "Commissioner of Streets
and Public Property" "Waterworks
and Sewerage Commissioner" "Com
missioner of Finance and Revenue
ETC., and their duties shall be to per-
sonslly look after their different de
apartments and they will be held res
ponsible for any and all business OF
these different departments. Thus the
responsibility in case OF error or mis-
judgment can be fixed and in like man.
ner the honor for work we'll done will
fall on the deserving party.
Another very good clause 10 that all
appointive offices are made by major.
ity vote Of the board. There are many
others which space at this time prevents
our mentioning. The Star has already
written to q number Of prominent
men in the state Xho reside in cities
where this plan 10 In operation and we
hope by next week to publish their
opinions in the matter as to whether il
is an improvement or not.
The men at the head of this move.
ment are making arrangements for
come speaker Of note to addIsss the