American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-05-22

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their official duties. For example
a man is appointed to have charge
of the work of streets and publ,
revenue, police and fire, and thu
water and sewerage systems. are
illled by men who are skilled alone
the lines pertaining to their duties
Can We not painly see that men
trained, skilled and experienced in
a particular kind of work can Oh
necessity give the most intelligent
and efficient service?
Moreover, nominations are made
at a general, non-partisan primary,
n names of the candidates going
down in alphabetical order under
the m of the offices they seek,
without any indication of the party
to VIII ch the candidate belongs.
One of the greatest disadvantages
OF the old system is that there is
no fixing of responsibflity-as long
as the city is divided into wards,
there Is a very good chance for
graft. In the work of improving
the city in any way. not only much
graft, but even unnecessary expense
is very common. For when there
are SO many officials and each one
has no particular duty to perform,
nothing can be done unless by COM
mon constant urhinh ra,.oAr oao,;I-.
able delay. For instance, a citizen
has a complaint to make. He brings
it before the mayo or any other
man In the council who he thinks
has authority, and this one either
tells him to go to another, or to
wait till the council can meet to de-
eide upon the subject. While in a
city under the commission system
II a citizen has a complaint to make,
he will Immediately go to the man
at the head of the department to
which the complaint is supposed
to be referred, and it will receive
immediate attention without the
delay caused by it's passing from
n hand to another or the waiting
for consideration by the body of
councilmen.
If funds have been misappropriat-
ed, which is not an uncommon oc-
curance, the responsibility can not
be traced down to any one in
d1vldual, under the ward system.
Suppose a man is to be hired in a
city under the old form of govern
ment, to make certain repairs in
the streets, of the city or in the
parks. He is hired by the
and is paid out of the city
treasury. Perhaps the man who en-
the laborer can secure his
services for a minimum sum but ap-
a much larger amount for
his W benefit. Who knows who
did the grating? And who is to
be held responsible? No one; for
no individual member can be found
1t was not the work of one
member to employ the laborer, the
courcil did ii.
But, in cities under the new sys-
of g'vernment, if any misap-
preparation is discovered, in any of
The departments. the blame can i'm
ned ateiy lie paced upon the Off
3ial in charge of the particular de-
)%9rtnIent. ard II that II is unable
o ccoun for the mistake, he is
Easily removed and another is
,asily placed in the office.
The system of public reports and
'pen sessions makes this an easy
md the people know how
heir business is being conducted.
Put who is to blame for this
ondition of affairs in cities under
lie ward system of government? 1t
not the class of men who are in
ffice in all asses. Good men, when
iected to the council, find their
-aDds tied by the system. If one
Yard needs improvements, it is
-ecessary for councilmen to make
rades with each other, and thus
wkwardness and abuses continue
Indefinitely. {
Then, again, councilmen are paid
My about $3.50 or $500 per year
nd cannot afford the proper amour
f time needed by the business of
city. Affairs of the city are for
often for whenever the alderman
hooses to take a few moments
his own business. He has s
live and his business must be {
TENDED to. II the city doesn't
ay him for doing its work it can
W no complaint if he neglects it's {
u~siness. J
/ mentioned briefly before the {
reat advantage over the old form /
4 the system of bookkeeping and