Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-05-23
COMMISSION FORM
FOR BATTLE CREEK
NEW GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
ADOPTED FOLLOWING
CAMPAIGN Oh YEARS.

BATTLE CREEK. Mich May 20.
The possibilities Of government by
commission. under a charter that rs
believed TO represent the conclusion
from the best experience OF other cat
les having the commission rule. will
hc tried by Battle Greek. beginning
this month.
The campaign leading mp 10 this
development has extended over pc
Rod Of several Years. aud the actual
preparation and adoption OF the new
charter occupied two years The
vote by which Battle Creek deter
mined To abandon the old mayor-and
council and ward representation
form of government was taken at
the u611ae ukprIl election Contrary
TO- of many cities
where the commission government
issue has been decided. Battle Creek
showed a very large degree OF pub
lie interest in the vote polled The
majority for the new charter aud
the new rule was approximately
1000 a citizens non partilan or
ranilation. In which we're enlisted
business and professional men OF all
political pcrsuasious. prompted an
active campaign 100 behalf of the
adoption OF the new charter
Five departments
Rattle Greek has adopted the gen
eral plan OF rule by commission
with some notifications The bust
ness of the city will be- administered
by commission OF five members
mayor and four commissioners All
ward boundaries are ohliterated. and
each member of the commission yot-
cd upon by he whole city The bust
ness OF the Dity Is divided into five
distinct departments. with a com
mission member at the head of each
The departments are
Department of public affairs.
headed by the mayor. department ot
public accounts and finance, depart
mcnt OF public grounds and building.
department of pulic safety depart
ment of public works
/ The MAYOR has no veto power. and
/ is ou the same basis as hls fellow
commission members as rc-ards au-
thority 90 rule the city n Is in the
matter OF salary that Battle Greek S
/ adoption of the commission rule
differs quite sharply from the form
used in many cities Battle Crcek
will pay her mayor $500 a year. and
her four commissioners $500 a year
instead OF followinr the theory
which is part OF the original com.
mission government doctrine that
the city should paw full salaries "a
business men Tor its business man.
agcment
salary Allowance
The theory upon which Battle
l Greek finally fixed her salary ALLOW
anccs was that the city should hop'
to sccure the services OF business
men whose full time could not b,
had by a salary which was within
reach OF the cty's possibilities II
was felt that such salaries as th'
city would feel able 10 pay, upon th'
plan OF making the commission pla
ceg attractive Tor the money thel
paid would only attract men OF or
binary or less than ordinary ahiliu
as executives II was felt that mel
of large ability would consent q
give some time 10 public service viii
iout regard TO salary under The new
system. with small chickering's o.
ward politics eliminated. and tha
the salary which was finally iixe,
would compensate iaboring mar
who. In serving upon the commits
sion. would be- required TO take tins
occasionally from his regular en-
ployment to attend TO his city du
ties Quite as large as any OF thes'
considerations was. however. th'
thought oi the German system %