The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-04-02
Dayton's Way Out.

Before flood and fire came, Dayton
was deep in debt When the waters
receded, the city found itself covered
with several inches of Shiny mud, it's
water works crippled seriously, much
public property ruined, sewers clog
ged and disease staring it in the face.
1t must go deeper in debt while re-
pairing these losses.
During the flood, the mayor. chief
OF the fire department., chief OF the
police department., and a majority of
the city councilmen were marooned
Military law was declared by the gov
ernorr until she officials We're rescued,
Then there was conference in WHICH
1t was decided to place the city Nude,
the administration OF a. commission of
fifteen appointed by the governor and
headed by John II. Patterson. presi-
dent Of the National Cash Register
company. The milltiamen were ord
cred to subject themselves to the will
Of this committee.
Military law may prevail in Day.
ton perhaps year, to permit the gov
ernor's committee to carry out the
plans for the reconstruction of the
city upon which it has decided. I'm
the interim, the municipal govern
ment Is without authority. Soldiers
OF the national guard villa POLICE the
municipality, probably, with the as
sistance Of the local.. police force, the
members of which will be sworn in
as special state officers and every
thing pertaining. to the city govern
ment Will be directed from the olfic-
ers Of the relief committee.
Dayton, therefore, at this time
practically has a commission form OF
government On the Dayton streets
there is already talk of making this
form permanent since under the old
form the city got deeper and deeper
into debt while with the present plan
the city is working out it's own. saliva
ton. The governors committee oil
fifteen will probably be REDUCED tc
five in short time but it will still
be a commission with the same pow
ers.
1t is peculiar thing, yet not 81
peculiar after all when the plan j
thoroughly understood, that cities, il
trouble turn to the commission pap1
as their way out. Dayton is Sloin;
it, Galveston did it after che. grea
flood, Des Moines turned to the pla1
~ iLS tACtF"lty, tHt Sllldll6I CII1G
have adopted it when in trouble.
There is, a movement to have sucl
u form Of government for Bemidj
without waiting for the city to sc
into trouble and then have to adop
the plan hastily. Bemidji is to TAX
lime by the forelock. But there ar,
many things about the commissio,
plan that need study and explaua
ton. In order that the PUBLIC ma,
have every opportunity to hear sucl
explanations the Bemidji charter com
mission has arranged to have an ex
pert talk on the plag,, at the charte
meeting in the city hall tonight.
The commission plan has neve,
been abandoned after it has once
been adopted. There must be some
thing substantial in it or these cite,
would not turn to it when in trouble
Dayton is fighting it's way out of tn,
enormous debt which has been pilet
up in spite of the fact that. the city i!
one Of the foremost Of the Unite9
States in manufactures. Bemidji ha;
taken the first STEP The public shoulIe
attend the meeting tonight and be
come posted on the benefits Of the
commission plan .ss IL. : & .