Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-11-21

ItltpHbl S.SbVhl' w N'hVi f"""'
service utilities, within the city must
be authorized or approved by n direct
vote of the peaople.
seventh: All meetings of the coun- ,
ell at which any person not city
officer is admitted shall be open to I
the public.
Eighth The council is required
each month to print in pamphlet form
for distribution detailed itemized
statement of all receipts and expen-
ditures Of the city together with
summary of its proceedings during
the proceeding month. And at the
end of each year the council shall
provide for complete examination
of all books and accounts of the citN .
bv competent accountants and shall
publish the results of all such eN-
aminations.
Thus. il is (to summarized that
/ in the Des MONIES plan of city gov
ernment the Democratic idea of gov
ernment in accord with the will OF
the people. has been institutionalized
by first centralizing all powers and
authority in a council of i've men and
then making that council directly re-
.ponsible and accountable 10 the
electorate for the faithful perform
ance of duties in accordance with the
desires of the people through these
newer institutional forms of democ-
racy. namely:
First: The non-partisan primary
Second. The election Of officers
at large. i. e.. on general ticket
Third The recall.
Fourth: The initiative.
Fifth: The referendum.
, Sixth: The vote or protest.
seventh: The publicity of all
business.
Eighth: The expert examination
of all book, and accounts.
, Thus We see. in measure, what
il means.
. We may properly say, with uaI-
weston. where the new system went
n into effect in 1901. the commission
I idea spread first to other Texas rlt-
= les. Houston adopted ii IN 1909 a.
already said. Dallas followed II
b 1907. Fort Worth adopted the pIaI
: and Denison. Greeny5le, Sherman
II Fl Paso. and now the state capita
1 at Austin has followed suit. II
b nearly every ease the commissioners
n are five in number and the genera
e plan followed is either that of Gal
e v,ton or Houston. After the Gal
weston plan had beel in operation
e short time. the supreme court OF Tex
= ~ decided that that part of the Law
providing for three commissioners t
j. he appointed by the governor of tn
- state. the other two, only, to be elect
70 ed by the people, was un"onslltulion
/ al and that all must be elected Al
L. ter the Galveston charter was amend
l. ed to conform with the ruling. tn
v commissioners chosen III other elite
l. have all been elected. For this rea
.r son the government of Washlneto
:. doe, not present the ease of a CON
IT mission government, IN the sense /
l. which the term j. used elsewhere, Ia
n. its commissioners are not elected b
le the peopl.
p From Txas. the commission Sys
4 TEN spread TO Oklahoma, where thre
r. or four cities have adopted ii, tn
I'd plan going into effect in Ardmor'
a I.eavenworth. Kansas, ard other cil
les have followed the example {
II. Galveston. In Iowa. Des Moines. u
at already noted. city of $1,000
il struck out along u slightly ditferel
of line adding to the small commlssio
NO elected at large. the other feature
o. of recall for the commissioners.
O. referendum on ordinances. and fraI
'ct chses, a bipartisan primary ~
election and city civil service. e
av dar Rapids is operating under Il
Oh same state law a. Dies Moines: al
nd this law was amended in 1909 80 ;
lot To permit cities Of 1000 10 adopt Il
ed plan. Burlington. Davenport and OF
,te rr towns are agitatlng the suhle'
in the successes of the past few Yea
ch in their neighboring cities having hi
the a marked Influence on general sem
ment throughout the municipahti
BY Of the state.
ses II is spreading.
in The Illinois Legislature, in respol
the TO strong demand from Peor
mr. Springfield aud other cities, sent
by committee to visit Texas and Io
the elite, which have the plan in for
the and is expected to pass law allo
ss- ing Illinois municipalities to ado
nall IIhe people of Saint Paul and VI
ro- u.onoh, nersuaded John MacNic