The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-19
DIGEST OF THE DES MONIES
PLAN COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
(By Mayor James r. Hanna, Des
Moines, Iowa.

M0ines, Iowa.
The commission form of govern
Ment abOlishes ward lines, party pol
i.ics and the old division Of city Oh
iicers into legislative, executive ANA
judicial departments. In place OF
this it substitutes u board, consist
ing Of the mayor and four conlmis-
s.Oners, who manage the affairs o.
tie city just as a board of directors
MANAGE the business of q bank or
any large corporation, who are in
vested with all the powers OF city
government and who are elected by
..to.lc o. lie Whole city, but
ithout any party designation.
These five men divide the duties OF
the city government among them
selves into five departments OF pub
lie affairs. accounts and finances.
Public safety. streets and public i'm
provements. and parks and public
property. They then elect all the
officers necessary to the
conducting OF the city business, such
as chief OF police, police judge, city
clerk, city engineer, city auditor,
etc. These subordinate officers may
be discharged at any time for any
misconduct or lack of attention OF
duties. All other subOrdinates cXccp,
common laborers are selected under
'hii service ru.cs administered by
civil service commission, and are re-
movable only upon trial before the
evil service commission for miscon-
duct Or lack OF attention to duties,
or activity in political matters.
The four councilman and mayor
act as the administrative heads o.
their respective departments, and
also constitute the City Council and
as such lcgislatc for the city.
The cUuncilmen under the De-
NOincs plan are elected for a period
OF two years and in the following
manner:
ANY citizen who can secure the
signatures Of twenty-five voters
for his character may be-
come candidate for mayor or COM
missioner. From among these can
iidates the two receiving the high
est number of votes for mayor in the
primary become candidates for
mayor in the final election, and the
light receiving the highest number
# votes for commissioner become the
inal candidates Tor commissioner
Then in the final election, occu.r.H,-
wO weeks later. the enc rccciyins
he highest number OF votes ior
EayOr becomes mayor and tlc lou, |
Cceiving the highest numtcr Z, !
CteS fer commissioners are elected
D these Offices. These ii,e men Il;
heir first meeting proceed TO orga
i1e by assigning eIch OF tlc iOC.
apartments to some enc OF the com.
lissioners and 10 elect the subordi
ate city officers, and the new coun-
il is then ready to coadact The Dis.-
ess OF the city.
1t will be seen that directness aud
are the main character
tics Of the Des Moines plan O.
government. The sre..t
lrposes are to make the city gov
nment feel responsive to public
Union and also to make it eff
ent in administration. To carry I
It these two fundamental ideas tvs
her great principles have directei {
,arly all the details of cur charter.
e.: to confer upon the GofeFninS
'dy great power, and to hold the
iyerning body strictly response :
e for the right use of that powef.
lblicity, efficiency and responsible
: are thus the watchwords of the
s Moines plan.
Candidates must make a public ,
ltement Of their campaign expen i.
itement of their oampaisn OK
nses, there can he no secret meet
Is of the City Council, every or
lance appropriating money must
on public file for seven days be-