The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-10-04
Bay City Gets Meeting.

The fifteenth annual convention of
the Michigan League of Municipalities
closed In Jackson. Bay City was Sc
lected as the next meeting place.
Bay City had no opposition, Mayor
j. c. Ruetter Of Lansing, who has been
vice-president for the last year, was
elected president and Mayor Gustav
Hine OF Bay City was chosen vice.
president George II. Curtis, alderman
of Jackson, was continued in the Office
of secretary.
Subjects discussed were: THE
Commission Form of Government for
Cities" by Mayor j. J. Johnson, Pom
tiac; Municipal Accounting" by L.
G. Powers, chief statistician. bureau
of census, department Of commerce.
Washington, d. c., and "The Battle
Greek Plan of Commission Govern
ment." Mayor John w. Bailey. Battle
Creek. One OF the most important ad-
dresses was that OF Mayor Johnson.
who gave 16 reasons why a city
should adopt the commission form
| laws:
Il. Commission government elm
mates party politics.
80. II abolishes ward lines.
IS. All citizens have a chance for
office under the commission rule.
Commissioners are not dependent
on party organizations for nomina-
tion and election.
Il. Commission government makes
the commissioners responsible to the
people and not to party or any or
ganization. The people nominate
and elect them. They must serve the
people or get out.
"5. The new form OF government
provides a short ballot and simplifies
elections.
&c. II offers greater safety as we'll
az greater responsibility through the
! initiative, referendum and recall.
~. 1t centralizes responsibility so
that It cannot be evaded. or shirked.
! The people know what commissioner
| Ia supposed to do certain things and
| there's no lodging responsibility.
IS. Commission government pro-
! vides salaries sufficient to attract com'
! petent and efficient men.
| 20. 1t gives the people control over
all ordinances through the initiative
| and referendum. They can pass any
ordinance they want and repeal any
ordinance they don't want.
10. Commission government makes
/ for economy by direct and constant
| supervision of all municipal af'
| fairs Commissioners are constantly
on the Job.
I'll. There are frequent meetings
Of tho governing body under commits.
sion control Citizens do not have to
wait two weeks for the council to at.
tend their grievances.
| "12. The commission form expeditee
city business by the elimination OF un.
necessary Offices and officers.
"lS. It provides publicity for all mu-
nicipal affairs.
IA Commission government re
duces expenses and taxation by its
business-llke administration, econo
mics and simplicity. The last year
|
| Pontiac the tax rate was 1921
Last year under commission rule II
was S7SI. Both rates are exclu.
Give Of school tax. Tho valuation OF
the city OF Pontiac is greater than be.
| fore, but the difference Is not wholly
due to the increase In valuation.
"15. Commission rule raises the
city's credit to a high plane. Bond
ing companies prefer the bonds OF
cities ruled by commissions to those
ruled by councils.
! &c. Commission government abol
ishes the deficit and overdraft sys.
TEN. Pontiac formerly had. and MI
cities under council rule have, deficits
and overdrafts. Pontiac has not been
in debt since adopting commission
rule"