The Redwood gazette., 1913-01-07
First City In Minnesota To Adopt
Plan Declares It's A Great
Success
]. E. SAYS NO CHANGE WANTED
Elimination of Ward Lines Best Feat
ure of The Scheme Thinks Free
Press Man

The commission form of govern
ment is a complete success in Man.
kato, according to ]. E. Reynolds, edi-
tor of the Mankato Free Press.
Mankato was the first city in Min
nesota to adopt the commission form,
and Mr.. Reynolds says that nobody
would even think of going back to
the old system.
Il consider the elimination of the
ward lines the greatest feature of
commission government" said Mr..
Reynolds. "Under the old system the
aldermen were playing ward politics.
They were selected by their wards and
although they were supposed to repre-
sent the whole city, they placed their
wards first and the city second. I'm
equal wards mean unequal represen-
tation.
Every Man Gets A Vote
"Under commission government ev-
cry citizen has a vote in the selection
of every man who is to spend the tax
payers money. That is as it should
be. The commissioner who owes his
election to the voters Of the whole city
will give his attention to the interests
of the whole city, and not to any par
ticular locality.
Outlying Districts Satisfied
"There was opposition in the outly-
ing districts to the commission form
Of government. The people feared
that they would not get the same at
tention from the commissioners as
they did from their aldermen. Their
;.etffT.de las changed. Cur commits
sion Sights no section of the city, and
is giving the whole city more eff
cient and more economical govern
ment.
Efficiency Is Economy
"Thus far there has been no ma
terial reduction in the actual expendi-
lures of the city government in Man
kato, but greater efficiency is economy.
We didn't expect to lower our expend-
itures, but we have done what we ex-
pected to do, that is obtain better re-
suits for the money expended. We
have results to show in better streets
and improvements all through the
city.
"1n the twenty years before the
adoption of the commission govern
ment in Mankato the city expended
about $235, 900 in the maintenance and
improvements of the streets, aside
from the paving by special assess
ment. We didn't have a thing to
show for that money. Now the money
expended in maintenance and repairs
is reflected in the condition of the
streets.
Responsibility Fixed
"Aside from the elimination of the
ward lines, the Capitalization of re-
sponsibility is the next important fea-
ture of commission government. Ev-
cry man on the commission is respons-
ible for a certain branch of the city
government. When there is any COM
plant, the man to whom the complaint
should be directed is Immediately ap-
proachable, and there is no beating
around the bush, as under the old sys-
tenn.
Has A Good Commission
1--WE have a good commission in
Mankato. We have never had graft
in Mankato, but we did have petty
politics, that is as damaging as graft
in destroying the efficiency of govern
ment. Now we have no petty politics.
The commission meets and transacts
the business of the city just as the
business of any private institution is
transacted.
Can Depend on People
4The people can be depended upon
to pick good commissioners. Unde-
sirables will seek Office, but an in
telligent people can always seek out
and mark the undesirables and see
that they are not placed in charge of
the machinery of government. With
the initiative, referendum and recall
in operation, the ward lines eliminated
and responsibility centralized, the op-
portunity for obtaining good govern
ment is so much greater under the
commission plan than under the old
system that there is no comparison"
Mice Crcco Mcf-c<.c, ,-oc,,r,o1 ho,.