The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-03-26
Commission Law Good
Workable Statute Saws
TWiCheII in Statement

L. L. TwicheA believes that the
commission law as it is now amended
will form a good workable basis for
better government in Fargo. He has
issued the following statement in
which he refutes the charges that the
law Is incomplete and Incompetent
sive:
Having given to the several sta
tuteS now in force in this state ap-
plying to the so-called commission
system some consideration, thought
and investigation, and having carefully
considered and compared them with
the statutes in force in other states
establishing and regulating similar
systems Of city government, with the
purpose, as a member Of the legisla-
tive assembly of adding to our laws
any desirable features contained in
the statutes of other state, and Of
correcting any provision Of our laws
appearing to be undesirable, have
been unable to find any place where
in the present laws OF this state, COW
ering the commission system of gov
ernment for cities, are subject to crit
icism, or wherein they fail to in every
way fully and comprehensively pro-
vide for a workable and efficient sys-
tenn of city government established
OAANSA DuSiL ldWSs lS uOI dB 6IIlCletlIz
as well regulated and as compre-
hensively provided for, as is the COM
mission system under the Laws, Of any
state Of which I have been able to
procure copies Of the statutes.
Not the Old Law.
"To me the credible explanation of
the impression, which seems largely
prevalent in this city. that our laws
covering this system of city govern =
ment are not as we'll considered as
they should be, is that many Of the
people interested in securing the
commission system for Fargo, take
1t that the laws now in force and un-
der which Fargo may secure a patent.
is the law which was in force in 1909
when Fargo rejected this form of
government, namely chapter 45 Of the
session laws Of 1907, merely amended
in certain respects.
AS was then pointed out such law
was in many material respects far
from satisfactory, and it's patent de-
fects were unquestionably the cause
of the electors of Fargo then reject
ing the proposition. The law under
which Fargo will operate, should we
now adopt the commission system, is
an entirely new statute enacted in
1911. being chapter IT Of the session
laws of 1911, entitled "an act to pro-
vide for commission system OF
government in cities which shall
adopt the provisions Of this act,' and
this statute was drawn and consider
ed with full knowledge Of all the de-
fects of our law then in force, and Of
the defects in the commission system
then demonstrated through the opera
ton of city government under the
commission system in this and other
states. The several cities in this
state now having the commission
form of government have operated
under the provisions of this new act
since 1911; and while at Bismarck
I took up with the author Of the act
the president of the commission Of
the city Of Bismarck, an dwith several
other members of the legislature COM
ing from such cities, the matter OF
any changes to be recommended in
the law, and they were unable, to sug-
gest any that had been brought to
their attention This evidenced, as
consider, that the law has at least no
serious defects.
Nature Of Amendments.
There has been considerable news
paper reference as to amendments
made to the law during the last ses-
sion of the legislature. Most of these
amendments were introduced by my
Self ana none or Ihem went TO any
material defect in the law as enact
ed in 1911. The principal amend
ments made and which have been
passed and are now part Of the
law, being a provision fixing the sal
airy Of the commissioners, the same
| being based upon the population of the
city at the last census; and a change
made in the law whereby Fargo and
other cities which had rejected the
commission system might again pc.
| tition at the expiration of three years
from the date of such rejection.
II have since the time the commits.
sion system was first an issue in Far
go, taken considerable interest in thu
enactment of efficient and compre
hensive laws covering this plan O
city government; have tried to keel
informed as to the laws of oths
states, and have during the hast sew
eral months gone over our presen
law with number Of attorneys boil
of Fargo and other cities in the state
including the attorneys representing
the league of municipalities of Norti
Dakota, who were at Bismarck fo
several days during the last session
of the legislature The latter gentle
men spent considerable time with me
| oxyoy. -fhnoo los ;y, an