The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-11
G,,,,..a,,,.iloUN FORM Of
GOVERNMENT EXPLAINED
Editor Evening Telegram:

In your edition of yesterday ap-
pears letter signed Mrs. NJ"
asking for an explanation devoid,
as much as possible, OF legal terms)
of the commission form of govern
ment. This is timely question and
one which ought to be of interest to
our voters, the majority of whom
have, perhaps, given little thought
to the real meaning and operation of
this popular form of government.
1t is not easy to give an exact def
milton of this plan and the writer
will only attempt to answer the ques-
ton of the inquirer, which simply
calls for an explanation.
The word commission" implies
!, appointment, as in the case of the
Galveston commission, which was
appointed by the governor, but since
that time the term has become some
what of a misnomer, because the
commission has become elective. In
all the variations from the original
plan, however, the essential element
is, more or less, preserved, which
accounts for it's success, and it is
simply this: Conspicuous RESPONSE
bility-and, hence, accountability of
all elected officials, direct and
prompt, to the people.
To be brief, and as plain as pos
sible at the same time, the differ
ence between the present and pro-
posed form Of government is this:
Now, the City Council is elected
with, more or less, view to honor
ing certain prominent men, to whom
are committed the duties and re-
sponsibilities of governing the city's
affairs, they receiving, however, no
salary or other emoluments, except
ing only a small fee for each meet
ing attended. They serve for two
years and are not subject to recall.
AS a rule, they are men busy with
their own affairs and give great
deal more of their time to the con-
duct of the city's business than they
can well afford to. The loss, by reas-
on of inability or otherwise, to eco
nomically administer the city's bust
ness is not their personal loss, but
that of every taxpayer, and, while
subject to criticism, as they always
are, they are not in any way per-
sonally. or in corporate way, re-
sponsble Under the proposed new |
form of government, the commits !
sioners may be elected with a view
to their practical ability to govern
the city's affairs, being paid stat
ed salary for such service, though
the trainers of the proposed form
for Lakeland with, perhaps, too close
economy, have failed to provide sal
aries suitable and adequate for the
service expected. However, the COM
who elect to serve, vol
unfairly accept the salary named as
in full for the faithful performance
of duties outlined, and with a city
to carry out every detail
connected with the successful ope-
ration of the various departments of
the city's business, the commission
ers will have less work to do them
selves and be simply required to ex-
ercise watchful, guiding oversight
of affairs in general. The commits
sioners themselves could not be en-
pected under the new form, any more
than under the present, to give ade
quate attention to all the important
details connected with the economic
administration of the city's business,
but with the power to appoint some
competent man, under adequate
bond, and compelled, in order to re-
tain his position, to produce results,
the proposed form of government
cannot fail to save the city several
times the small added cost of ad-
The city manager is
only to hold Office so long as he gives
service and the commits
sioners themselves are subject to re-
call, which, with the added powers
of initiative and referendum, places
the government of the city directly I
in the hands and subject to the will
of the people.
Space will not on this occasion
permit Of further details, but in a
later communication, excerpts will I
be given from reports published by
cities under the commission form,
showing results obtained and conse-