The Donaldsonville chief., 1913-03-22
NEW SYSTEM EXPLAINED.
Advantages and Benefits Of connis-
sion Form of Government Eluci-
dated by Prominent Citizens
Mass-Meetina Largely Attended.

Mass-MeetIna Largely Attended.
The mass meeting held at the
courthouse Sunday afternoon in the
interest of the adoption of the com
mission form of government for this
city was attended by large number
of voters, notwithstanding the cold
weather, and proved a most repre-
sentative and enthusiastic gathering
Mayor Charles Maurin presided as
chairman, and in calling the meeting
to order expressed his pleasure at
| the large attendance. He called up
on Walter Lemann to explain the
workings of the commission plan for
the enlightenment Of the voters.
Mr. Lemann, in a splendidly de-
fold advantages and benefits of the
commission form Of government,
and set forth in practical terms the
processes of its operation as applied
to Dona1dsonyille. He read written
expressions of opinion as to the vast
superiority of the new system over
the old form of government from
gentlemen who have had the oppor-
tunity of observing the commission
plan in operation, among them being:
l.. H. Tempner, commission of fl
nance Of the city of Galveston, Tex
as, for the last twelve years; Mayor
Behrman, of New Orleans, and Com
missioners A. G. Kicks, Harold B.
Newman, Edward A. Lafaye and w.
B. Thompson, of the same city. He
also quoted extracts from John j.
Hamilton's Government by the Com
mission System" Mr. Lemann had
! provided himself with a mass of data
relating to commission government
and the degree Of success with which
| it has been administered in various
towns and cities, and his address
created a most favorable impression.
| Attorney Edmund Maurin was intro
duced as the next speaker, and gave
strong Endorsement of the commits
sion plan, which he characterized as
the modern system of municipal gov.
ernment. He declared the present
method of administering the affairs
of the municipality to be antiquated
and expressed the hope and belief
that the commission plan will be
adopted at the forthcoming election
R. N. Sims, who was in the au.
i dience, was called upon for an ex
preston Of his views. Mr.. Sims is
an enthusiastic advocate of the adop
/ ton Of the commission form, and
stated that he was glad to add his
Endorsement Of the plan to those
already expressed. Mr.. Sims recalled
/ a visit he had made to Galveston
/ Texas, shortly after the establish
1 ment Of commission government II
that city, and he spoke of the won
i derful changes and improvements
/ which had taken place under the new
1 system Of government as observed b.
q him on the occasion of another svisi
to Galveston few years later. Mr.
i Sims suggested that a vote Of thanks
4 be extended Mr.. Lemann for TIT
s mass of technical ana valuable - ii
formation which he had gathered to
i gether and laid before the meeting
in such mastery manner The
motion was carried amid applause.
& Hon. E. N. Pugh, the Nestor of tht
i Ascension bar, was the last speaker
and made an effective presentation o
the value of commission governmen
and the many benefits to be derived
from it's application to Donaldson
Vile. Mr.. Pugh stated that unde
ordinary circumstances the concen
tration of power in the hands of
I few is dangerous, but in the case o
commission government the peopl
have the recall as a protection
with the initiative and referendum a
y further safeguards.
The meeting adjourned amids
cheers and applause. Music was ren
/ dered by the Peerless brass band.