The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-18
IN LOVE WITH COMMISSIONS.

meut seem to think that government by
commission is the final and absolute
solution for every political evil. Just as
a number of political faddists assumed
somo time ago that nominations by
primary elections would be the final
rout of Hthe bosses Instead. how
ever, of these primary elections being
the rout Of the bosses, they are shown
to be the special buttrcss and strength
Of the rich man and of the man who
can devote his whole attention all the
time te politics, making Of politics and
political manipulation his life work
and business. AS we have explained,
we see no reason for considering gov
ernmcnt by commission in cities as the
ultimate solution OF municipal troubles.
On the contrary, we believe that mu-
nicipal government by commission
must give way in the natural process
Of political evolution to the better bust
ness idea; that the municipal manager
OF superintendent, one executive head
| for the transaction OF city business. will
be the ultimate solution Of the busi-
ness of governing cities, just as it is
the practice in every large business en-
terprise in the world. All of these
large business enterprises have one ul-
innate source Of authority and power
Just so the city should have, and we
have many examples of the control of
larger businesses and the handling of
greater sums by private or corporate
concerns under the control of one man
than is involved in the handling Of the
business Of any Of our cities.
Nevertheless, the commission form
has become such fad with many that
1t has even been proposed that States
be governed by commissions. That is
the idea Of the ultra "reformers in
Oregon, and Governor Hodges of Kan.
sas makes explicit suggestion that his
State should be governed by a COM
mission In place Of by an executive and
Legislature, OF course. the theory in
all this is that the commission is non
partisan and that the business Of State
government is after all merely business
and not partisanship. But as a matter
OF fact, while it is true that very
large portion OF the activities Of
State have little TO do with politics.
1t is also true that n considerable Dor.
ton of those activities is directly DO
litical' for State sends Senators and
Representatives to Congress; it also has
much to do with the National Govern.
ment in the way OF helping, through
its representation in Congress, to
shape National politics, and il a State
supports a particular policy for Ma
tional affairs, that support is necessa-
rily largely political
It is quito possible that the sucges
tion made by Governor Hodges grew
out of the imbecile efforts of the ex.
ecutive and Legislature To do some
thing at the recent legislative session.
Governor Hodges is Democrat, and
both branches of the Kansas Lepisla-
ture were Democratic, for the first time
in the history of the State; but thew
were of different brands Of Democracy,
and the two houses fought against each
other more bitterly than If one had
been Republican and the other Demo
cratic; so that it was impossible for
anything to be done during the whole
of the session. Governor Hodges there.
upon proposes single legislative BODY
of about fifteen members, in which il
would be absolutely impossible to have
a deadlock and where there could be no
shifting of responsibility from ono
chamber TO tho other. Among the ad.
vsutages recited are that responsibility
would attach to the single chamber and
every member would be put upon record
without any opportunity Of evasion.
There would be no pigeon holing of
bills. for under the proposition as made
there would be no committees, and every
measure introduced would be before the
house until it was disposed Of. There
would be no lastcnd rush Of bills with
all its attending evils, for the Iegisls.
tive commission presumably would be
In session the year round. or as long
and az frequently as there would be
would be ample time for deliberation |
and no object in either speeding or
delaying action.
We fear, however, that under such a |
government a this, the commission |
would be very much like an cold man
Of the sea, and that the people would |
presently be so tired Of IL that they |
would be glad of the opportunity, figu-
ratively. 10 cast off the incubus and |
dash out its brains (provided il had |
auy). in quite the fashion of the old I
story.
The truth is that We are drifting al
together too much to commission and
bureaucratic government Our National
capital is getting to be about rs full
OF bureaus. commissions. and boards |
having control Of or TO do with public
affairs as can be found oven in Rus.
sia; and IL is "A fact that our bureau.