The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-07
Commission Government
club Fapory Charter

The Commission Government CLUB,
an organization the membership OF
which IS confined TO 40, has come OUT
strongly IN favor OF the new charter.
Dr. III. +. Stafford is president OF the
club. r. S. ClaTkson is vice-president,
aud the membership includes Bishop
Charles d. Williams, Rabbi Leo Nj.
Franklin, the Rev. K. X. Shtppen,
Lawrence Cameron Hull, +. c. Osborne
and r. H. Barefoot.
In n special meeting OF the CLUB
Friday evening. the following state
ment was voted 10 ha- issued 10 the
press as representing its position on
the new charter:
THE Commission Government club,
an organization OF professional and
business men and women, took form
about a year before the beginning or
the present campaign for the revision
OF the city charter It's express pur'
pose In organizing was TO inform It's
members upon the development and
recent progress of municipal govern
oent I'm America, together with com
harrison Of similar developments In
other countries. In practical way,
the influence OF the club was used 10
revision OF the charter and TO help
elect those candidates FOR the com
mission who were believed TO stand
for real progress. "A census or tue
candidates for commissionershlp was
taken by the secretary, which,. In AZ
least one or two cases, put the can
didate on record IA supporting what he
refused 10 vote for after election.
"In the course OF It's investigations,
this club arrived at the point where
II saw a sharp line OF distinction be-
tween different forms Of so-called com
mission government. forms which IN
the popular mind are not properly df-
ferentiatcd. Some OF these were rec
ognized 10 be Desirable In the EFFORT
TO further home rule and efficient dem
ocracy: some on the other hand pre-
sent fundamental defects. The So.
called Dcs Moines plan, perhaps most
widely known and adopted. is in the
latter class By this plan. men elect
cd TO take charge OF distinct portions
OF the municipal administration, act
ing together, form q council for legis-
latiye purposes. This means that the
heads OF the particular departments
cannot be held TO an individual re
sponsibiity for their own acts and
policies. II there comes clash be-
tween the head Of one OF the depart
ments and the rest or the council,
the guilty party will so before the
| eople laying that he was not 70
Lame. deadlock follows. and mean
time the public interest suffers.
a commission government that
does NOT take lull account OF the
fundamental principles OF wide au-
thority Tor the executive. by which he
is free to give the best service OF
which e. is capable. and OF I'm equally
strict demand tnat be be held ac-
countable for the proper use OF such
power. will In like measure fail. Con
centration al power must be attend
cd by a well-foCused responsibility. IN
this particular, the Sumpter plan.
based or the "Lockport proposal
which Was recentls adopted by Dayton
and Springfield ohio, IS IA long reacn
in advance. since here. by a careful
separation OF The executive from me
legislative arm 'cf the City govern.
ment. no squlnt Ms leH IN any man
responsibility. The members OF the
council are elected directly by the
people and exercise their power as
representatives OF the people In leg
lation. in the choice OF the chief "a
ecutive. a trained expert in tho man
agement OF large affairs. and IN the
approval. OF his appointments. The
MAYOR then becomes the presiding OF.
fcer OF the council. bat the trained eN.
pert. or city manager. - the center
about which all the executive depart.
ments revolve and he holds his 70
ksition. Ike tho general managerHor
other great corporations. not for a
atnled nnriod. hn. WIN 40 least the