The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-27

Inc Is the text OF a p
on the commission form of govern
ment prepared by Geo. A. Bangs for
the recent meeting of the CONNER
cial club. 1t presents a careful study
of the North Dakota law on the sub
ject and it's provisions, and it Is be-
lieved that the information contained
in it should be available to, every vot-
er: H.
Commission Form of Government.
All progress requires change, but all
changes do not imply progress; retro
erosion as necessarily requires change
Of existing conditions as does pro-
gress.
l.. 1 quote: "And upon this sub
ject, to use the words of Mr.. Wind
ham, two reflections arise; first, that
We ought to take care how we begin
new r in legislation; secondly, that
we ought to have a reasonable dis
trust Of the founders of such eras, lest
they should be a: little led away by an
object Of such splahdid- ambition and
be thinking more Of themselves than
the credit of the laws and the inter-
ests Of the community"
This is as true today as when writ
ten and examination Of the law and
it's basic principles reveals that Its
distinguished advocates have been
dazzled by an exalted ambition touch
ing an end illogically sought by them
and have greatly mistaken the con-
ditions to which the law might be APP
piled with any degree of success; that
they are seeking to apply to condi-
lions. urged by themselves to be, Of
peace and repose. a law possibly
to extraordinary exigeneies
and suited to remedy evils not mere
eve suggested to. exist.
2. The chief and great principle
underlying the so-called commission
form Of government is the c%entraliza-
ton Of power: by it's advocates this Is
designated the Capitalization Of re-
sponsibility. ignoring the fact that the
responsibility cannot exist without the
power: advocating the Capitalization
Of responsibility to which punishment
a be applied in the event of wrong
ize the power, leaving 1t practically
unlimited and uncontrolled in the
hands Of a small commission, the
members Of which are thereby sub
jected to added Inducements to COM
NIT graft, and frauds, and to misapply
and divert the power invested.
This is not evolution, 1t Is revolu-
ton; it is lot progress, it is retro
erosion.
1t is re-adoption Of principles dis
carded by the American people from
the very inception Of u government.
No Minority.
8. Under the theory OF the law
there is no minority upon the COM
mission: this results in the selection
of commissioners belonging to but
one faction.
Under the present plan it is impos-
sible that there should be less than
two parties represented In the board
of aldermen, thus insuring public
criticism of the mistakes or corrupt
conduct Of the majority.
No Veto Power. Il
4. No veto power. Is vested in the
president Of the commission or other
wise; there is no check upon its power
whereby action may be delayed pend
ing reasonable considerations; hasty
and ill-considered decisions are thus
encouraged and the history Of these
commissions reveals the result there
Of.
5. The commissioners fix the poll
ing places for all elections at which
their successors are chosen; n law
requires a ten days' notice. but ex-
such notice shall not invalidate the
election, thus the commission may
designate polling places to suit their
own desires on the night preceding
the election.
Not only is this true. but the com
missioners appoint all election boards
for the election at which their sue
cessors are chosen; the commissioners
appoint the inspectors az well as the
judges; 1t would be beyond human ex-
pectations that they should select OPP
ponents as members OF the election
boards. n
The commissioning scanyass the
votes of the election md declare sthe
result thereof. pla6&6 osadditional IN.
,ducementss in their hSldss fer corrntt
practices md their OF sseespefpetua-
BY Sec: 4s. the M1nlahIsHoners:ars
made the judgesrHk their own cleo
ton; there appearstto be no provision
Tor the contest Of such election; COM
ment 10 hardly necessary.
Expulsion Of Members.
8. And finally the commission ID
granted authority to discipline i,
minority members WHO may not be
s~ubservient to the majority and may
expel such members II such majority
any d~isagreeable member guilty
assNs.:nsslscts Of dnf1sAsRssNnNseeneE1
couid there be sSiay-lnors efficient
scheme devised y watch cegrupi
msmbers might spbpissS : critioisini