Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-05

ct ais. were also elected by the people
as the administrative department. Tho
legal department also was elected by
the people The Aldermen drew nomi-
nal salaries and met once each week.
ana Mt niSht-to legislate. They were
elected by sections of tho city. Each
political party had it's candidates The
aldermen were hgurchcads, the erca-
ton OF the ward machine which in
Des Moines controlled city politics.
HAS THE INITIATIVE,
REFERENDUM AND RECALL
The Dcs Moines plan is equipped with
the initiative. referendum and recall.
Inc initiative has been brought into
play on several occasions. but proceed
inSs were stopped before the power was
actually exercised. This power gives
the people the right to submit certain
legislation to the people for vote when
the Council refuses to adopt such
legislation. The street railway com
pany came nearest TO invoking the
Initiative. II wanted a franchise Tho
Council refused to accept the draf, pro
scented by the company. The street
car officials believed the people were
with them They circulated the neccs
sarE petitions and had the date of the
eiec.ioh set, at which time the PEOPLE
"oui" nc asked TO approve the com
pany franchise. But sentiment sud
denly was turned bv members ~ tho
council. and the company called off tho
election
Inc referendum has been used on
several occasions The question NJ MIR
CHASING the water works wen, ~ ~
people on referendum, and The nurcba..
was voted
I'f.'ALL ACTS AS WHIP
u TO KEEP MEMBERS "GOoDv
The recall has never been ca,Iad ;rto
play. 1t has been threatened on sew
trai occasions when Counc!lmen were
not observing tho welfare OF the peo-
PIC. Mention of the recall on those oc-
Casiohs was sufficient to Induce tho
'ouhcilmen TO get back In line
Inc operation OF these three powers
Is not necessary. The mere presence
OF these weapons is sufficient to get
action on the part OF the Councils.
Now as 10 the actual results of the
operation Of the Des Moines plan in
the last seven years.
It's faults. some OF them serious, are
apparent It's benefits also are ap-
parent.
No one in Des Mo!nes questions but
that the Des Moines plan is a big i'm
proVement over the old aldermanic sys-
TEN. No one questions but several
amendments thereto should he made
Practically all Of the municipal prog
ress Des Moncs has made has been
made In the last seven wears
MANY IMPROVEMENTS UNDER
NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT
IN l'os. when the plan was adopted
All the permanent improvements the
city possessed were fifteen fire houses
proved.
The fire houses were secured hv LEI,
ting contracts therefor and then per
hitting contractors to sue the CITY in
Ine courts FOR the cost Of the buildings
The city had no money. In this way the
cost was made Judgment against the
CITY. and under the la " the city had
the right TO make as large a levy TO nav
inns judgment as necessary. This
scneme was pre-arranged. II was the
only way the city could get the fire
houses
The City Hall was ramshackle two
story building. Tho fire station was
one-story affair Fire houses through
out the city We're rented properties,
wooden structures. store rooms, etc
me park lands were not fully i'm
proved The city spent many thou
SANDS OF dol!ars In improvements. There
are now sixteen public parks Des
Moines has some OF the hest parks in
the West
SPENT $4,000. 900 FOR
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS
The city has spent $4,000. 600 for per-
mancnt public improvements under the
ioes Moines plan. Among them are:
y new City Hall. cost S35o.0oo.
Four concrete bridges across the Des
Moines River. one OF which includes A
v!aduct onc-half mile long over rail-
A municipal public market house for
$4,000
a food protection system. consisting
OF miles OF earth bikes along the Des
Moines and Raccoon Rivers. which join
IN the center Of the city, cost 100000
Complete motorization of the Fire
and Police Departments, cost $4,000.
Expenditure Of 5000. 600 for a civic
center along the river front whore the
city Hall. post-otticc. library and COL
iseum have been erected. The money
was spent for the land necessary and
for Improvement OF the river banks.
The city is ready TO build garbage
disposal plant at n cost of $4,000.
SIN FAIRGROUNDS AND
MILES Of NEW STREETS
Six public Fairgrounds and two com
Seventy-nine miles Of streets hava
neen paved in seven years. The civ
had only sixty-eight miles of paved
streets when the plan went into effect,
me city now has ls7 miles of sani-
tarF sewers. compared with sixty-two
miles in 1905
suburban roads have been
paved. The city paid the defcits
amounting TO more than $4,000
mere are many other improvements
OF less Importance
when the Des Moines plan vac
adopted the city's bonded debt vas
s,'"ooo approximately. 1t is now
creased 100000 in seven veahs D.
the city has made 5000, 900 worth Of
permanent improvements
Inese figures are introduced as proof
OF INC progress Of the city under tho
Des Mojnes plan.
They. show that this city has made
big strides under the new government