Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-04
Commission HELD
TO Be A FAILURE
sVsTE. OF GOVERNMENT AT
Tackled At MEET AT MOLINE
TURNER NALL
Andres Olson Summarizes Reasons
Why Erert &c Return 20 A.
derraen 10 Being MADE

That ihe question % recalling the
commission form % government wtll
BE- subEiffed 90 the voters % Moline
az the spring election vas made evil
dent. leaders Ia the movement claim,
b the number who attended a meet
INK held Ia Turner hall "Wednesday
evening and b. the sentiments which
the speakers there expressed
one hundred and fifty men were In
vifed % BE- present 20 organize for
the campaign for return % the al
dsrTranic form and two-taird Of that
number turned out. Speakers we're
Andr.W Olson. former mayor. '. =.
Brown. Thomas Burtchaeil and Ma
than Ry.ander. former aldermen. and
Or. A. n. Arp. All expressed the Opin-
ion that the commission form had
been given a sufficient trial and found
wanting. Committees 20 push the
signing % petitions and 20 conduct the
campaign we're named by wards.
Nr. Olson spoke at some length
fs reviewed the acts % the present
commission en- a general way. men
tIoniuE no names. but declaring that
Us work had proven costly 20 the
city. 4 political advertisement OF
one o. the members Who Is running
FOR reelection IN which he d!sclaimed
responsibility for the spreading OF pub
Tic assessments was pointed 20 as evil
dencs that the commission form per
mits al evasion OF responsibility
Under aIdermsnis form. he contended.
such a thinE would have been impos-
sibie. The commissioners. tho speak
er declared. are not experts 90 the
uorE which they undertake. though
they are given salary which would
command thc services OF experts In
the open market. AS matter OF fact.
the aidermnnic form. by reason Of the
low cost. makes Go possible 20 secure
more expert supervision than is pos
sihlc now Mr. Olson said ~ 90 g. de-
sired % adopt the city manager plan
the old form must be- returned 20. Tor
che reason that so much Is now paid
iu salaries that 90 is out OF Che ques-
zion 90 pay the hlsh price which a
competent manager can command
Not Close 10 People.
The commission form Of govern
meut vas arrlirucd on the ground.
also that 90 is not close enough 60 the
people u things 90 wrong now mo-
body knows. the speaker said. 20 whom
90 complain. NJ a complaint o. lodged
anywhere the chances are that the
Officer approached VIII deny thar he
tns anything 90 do with the matter.
Under thr aiieFmalic form every
body knew that he could get action by
carrying his complaints 20 ore Of the
aldermen % his ward.
Tie commission form. 1fr. Olson
said. had been given trial under the
most auapiciCus circumstance. 10 had
been found wanting and the people
ought 90 frankly admit nov that they
had mad. O mistake The people. how [
e-er. we're not 90 hilr, Tor what they
sd four years ago. IL g. an American
characteristic 20 be- willing 20 try al /
most anything uew Ga order 90 see
what its merits are. This opeu-miud- .
Cd1cgs 90 praiscw0rthy but the people
ought 20 be ready % admit Do when
the thing they have tried turns out 4
badly.
The other speakers expressed them I
selves tn the same vein They exc
PRESSED tho belief that the people are F.
heartily gici, % the commission form 4
and 20 given chance will vote q out .
By lars. majority.
Ward Committees Named.
2ir Ryiande- called the meeting.
20 order and vas chosen chairman
after Mr.. Olson had declined the nom
i-atiou Cor the position. DR.. arp moved
that a committee OF Eve from each OF
the old wards be named 90 bring the
question 20 vote and 20 conduct a
general campaign for a return 10 the