Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-10-21

PERSONAL PRATTLE
Weak Argument Against Commission
BY JOHN J. CARNEY, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Weak Argument Against Commission.
The Grays Harbor Post stands alone
among the newspaper of Aberdeen in
opposition to the proposed adoption
Of the Commission form of govern
ment and in that opposition uses a
line of argument that fails under the
test of analysis. The allegation of
the Post, that advocates of commits
sion, referring to the city government,
declare, 1T could not be worse than
our present government" is but a
bid for prejudice on the part of the
thoughtless who will construe the
declaration as a slam at the present
administration, whereas the statement
has been made with sole reference to
the system. 1t is admitted freely by
the commission advocates that the
present administration will compare
favorably with many in the past, and
| is as good as the average as can be
secured under the ward system. 1t
| is to better it that we propose to
abolish ward lines and govern the
city as whole by men amply compen-
stated for giving their entire attention
to the affairs of the city.
The last issue of the Post refers
to the letters of six attorneys, publish.
ed in that paper four years ago, in
opposition to the Allen law, without
having first consulted those gentle
men. have interviewed these lawyers
/ this week and find three of them ar
dent advocates of the adoption of the
Allen law system now. ]. B. Bridges,
who opposed it because it was new
and untried, and contained some feat
ures he feared, is now strongly in ia
vor of the system. State Senator
Boner declares himself similarly, as
has Frank Beam. Attorney Hogan
| frankly admits a dislike to reverse
himself, but says he will not oppose
the adoption of the Allen system, and
believes it will be adopted and be
not without some good results. At
torney Mckay has given little or no
thought to the subject in the past
four years; is to some extent yet pre-
JUDGED against the change, but has
, an open mind as to his final action.
Attorney Loomis has experienced no
change of opinion and stands pat, and
appears to be alone in the legal gal
axy of six upon whose views the Post
seems to depend.
Opponents of the Commission form
are prone to confuse the concentra-
ton of responsibility as meaning in
crease of power. The Allen law sim
| ply re-enacts the old statutes govern
ing cities of this class and designates
the individual responsibility for exc
cutting them. 1t provides real repre-
sentative government. Every citizen
is represented by every member of
the commission. He has a vote in
their nomination and election. Under
the ward plan every citizen votes for
the mayor and two councilmen from
his ward. Every voter casts ballot
for one-twelfth OF the total member
ship of the council once each year,
and never has a voice in the election
of but two of them. What about the
other ten? They legislate for the
entire city; appropriate funds for the
entire city; levy taxes upon every cit
izen. But the citizen does not have
the opportunity to vote for even half
of them. Whatever the intent might
have been in the division of cities
into wards, it certainly resulted in
an effectual bar to representative gov
eminent by the people.
Commission government remedies
that evil influence in municipal rule
1t obliterates ward lines entirely and
makes the commissioners the repre-
sentatives of the whole city. Every
voter has an equal part in selecting
them and an equal claim upon their
services. His influence, so far as the
vital feature of the ballot is concern
ed, is just six times more powerful in
city elections than it is where twelve
councilmen are elected under the ward
plan.
The statement of the Post, that Alb
erdeen has been we'll governed city
since it's first incorporation will not
be concurred in by those familiar with
| the enormous waste of effort and
money during it's entire corporate ex-
istence, which waste has been much
greater since the council membership
was increased from six to twelve.
No corruption has been alleged, but it
is extremely doubtful if the taxpayers
have ever received the value of fifty
cents on the dollar for their money,
and it makes no difference to them
FREE UNTIL 1916.