Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-10-14
PERSONAL PRATTLE

( tee meets in another week and re-
fers the complaint to the superintend-
man, who takes his time to inves-
| tigate the trouble and refers it back
to the street superintendent. The SUI
perintendent refers 1t back to the |
| council, where it goes over undtr the
head of unfinished business until the
next meeting.
The contrast afforded in the fore.
going provisions of the ward repre-
sentation plan and the commission
form of government fully illustrate
the distinction between the old rule
and the new, and clearly illustrate
the advantages of the commission
form over the present ward system.
| Commission government does not
increase power-it increases respon
sibility. The commissioners are, as a
matter of fact, prevented from the
exercise of such harmful powers as
granting important franchises, or en-
acting hurtful or unwise legislation,
the latter through the referendum.
The power of dishonest official to
remain in Office or one who uses his
position in any way to oppose the
best interests of the city is also taken
away by the wise provision of the
recall.
The Allen law restores to the PEG.
pie to right to vote upon all public
grants, to recall incompetent or dis
honest officials, and to pass by popu.
lar vote, any ordinance desired by
the public, and while it gives this ad-
ditional power it does not take from
the people single privilege which
they have under the old ward plan.
The objection of increased cost in
commission prompts the inquiry as
to what the people of Aberdeen can
afford to pay for good government.
The old ward plan with it's reckless
waste of funds, its neglect of public
business, it's irresponsible, haphazzard
system, which proverpially spends
money for the wrong thing and leavts
nothing to spend for the right thing,
is the most expensive institution in
the city, although the councilmen re-
ceve but nominal salaries. The peo-
pie are taxed to the limit, but there
is never surplus in the treasury No
business man in any city would per-
init his private affairs to be conduct
ed for moment as city business is
conducted under the old ward plan.
1t would be entirely too expensive.
Commission government provides
that ample salaries shall be paid the
mayor and commissioners, in order
to secure the election of capable men.
But the best answer to the objec-
ton that commission plan would en-
tail financial burden is found in the
results Of the new rule where it has
been thoroughly tested. The COM
mission form, although began four
teen years ago at Galveston, Texas,
is no longer an experiment. 1t is
giving satisfaction in hundreds of cit
| les in 20 states. 1t is not claimed
to be the last word in city govern
ment, but it is such an improvement
over the ward-councilmanic plan that
so far no city having adopted the
new rule has returned to the old sys-
TEN, yet the commission plan has
been in effect in cities in California,
Oregon. Texas Oklahoma, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Kansas, South Dakota.
North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan, II.
linois, North Carolina, West Virginia,
South Carolina, Maryland, New Jer-
sey and Massachusetts for six years
or more.
Several states have gone further
than the commission plan, and have
manager, with a sufficient salary
to justify competent men, who are in
trusted with the management of the
affairs of the city and held strictly
accountable for results. This plan is
adapted from the German system of
a Burgomaster, and it is quite likely
to be adopted in progressive cities
as soon as it's advantages become ap.
parent. Meanwhile, Aberdeen should |
cast off it's outgrown swaddling clothes |
with their wet nurses in the form of |
ward politicians and join the ranks
Of progressive cities by the adoption
of the commission plan.