The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-05
THE COMPRESSION FORM.

THE COMMISSION FORM.
The State journal rsgrets to -eeel
that . largesnumber OF citizens Of To-
pelka are petitiening for the Fesubmis-i
sion Of the commission form Of gov
eminent. and advocate the return to |
the old form Of, the involved and
roundabout council plan, in lieu Of thei
direct, businesslike method known as
the commiSsicn form.
We believe the signers to the petit
ton are misguided and misinformed.
For the past nine or ten months II.
w. Euler. A. "A. Graham. J. A. Davis.
p. H. Coney and others have been
active in securing names to this petit
ton. which has just been filed.
The document on IT. face looks
rather more formidable than a care
full scrutiny of the paper indicates.
Indications are that three-fourths of
the signatures are fraudulent or tlle-
gal. While 1t purports to be measure in
the interests and welfare Of the tax
payers of Topeka, the large taxpayers
as a rule are rather conspicuous by
the absence of their names from the
paper. That so many people could be
induced to sign their names in the
furtherance Of q movement which can
be mono other than q step backward,
il rather strange. Very many groups
Of names throughout the petition and
even to the extent Of a whole page Of
names. appear in the same handwrit-
ing: A fragrant evidence of irregu-
larity which the city authorities can
not fail to note in passing upon the
petition as to whether or not it has
the requisite number Of proper sigma
lures.
The editor Of this paper is vitality
interested in the welfare of this COM
munity and, being one Of the larger
taxpayers. it goes without saying that,
If he were convinced that the commits
sion form of government was not the
proper form to secure efficiency and
economy in the administration OF the
affairs Of the city of Topeka, he would
oppose that form.
In the confirmation Of the position
taken herewith, there is submitted on
another page of this paper an article
in detail by the commissioner OF
finance, Roy Bone, setting forth the
advantages and efficiency of the COM
mission form of city government. from
its practical workings in Topeka.
1t should be noted that the taxes
are no higher now than they were UNI
der the old council form 4 the eff
ficiency, real economy and expediency
are increased many fold. Now we pay
our own way. We do not have def
cts and issue script to cover expenses,
this script not paid for want OF funds.
We do not issue bonds to pay accumu-
| 1~\ \nN
formerly done by the councils. We
even pay for certain bridges, land for
parks and make other OUTLAWS in the
city's affairs out Of the general levy
instead of through bond provisions.
| A number of petitioners FOR the re-
| turn to the old form are noted for
their opposition to the issuance Of
bonds. Yet, under the old council the
bond issuec were constantly increas-
ing. Under the commission form the
bond Indebtedness has decreased
through a practical sinking fund pro-
duced by the regular levy of taxes.
The old council five years ago went
out in this sort Of q blaze Of glory:
1t left a deficiency Of $4,000 in its
expenses over receipts, which the new
commission was obliged to take care
Of; q week before 1t expired. at lone
fell swoop'' it advanced the salaries of
city officers and employees $4,000 an
nually. 1t created q new maintenance
fund necessary to take care of q
crematory above it's receipts Of 5000.
The commission form of govern
ment il right because it il the bust
ness way. 1t places direct RESPONSE
bility. If we have good capable men
on the commission, the city IL sure to
get the best results in the most eco
nomic manner. Under the old coun-
Gil form. even the best men were help
less and handicapped by the anti
quated methods and red tape pro-
i cedure.
4 AS the city grows, and q better
standard Of civic affairs is demand
ed. a certain increase in the cost OF
. maintenance Of any city is a neces.
sary incident, just as It Is in any grow.
ing business. But it is noted that the
increase in tho city's taxes is NJ
[ greater under the combustion form
. than it was under the council, the per.
centage being exactly the same.
1t is a coincidence to say the leas
that the greatest increase in expendi
lures in the conduct Of the city's at
, fairs is shown in the only department
which is not under the commission
form, namely. the school department
for which the amount raised by take
> in 1905 was $213,334 and in 1914
$3S5,e32.
: THE GERMAN ARMY.
Like the nation itself. the German
a army is curiously two-sided, for it 1