Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-23
CITY COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
NI.-FNEDEUIC !. HASkIN.

READING, IA. January .e-lu
pennsylvania commissions government
has been most thoroughly tried. for
" VAS imposed upon twenty mine cities
by IN act of the State Legislature
Reading IS a typical example OF how
II has worked
You should no, get tho idea how :
ever. that commission Soycrnumeut
was forced upon the Pennsylvania,
cites without amy initiative GA their
part. Municipal government in this
state was particularly cumbersome be-
fore tho change, AZ is at,estcd Nv the
fact that forty-two cities. having ~
population or more than o.noO. had
remained horouEhs rather than adopt
the clumsy municipal machinery pro-
videi by State law.
All Of the Pennsylvania cities were
awake 10 the disadvantages OF tho old
system As long ago as ialc. tho
cities 81 the third class. which includes
all az thosc With less than le". 600
population. held 4 convention at VII
Transport and organized an Allied
civic Bodies Committee FOR the pur-
pose Of studying municipal reform
Tho Constitution q. tho state OF
Pennsylvania prohibits special Leg sla :
iion. aud this makes 4, impossible 80
pass law which would leave the
adoption ~ commission government
optional with the cities, II the change
were going 70 be made. IL would have
to hc sweeping ono. compelling all
the cities ~ "A certain class to chang 9
their form Of government. After SOW
cral Years Of agitation, such u law
WAS passed ia 1919 Twcnty-ntnc
cities ~ tive third class, including all
those IN Pennsylvania except rhil.-
delphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton. were
thus summariiN placed under commits
sion government IN December. l9lis
Mayor and -Four commissioners.
Tho rcnnsN lNania law provides Tor
q M.yor and four commissioners
lot The other city officials, with tive
execution % the comrtrcll'r arc
chosen bN THIS commission Tho state
act also provides frr AZ initiative and
referendum, but there Is no recall ana
no civil service board
This Wholesale change hnS been cm-
phaticaily Il success. Under the new
form o. government. Eeadiuc has at
tann.d new municipal efficiency. and
what Is more . new municipal spirit.
II YOU visit this city some JGnc, Tor
example you viii Witness ono OF tho
most interesting displays OF mumcir't
common sense and civic righteousness
THAT HAS ever been staged ~ America.
The people OF Reading like people
every where else in tho United states.
hud heen reading lot about con&ciN.,-
tion FOR several wears before thc COM
uiisaicn government Law WAS PASSED
Now they have acted OF their ininrin"-
iion Instead Of sitting down and p.u-
INK because ,hc magnificent hilis su:'
ROUNDING the town wcrr dcnudcd o.
t,ecs 4 generation ago by hnnEr, lulu-
hcrnrn. thcH have undertaken the Jon
or rcforextlnS them. The e'ty con-
,ni>.iou runs a nursery where Young
tracS are raised. amt every June thc
school children OF Hcadtns 80 out IN
the hills and plant thcm Thousands
~ trees ARE planted every yea'. Hnd
hy tho time tho school children OF to
day are sraudfathcrs ami grand T
mothers, TIVE hilis. NJ the rrcscu, rate.
VIII asn,n be beautifully wooucd.
En-. PickinW ind~r Old ior"
iicaaimS was rich and rasH r'ci,ihS
Tor railroads, and street railroads under
the old furm of government. I'll" mir
ty.thrrr c,tN fathers used Ia tiN" "
elusive ANA perpetual ftan,hisrs to
those who could muster control throw
ing away forever the r,Eht TO aSr
streets and ruiltc spaces Ever" street
Gar extension and every richt fct track
or siding erant"d hy the commission
- nov limited {" twenty five years
uGcr III" old system al city sup