Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1916-03-30

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The contest now waging in the
city of Watertown for a change in
the form of government is based, in
reality, not upon wilas one thinks
about the commissioners as men or
as officers, but upon the principle
which underlies the particular form.
from the standpoint of efficiency and
economy
The contest is as old, in some re-
spects, as civil government itself,
and, eliminating the matter of person.
al feeling which may be shared by a:
comparatively few on both sides, the
question resolves itself into this:
: Which form of government is best
adapted to meet the needs of a grow
ing city, taking all phases of busi-
ness and social life into considera-
ton? 55
The Saturday News is not herein
attempting to- answer the question,
but contents itself for the present
with pointing out few self-evident
facts.
The Old City Charter.
Watertown was organized away
back in territorial days. Hon w. r..
Thomas drafted the main features Of
/ the special charter which was grant
ed by the territorial legislature.
In order to hold down expenses,
and to prevent city affairs from run
ming wild. the author Of the charter
incorporated many stringent provis-
ions relating to expenses. For in
stance, the total levy for all purposes.
civic, school. fire protection, and all
other purposes was limited 10 a stat
ed number of mills on The dollar OF.
assessed valuation.
The school board, organized as an
independent district then as now,
found itself handicapped for want, of
funds The city itself experienced
similar difficulties So much and no
more could be levied.
Low Assessments.
I The assessments were low through
out the state. Watertewn was no ex-
ception. 1t was suggested that, III
order to raise such funds as were
needed, the assessment be materially
! increased, but this plan was found 10
be impracticable for the reason that
it forced Watertown to pay more than
its just proportion of county and
state taxes. So the suggested plan
was abandoned.
Had there been a state tax com
missien in those days. as there is
now, to enforce higher assessments
throughout the state, it is doubtful
K whether Watertown would have dis
cardea it's old charter Along about
1912 or 1913 the tax commission caus-
ed a material increase in assessmS;:i ITS
more than doubling them in many
cases This would have afforded Wa
tertown annie
Limitation upon the levy.
Much Progress, Nevertheless,
But it need not be inferred that
Watertowu was not making reason
able degree of progress under the
old charter The splendid system Of
sewerage was inaugurated and press
ed to completion despite the charters $
stringent provisions with respect In
debt and leyies
The streets were kept in reason
ably good condition, for the most part.
and some of the preliminary work
was done under the special charter in
preparation for eventual street paw
ing.
The limitations of the charter, how
ever, were keenly felt, SO that when
the matter was submitted to vote
four years ago the city decided, al
though by but very narrow major
ity, To forsake its old charter for the
comsaission Form of government.
Present Day Progress.
Under the old charter, under the
administrations Of Mayor j.. w. Mar
y tin and his various predecessors, the
sewer system had been constructed
and various other improvements
made, so, under the commission form,
Watertown continued to improve.
But under both the old charter and
the present commission, the public
improvements were paid for, in the
main, by the owners of admitting prop
erty. This is true Of the fne sewer,
for the most part constructed under
the charter; 1t Is equally true Of the
pavement under the commission, for,
with the exception of half the street
In front OF the city hall, the Carnegie
library and the federal postofhe build
in4. III the pavement, including the
street and avenue MtersectiOnE. was
paid for BY the owners Of abutting
property. Ia
50 that. coming down to the pres
ent time, the present effort to change
rests primarily upon the fundamental
prineipies involved ID the part tlcuiar
forn ot government
There has always been etrong
sentiment Ia atert0wn against the
coI araission form OF government, ~ (