Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-07-13
Com. FORM OF GOV.
PROVES SUCCESS
Places City Government On
Business Basis and is
More Economical
MANY CITIES ADOPT PLAN
'Home-Rule"i in Michigan Allows
Cities i'm State to Adopt
Commission Govt

The problem of municipal govern
ment is perhaps the most important
question before the American people
today. 1t effects us in every phase
of our daily life; through the health,
water, fire, police and sewer depart
ments Every city government direct
ly effects the health life and property
of the man, woman or child living
within its limits, and the success Of
this government depends to what de-
gree it actually touches the lives Of
the citizens. In many cities IN the
country steps have already been taken
to solve this problem by the adoption
of the commission form Of govern
ment, and in every case where 1t has
been permanently established 1t has
proven a success. The commission
form of government was first started
by the City of Galveston in 1901 and
the plan adopted by that city has
been the nucleus around which
most of the cities have built their COM
mission governments.
The commission form of govern
ment is approved by so many cities
because it is change from political
form of government TO a business
form of government, and it is no less
democratic for that change. The COM
missioners are elected by the entire
city not by wards as under the mayor
and council plan. The wards and
other divisions of the city are retain
ed. but are used for conveniences in
holding conventions and elections.
With reference to the interests OF the
city. and the welfare of the people the
division into wards is merely arbi-
trary. 1t is seldom that man carries
his business in the same ward in which
he votes. In many cases man own
more property in some wards than
they do i'm the one in which they live,
and yet some person will be elected as
councilman or representative for the
ward, and control the expenditures in
that ward and the improvements,
when the man who owns property has
no voice whatever in his election and
can exert no influence as a voter.
With reference to the power of the
commission to transact the business
of the city promptly and wisely, 1t has
been the experience of the cities where
the plan is now in use, that the bust
ness can be carried out more prompt
ly and satisfactorily than is possible
under the council plan. When a COM
mission announces that the weeds
must be cut, that the ordinances must
be observed, that the taxes must be
paid, that the roads must be taken
care of, the people expect results and
hasten to observe the law. In other
words the commission appears to ex-
ert salutary influence for law enforce
ment.
Instead of holding long nightly
meetings and having lengthy de-
bates and wranglings among council
men, the commission meets in the day
time, and attends to the business of
the city the same as a Board Of Di-
rectors transact the business Of any
corporation.
Responsibility is fixed upon the
commission. If the law is violated
the people know who is to blame and
can put their finger on the offender.
The responsibility is so great that
either the commissioners have got to
enforce the law or resign. The first
thing that the commission does is to
establish the city's business on cash
basis, pay in cash its bills in the same
manner as bills are paid by any other
business concern. 1t is the statement
from cities under the commission
form of government that by this
method the affairs Of the city are
transacted more satisfactory, more
expeditously, more economically. The
objection has been raised that the
commission form of government plac-
es too much power in the hands of a
few men. The objection arises from
misapprehension Of what commits
sion government provides. 1t does
not increase power and influence, but
increases responsibility.
No business corporation would con-
sent to conduct its business on the
plan of the present management of
city governments and nope to succeed
Why then should cities continue to
manage city governments on the pres
ent plan? In the business corpora
ton we have president and board of
directors working for the best inter
est of the corporation. In the gov
ernment Of our cities we should have
a mayor and fixed number Of direc-
tors. A body limited in number so as