The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-02-08
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.

OF Manltowoc upon which either
must soon vote. There seems to be
mania for change on the part of som
of our people. Is it not we'll TO RI
member that change is not alway
progress, nor is it always beneficial.
The particular change now bein
pushed by this restless element is
change from our present form of rel
resentative government consisting of
mayor and board of aldermen an
other officers elected directly by tn
people to what is called the Commission
form of Government. This com mis-
sion consists Of three salaried men on
being designated as mayor who practi
cally possess absolute power over the
city and its people.
There are two principal questio-
to be considered: The first OF these is
sis change necessary" The seconC
| is change to the commission form o
government one that will remedy ex
listing evils. AS to the first question
we are inclined to believe the answer
would be in the affirmative and very
nearly unanimous. Taxes have more
than doubled while population has in
creased but. little. Many of the people
are getting desperate under the burden
and will be disposed to vote in favor Of
this change in the bare hope that
things may be bettered.
Is change to commission govern.
ment the remedy?
In the first place it at once calls for
three new salaried offices, the cost be.
ing fixed by statute at S6500.00. 1t al
so calls for the appointment of one
more city officer than we at present
have, THAT of comptroller) whose sal
airy is fixed by the commission, the
amount not being limited by law. The
Commission is also given power to Gre
ate and fill as many offices as they see
fit and fix terms of Offices and salaries.
In this respect their power is absolute
and unlimited and it is easy to see
how unfit and incompetent commission
ers may add to the already oppressive
burdens of the people. An important
matter to be considered is the fact that
the term Of office OF these commission
ers is six years. All the share in the
city government which the people
have is the privilege of electing one
commissioners every two years SC that
t will take six years to get rid of any
given administration. The statute fur
Their provides that if this commission
form is adopted there can be no change
until after the expiration of six years.
Even should the people decide after
six years trial to abandon it we can
never return to our present system in
any event.
Another evil connected with this
commission system is the fact that they
are mem bers of every board and COM
mission In the city, such as the school
board, library board, health board
fire and police commission, etc. and at
the same time have the power to APP
point and remove the members of such
boards, for, or without cause, thus
enabling them to pack with men of
their choice every Board ard Commits
sion in the city. The same is true OF
every officer in the city, The system
has altogether too much of arbitrary
power. A system which appoints
three men to an Office with such unlim.
tied powers is not government OF
the people. The meetings of the COM
mission for business are not open to
the people as in the case of the present
government, except in the single case
where some person or persons outside
of the city have business to present in
which case citizens can be admitted,
it is secret tribunal with
star chamber methods.
No doubt fair government may be
bad under this system. A benevolent
despot may give his. people good gov.
eminent. Peter the Great did SO for
Russia. Napolean did it for France,
but not because despotism was good Of
self 1t depended on the individual.
So this government by commission is
bad of itSAlf IT. is not fnlln6el on the
American prin ciple "Let the people
rule. "The people have practically moth
ing to say. For this reason the writer
is disposed to be opposed to it.
But what are we going to do? The
state OF things now existing should and
must be changed. But the change
needed is not a change in form OF gov.
eminent but change of policy. a
certain element have busily worked up
sentiment against the business element
0f the city, the men who have the
largest interest in its welfare, with
the result that we have had extrava-
CANT government and may vote
for the change. But they may meet
the fate of the two fresh fish who
jumped from the frying pan into the
ire.
r,ru,Trtt,.,