The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-02-15
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.

proposition TO adopt the Commission
i form of government for our city ar
pears to have stirred up the gentlemen
interested in pushing the proposition
They have done me the honor of max
ing a public answer, 1T least docu
mentthey call an answer.
No attempt is made to disprove m,
statements in regard TO the system it
self, but bitter complaint is made be
cause did not see fit to append m.
: signature. What difference does
make who writes2 The question is, Il
it. true, is the argument sound, is i
logical. II it is consider it, give /
such weight as it deserves.
The only motiy in not annexing the
writer's signature in the first instance
was that the argument In the cast
should go to the people free from any
personal bias or consideration. 1t is q
common and usual thing everywhere
Amusement at the frantic efforts tc
locate the author impelled him to KEEP
up what he supposed would be an in.
cognito that would last only a few
hours. 1t all helped to call attention
TO the article which was the object in
writing it,
Now what are the tactics OF this very
able committee. One of the first is
the intimation that the writer is either
an ignoramus or deliberate liar will
ing to deceive on matter OF public in
terest. | might give the retort court
eous, "You're another" but will salts
fly myself with proving it. First: With
regard to the statement made that
non-residents OF the city can be elect
ed commissioners, they have said 'This
shows he does not know what the law is
~ only persons possessing quaitica-
tions of an elector in the city are elig'
ible to city office. Why not be honest
in this debateY"
Why not, indeed. II they desired to
convict of mistatement, why did they
not print the lawP"
Chap 397. Laws 1911 is as follows;
"Any person possessing all the quali1-
cations of an elector in such city, other
than The qualifications Of residence therein
shall be eligible to election as Mayor
or other member Of the council. That
is, as stated, any person who is quail
fed elector of the state of Wisconsin
may be chosen commissioner or may
or though not living in Manitowoc
Why did the committee leave out the
above clause in their answer.
In published statement exception
is taken to the statement made that
the council may remove any member
of City Boards and Commissions, they
sly:-"This is certainly putting it
pretty strong. Every man with any
judgment knows that this only APP
plies to the one member of the board
coming from the commission.
IL is strong, that il what the writer
complains of. Let any one. interested
urn now to the same law above cited
and read the following:
"Subd. 7. Any member Of any such
board or commission may be removed
at any time by a majority vote of the
council"
There is no restriction here. The peo-
pie elect board of Education and the
Commission elect one of their number
ember, and ding member" may be
! removed by the Commission. The
same is true OF every other board and
commission.
In another statement these gentle
men asserted that we are going TO
save large amounts of money by the
discontinuance of offices by which the
cost OF ST, 500 90 was to be more than
made up. AS matter of fact the only
expenditures stopped by operation of
law is the mere pittance paid TO Alder.
men.
1t is not true that as a matter of law
one Commissioner shall be city clerk
another treasurer and SO on. They
may assume such duties if they wish
but it is not incum bent on them to do
so.
The same chapter of the laws above
cited says
"At the first meeting or as soon there
after as possible the council shall Sc
lect, by majority vote, city clerk, a
corporation counsel, comptroller, a
treasurer, superintendent of streets,
an assessor and such other officers and
assistants as are necessary"
Is there anything in that which
shows that they are by law to assume
all that work?
This Saving to the people" is The
same old gag which has been worked
by that same gang or some Of them to
induce our people to turn the city into
a political experiment station, and
every time the result has beena big
boost in taxes.
One thing more, these gentlemen OF
the commission league question my
assertion that we can never return to
our former charter govern ment, | am
aware that the law says we may try to
do so after six years. Whether we
should succeed except through spe-
cial act Of the legislature is serious
question. 1t cannot be argued in u