The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-30
GI1I GUvtRMEnt
How the Municipality Conducts Iss
Affairs With Responsible Heads
and Specialists Under Them
In Permanent Positions.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
The Result 10 4 Municipal Govern
mont Responsive to the People,
Along Business Lines, and Of
vey High Efficiency.


kuk is sane, safe and sensible, con-
stantly, sensitively responsible to the
will Of the people Of the city, broad In
its views, capable OF seeing and doing
things in a large way, really econom-
ical without being stingy. without q
Isuspicion or faint Of graft In three
Quarters of century, easily accessible
to citizens, and stable, because public
sentiment In Keokuk is very stable.
Keokuk's special charter, due partly
to the fact that It is the second oldest
city In the state, gives the city gov
|ernment numerous advantages and
lgreater response to home rule than OBJ
tains in most Iowa cities.
The commission form Of governm ent
places the municipality in the hands
OF only three men, gives them enough
authority. fixes their responsibility
easily, and affords quick cure for any
ills that may occur.
| Three commissioners, one with the
title Of mayor but little more author
whole city government. Each has GER
tain work and departments In his Inn
mediate charge, although the concur
renee Of the other two is generally
necessary before any large affairs may
be put into action.
The simple Organization.
| The specialized departments are
finance, public safety. public improve
lment, parks, public property, public al
fairs.
1 The detail work Is done by appoint
lees, practically under the civil ser
vice idea Of retention during good
work.
The city clerk has served several ad-
ministratlons, Is an expert accountant,
thoroughly familiar with the records
and methods Of doing business.
| The city engineer is real civil en-
gfneer, responsible to one boss.
The treasurer is an officer Of lead
ing bank with all the accuracy and de-
Termination for exactness that comes
from bank training.
| The city attorney is always one OF
the best lawyers in town, serving more
for the honor and the good Of the city
than for the salary.
/ The city physician has high stand
ing In his profession and has held that
position for many years.
All are Specialists.
The assessor is generally the same
person as the county assessor. to con-
serve energy and avoid complications.
The chief Of police is always In the
lime light and must make good all the
time or get out Of office; he is direct
/! ly responsible to The commissioner OF
public safety and need not think OF
getting votes, as under the old regime.
| The chief Of the fire department is
one Of the oldest in service In iowa,
ie$o ~
ever since the prairie fires OF Iowa
ceased to occur, apparently.
The street supervisor, under the
commissioner Of public improvements,
is thoroughly practical contractor
born and reared amid such work.
All the other appointees of the COM
mission have made good in specialized
work for years here.
The city Of Keokuk is sim pie, but
effective organization running like any
large business organization and with
the efficiency Of the best of the private
business corporations.