Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-21

Of the recent city election. Outside of
court procedures, not less than one-half a
million dollars spent by the several
parties and the city. This would not be
srudged did the city profit but what is the
net result? On the face of the returns, ac-
cordng TO the complicated and illogical
ballot system we now submit TO, the peo-
pie have gained some additional members
of Councils the majority control of both
chambers remaining in the hands of the
contract bosses.
The Party Square
How great value the contract plunderers
place upon the party square" was shown
by the anxiety of their lawyers in the
courts to deprive their opponents of the
same privilege. The complication of the
party groupings also gave the excuse 10
crooked election officers by throwing out
most Of the rejected ballots All this would
have been obviated by a shorter and sim
pier ballot. where the candidate for each
office would have been listed upon an
equal basis.
In the old days, when the voter went to
the polls with a short ballot in his vest
pocket. he succeeded, as a rule, in having
his express will recognized and registered.
Now it is an open gamble, If he dares to
mark outside Of the party square. whether
he will have his ballot counted at all.
One of the main and crying evils of the
present system is the assistance" Of voters.
enabling the briber 10 follow the purchased
vote into the booth and make sure he gets
what he pays for Yet under the present
system, it is doubtful whether many voters
understand how safely to mark a split
ticket one of the main excuses for 'as-
sistance" would be taken away by provid-
ing a short and simple form of ballot upon
which, by no possible confusion, could he
attempt to vote for the same name more
he oh a inc
first, by abolshng the party square, and,
second, by limiting the ballot to the most
important officers, making party admins
trative officials. in most cases, appointive.
IT, instead Of voting for multiplicity OF
officials we took the eight senatorial dis
tricts now comprising the city of Phila-
delphia and chose two reputable citizens in
each district TO constitute d small Councils
or directorate for the city along with the
Mayor, and made the other administrative
offices appointive, as under the Federal
system, there seems to be no reason why
the same degree of care and intelligence
could not be concentrated upon this short
municipal ballot, producing the same re-
suits as in the national field.
Some form of small Councils or commits
sion system is now In vogue in more than
200 cities in the United states The fact
that il is giving universal satisfaction and
that there is nowhere a reverSion to the
plueT y pc pt NlullClpdI government SPEAKS
for itself. Those who favor, in such back
ward cities as Philadelphia, the present
complex ballot and municipal misrule uni
formly oppose the new and simpler method
involving more direct control by the peo-
pie. But apart from the greater efficiency
OF administration, there is the obvious
advantage that in choosing fewer officials
we are likely TO have less confusion in
the choice and secure better type Of men,
Eternal Vigilance
AZ eternal Nipilance must nluars he tha