Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-07-13
COMMISSION
PLAN TAKEN
UPBYBANCS
Discussed BY City Attorney
In Address at Rotary Club
Luncheon.

The commimion form Of city gov
eminent was discussed BY George A.
Bangs, city attorney. 1t the weekly
luncheon Of the Rotary club held to-
day.
He first took up the history Of the
commission form Of government shoW-
ing that it originated in tts modern
Galveston, Texas. following the de-
s%truction of that city by storm. He
then tool up the general basic prind-
pies Of the commission form saying:
1T is the basic principle Of the
commission form Of government that
all powers shall be concentrated In tho
commissioner who shall be free to
set promptly without the safeguard
ing checks and balances known to the
American plan"
North DakoeD.Plnn.
Taking up the csmmtssion form Of
government under the North, Dakota
law recently voted for by the people
Of Grand Forkg. Mr.. Bangs said in
part:
The North Dakota commission form
tho fundamental features Of tho plan;
under 1t q board Of I'VE members Is
substituted for the board Of II alder
men In this city; the president Of the
board 10 elected separately from the
other members and is merely the may
or under a different name with some
Of his powers distracted; the board
meets each week, fixing the time
themselves, instead of monthly and
the commissioners receive 800 per
month instead Of 81 per meeting or
$24 per year formerly received by the
aldermen. the ward representation 10
destroyed and the members Of the
commission are elected from the city
at large % that minority representa-
ton is abolished. I think the changes
accomplished by the commission form
lot government In North Dakota, may
truthfully be summarized as follows:
What 1t Does
1. IT affords an opportunity
for disgruntled and defeated poll
tictans and candidates to multi :
ply elections and thus the oppor-
tuntty at an unguarded moment
to gain control of the city,
2. It increases the expenses OF
the city and thus the taxes by the
multiplication Of elections and the
salaries Of the commissioners at
least with the probability Of much
Increased expense. ~
:. It destroys the ward and
HIuOI1ty pI0SCnI0SlOA .
4. It burdens the city with the
expense and annoyance Of the in
itiative, referendum and recall.
Time Unfortunate.
The change Of systems comes 1t an
unfortunate time; q short time must
necessarily elapse before the election
a be held for the result must be
certified to the secretary Of state, and
by him to the- governor BY whom =
patent is issued and within 20 days
after the issuance Of the patent the
mayor must call the election which
must be upon at least a 10 days no.
tfee: 1t, will be difficult indeed to can
the election much before Sent list.
During the first 10 days Of SeptEfn-
Der, the annual appropriation bnl and
the tax levy for the ensuing year must
be made: II the election be carried
over until after Sept. 10th, the present
council must make the appropriations
for the expenses Of the city govern.
mept next year. when it will be under
the taxes to raise the there.
for.
If the election is called before Sept
list, a new. untried body Of men mus,
perform these highly important func.
tons.
There 10 ready solution, howev.
or, Of this difficulty and that solution
Is by electing as commissioners, mem,
bers elected from the present board O.
aldermen who can bring to their dutie,
as commissioners. their experience ant
knowledge of affairs gained by then
in the performance of their duties q,
aldermen; thus only the expense, dan,
ger and Inconvenience imposed upol
the city as the result Of the election
may be minimized 50 far as Is posi-
Bile.
Home Rule Plan.
Mr.. Bangs also discussed the nom,
rule" charter plan and the lefty man
said:
To adequately state the. reasons 70,
the home rule charter would be to re