The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-09-01
DEFENDS ALDERMAN
FORM In ADDRESS
CONTINUED from Page u

for the best interests of the people,
and especially so, if it should turn out
that the manager is incompetent or
has net the ability to properly meet
the requirements or expectations of
the council. for there is no power of
removal, for any cause, other than will
full neglect of duty, malfeasance or
misfeasance in office, within sixty DAYS
after specific grounds in writing have
been given for such contemplated re-
moval with opportunity of the manager
to be heard in his own defense after
the expiration of not less than sixty
days after said notice in writing; in
other words, the manager cannot be
removed at will or instanter except
for wilful neglect of duty; and there
is no question but the wilful neglect
would have to be proven before re-
moval.
Not Government of People.
[ THE manager plan would seem to
fall far short of being a government Of
the people, by the people, for the peo-
pie, and is lacking IN many of the
characteristics Of representative gov
eminent. The slogan Of the manager
plan is apply the business principles
OF the private corporation to the mu-
nicipality.'
we must keep m mind that there
is an important distinction between
private corporation and a municipal
corporation.
"The private corporation is organized
and conducted solely for profit, the
financial interests of it's members.
The municipal corporation is or
canned for the purpose of society, and
Tor the purpose of local government
for the members of the corporation re-
siding within the territorial limits of
the corporation, and while the applica-
ton OF business principles is a grand
thing for the corporation and should
De invoked, the law never contemplated
and 1T was never intended that the
municipal corporation should be organ
zed-for profit. The people who live
within the prescribed territory are the
corporation and not the officials who
represent the members of the corpora-
ton.
The corporation acts through its
ohcers, who are elected by the electors
living within the corporate limits; and
the same electors select the clerical or
Ministerial officers, such as city clerk,
treasurer and other officials whose du-
Ties require some education but no
professional training, and in some To-
calltles select also the officials whose
duties are of professional nature:
the other officials generally are chosen
by the aldermen, who are selected from
certain divisions of the CITY SO that
each portion of the city may have
lair and impartial representation.
Electors Best Qualified to Judge.
1T goes without saying that in
city like Kenosha the electors are bet
ter qualified to judge of the qualifca-
lions and ability of the clerical or
MINISTERIAL officers, whom they know.
than Is the stranger, and it is fair 20
assume that the council is better ac-
quainted with the qualifications and
ability OF those officials whose duties
require professional training than is
the man from Mexico who knows little
OF Wisconsin law, but, we saw. these
oInclals VIII be retained whose services
are satisfactory. We have no right or
authority to indulge in such presump-
lions, If we attempt it we are at once
invading the province of the citv man
ager; he is the autocrat and the die
tator and nowhere in the law is II sup-
gested that the council hasa right to
recommend to him.
"The objection is we'll taken in MANY
instances that the aldermen are unfit
ted for the position, but who is to
blame but the members of the CORPORA
ton who selected them, but, we saw.
che members did not know this and if
we had the manager system the ineffi-
clent official could be removed and vet
we overlook the law and the fact that
under the aldermanic form of govern
ment nearly every appointive officer can
be removed at will and at the pleasure
OF the council and all subordinate and
employees can be removed instanter;
we further overlook the law and the
fact that every elective officer, includ-
ing the mayor, in any city in Wiscon-
sin, may be removed after six months
service if the people, the members of
the corporation so elect, SO that there
is complete remedy to eject every
incompetent or inefficient city official
who is elected by the people, and for
those not so elected, they may be re-
moved without recall election.
Ut is true that under the aldermanic
system we have not had the best ad-
ministrations; certain abuses have
arisen and inefficient men have been
employed and retained, but this abuse
obtained principally when party poll
tics controlled the election or the sew
eral boards.
within the past few years radical
change has by statute affected the
municipal elections in Wisconsin. No
longer are men nominated as Republic
cans, Democrats or Socialists, but are
now nominated and elected on a nom
partisan, non-political ticket and has
proven to be a decided benefit to the
taxpayers over the old system.
: ut has been demonstrated in our
own city that under the new and better
system of non-partisan elections, prom
inent Republicans and prominent Dem
ocrats have been elected on the same
city ticket; that in strong Democratic