The diamond drill., 1921-07-23
PEOPLE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY
TO VOTE ON ORDINANCE THEN
SEWER AND STREET WORK
East End of Forest Avenue Being
Improved and Water Extended
South on Fourth st.

The city commission at its meeting
last Monday night set the election ON
the ordinance initiated by petition TO
be held on August 16. On that day
the electors OF the city will say II
they are satisfied with present con-
ditions. II they are there will be no
change in either the commission or
appointive officers for the balance OF
the year; If they are not satisfied
and show ii by a majority In favor Of
the ordinance Il IS very likely that
there will be a speedy settlement Of
all differences. Whichever way the
vote goes II is certain that the city's
government will work smoother the
balance OF the year.
What IL Means
The ordinance as initiated abolishes
the Offices of city manager. city at
torney, city marshal street commits
sioner and health officer and empow
ers the mayor, as executive head OF
the city, TO hire men from time to
time as the necessity arises, to do
what work Is necessary 10 be done
under the different departments. In
short il temporarily changes the gov
ernment from a commission-manager
form 10 straight commission form
like Marquette has. where the COM
missioners, one or all of them. as the
charter may provide. supervises the
activities OF the city.
There is nothing unusual about II
for many cities under commission
government are so managed. in most
OF them however, the work being di-
vided. each commissioner taking a
department
When the charter commission was
writing the commission for
this city It was a question whether
they would recommend straight
commission government or a commits
sion-manager form. They chose the
manager form but in choosing they
never dreamed that such a condition
as exists now would arise
How II Came About
The election Is a result OF d tie-up
that came as a result of the election
last spring. Mr.. Gafiney was chosen
on a platform which called for a
change In the appointiye officers OF
the city. He thought at the time
that he would be but one OF the COM
mission anrd when ne voted as he
promised 20 vote and was out.voted
by the two other commissioners,
the matter would be settled until the
people could have an opportunity to
express themselves by the election OF
another commissioner.
Some the friends OF aspirants
for office got after Mr. Notes. one OF
the commissioners, and SO impressed
him that he decided To- resign and he
did resign II is claimed that this
condition was brought about by de.
sign, but be that as II may, IL had the
effect OF putting Mr.. Gaffney where
he couldn't keep his promises TO the
people and vote for any man as COM
missioner who wouldn't vote To make
a change Mr.. Biork had announc-
ed his determination 20 stand pat on
the officers In office. especially upon
Manager Sanders az whom most OF
the effort seems TO have been launch
ed and would vote for no person who
would make change.
II then developed that the charter
contains no provision for making an
amendment TO Il. Mr.. Gaffney's sup
porters demanded that he do some
thing TO carry out his promises. The
only thing he could do under the
charter. was 10 initiate an ordinance,
which he did, and this action brought
forth a determined opposition by
those opposed 10 a change.
Then Mr.. Gaffney proposed TO let
the people vote for a third commits
sioner by agreement and agreed 20
vote 10 appoint the man having the
greatest number OF votes II Mr.. Bjork
would do the same. In that case he
promised 20 withdraw the petition
and proposed ordinance This prop
osjtion was not taken up by his op-
ponents SO he decided TO let II 90 10
an election.
What VIII BE The Result
TO a reporter for The Diamond Drill
Mr.. Gaffney replied that in case the
ordinance Is adopted ne will dispense
with most Of the officers during the
hard times or until the people can
select a full commission at which
time he will gladly join in a move
ment 70 repeal the ordinance. He
thinks that he can save several thous-