South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-20
MARCH 20. 1921
AMONG BIG REASONS WHY POLITI-
CLANS OPPOSE CITY MANAGER Gov
EMINENT AND PEOPLE SHOULD
BE FOR 1T.

BE FORTT.
Starting the front page of this section today
by the grace OF the National Municipal league Hon
Charles z. Hughes, presidents delineaton Of
the commission manager plan city government.
and OF the results, for those who care to read
and understand Those who do to under
e,and, those who are against It, merely from
personal political partisan reasons. merely
because It means change; those who chronic
worshiprers Of the gods Of things they are" will
ind it interesting
As Abraham Lincoln once said chose who are
rot up on a thing are usually down on it." SO It IS
quite everywhere with this movement to get rid OF
partsanship in municipal affairs, and to substitute
the business OF the city in a somewhat busnesslike
way. for administration given, often the
case. mainly to the payment Of political debts and
getting ready for the city county state and
tionaI elections It is easy enough to understand
why the politicians against such change. but
why the masses Of the people should be-the peo-
pie who gay the taxes and whose interests are in
municipal improvements ard the principal well
fare.-is different question. The things that set
the politicians against it ought to make the geo
pie FOR It.
Take the sections OF the Indiana statute. in
stance, forbdding the corruption Of the city gov
eminent. under the commission manager system.
political or partisan ends. Say nothing Of the nom
such criminalzirg Of popular corrupt practices
naturally does not set very we'll with the average
politician Here they are:
Sec 80. No person in the administrative
service OF the city shall directly indirectly.
give. solicit or receive or be in any
concerned in giving. soliciting receiving any
assessment subscription contribution for any
political party purpose whatever. No person
shall orally or by letter solicit be in any
concerned in soliciting receiving
any assessment. subscription or contribution
any political party or purpose from any person
holding position in the administrative service.
No person shall promise to his inlu-
official authority secure any appoint
ueut. or prospective appointment TO any city
position reward return for personal
political service. No person shall take part IN
preparing any political assessment subscription
contribution with the intent that IL shall be
sent or presented TO or collected from any per
in the service the city; and no person
shall knowingly send present directly
indirectly, I'm person otherwise. any polu-
cal assessment, subscriI uon contribution 10,
or request its payment by any person in such
service
Sec 40 No person about 10 be appointed 20
any position in the service OF the city shall sign
execute resignation dated o undated in
advance Of such appointment No person in the
service OF the city shall discharge. suspend, lay
or degrade or in any manner change the OFF,
cial rank or compensation OF any person In
such service, or promise or threaten TO do 50
for Withholding or negleCting 70 make any con-
triouton OF money or service or any other
valuable thing for any political purpose No
person in the service OF the city shall use
official authority influence 10 coerce the poll
teal action of any Ierson body. to inter
fere with any nomination or election to public
Office.
80 person holding an appointive Office or
place under the provisions OF this act, shall
act officer a political organization or
take any active part a political campaign
serve a member OF a committee Of any such
organization. or circulate or seek signatures TO
petition provided for by primary cleo
ton laws act a worker at the polls in
favor Of or opposed 20 any candidate TO cleo
federal state. county or municipal
Sec a. Penalty. A fine of not less than $50
more than $1,000 by Imprisonment for
term not exceeding six months by both
such fine and Imprisonment etc.
Sec ~. No member Of the commission shall
dur.rS the term for which he IS elected be ap-
pointed 90 any city, county or state Office or
employment. IF a member OF the commission
shall become a candidate for nomination or
election 90 any office other than that OF
missioner hc shah Immediately forfeit his place
in the commission: and any appointive officer
or employee of the city who shall become a
candidate for election 60 any office shall forfeit
the Office or employment held under the city.
review o. the above injunctions. the corrupt
practices sought 20 be prohibited, main among the
things that have made municipal government a re-
preach. and wen, there you have 1.-THE political
privileges. PARTISAN pulages, that the politicians
not want 20 give MP. They want 20 use the city
government. your government. the money
wrenched from you through taxes, 10 pay political
debts 20 reward political leutenants and 10 build
up political machines for use not only in future
city campaigns but in every partisan activity. ma
tsonal. state and county.
That isn't what municipal government IS proper
~ fer What the people want Is streets curbed.
pared. kept cIcen; sidewalks light parks. sewers.
WIter. and health. police and FIRE departments all
the least possible expense commensurate with
the service required. There IS no under the
SUM- cave political reasons OF the partisan order
why these things should De made the football OF
party manipulations political intrgues
1adeed no. the politicians do give
these things up bat The people OF 40 American
rlLiaa ana towns have glYen them 10 and nronted