The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-01
Mayor Council Type Of City
. Government Is Explained
in Today's Issue
THOROUGH STUDY OF .t@5
=. VARIOUS TYPES URGED
Arguments Are Advanced for
and Against Mayor Council
Type Of Government :.

Daily Pioneer were printed num-
Der of arguments advanced by some
for and against the commission type
: of government. The charter COM
mission is extremely DESTROYS OF hay
ing the entire citizenry of .Bemidjl
take an active interest in the various
forms Of city government in order
to aid this body in drawing up a;
charter which will meet with the
approval Of: the majority when such
proposed charter is submitted to the
vote of the people. a. +. *!i .
T, In this article are a number OF ar
guments advanced by some for and
against the mayor-councl type Of
city government: 1t is urged by the
commission that thorough study OF
each type be made by all residents
Of Bemidji who are to be affected by
a new charter. s,.', tEs..]::.
III Mayor-Council Type
/ The mayor-council plan might be
, called a modification of the federal
type in that the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial functions are sep
arated. 4 Ess y, 49,. . d,
= It provides for council that leg,
islates. An elected mayor with
broad authority and responsibility is
in direct charge Of the adm1nistra-
ton of the city government. 1t is
similar to the city manager. type in
all ways except that the chief 5execu-
tive is elected instead Of appointed
and he is not. responsible to the coun-
Gil, butte the people direct. .:..s ::
y The mayor appoints commissioners
each of whom administers depart
ment under direction Of the mayor
and; in accordance with the legisla-
tive action by the council. e='s,'
The mayor is the responsible head
of the city government but the coun
Gil controls policies which the mayor,
must be controlled by. The mayors
appointments may or may not be
confirmed by the council as the
charter may provide. ~.,..~... r..
The larger cities that have recent
ly changed their form of government
have adopted this type. Philadel-
phia, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis
and Denver are among the cities op-:
Grating under the mayor-councilt
type. zs--,r-.--'
For Mayor Council Type @-0'}s;
It places responsibility for admin
istrative and political leadership lin
an elected mayor. =
It is; democratic because it gives
responsive, responsible and repre-
sentative government. e..
. Legislative and administrative
functions are separated. 81. *
1t. is a simple organization, the
workings Of which are easily follow:
ed by the public. - .":':.:
1t usually provides, for depart
n1ent heads appointed by and ,respon-
sible to the chief executive, instead
of unwieldly boards and commits
sions. SG.. z,-.&@r- II s%%,
It has been adopted by the larger
Cites that have recently changed
their forms of government. ~ ~
1t permits the securing of train
ed men to administer the various de-
partments. n - ~. +5= .-Tf-@~'
It has all the merits Of the modi-.
fled federal plan without its cum
bersome boards and machine poll
tics. .4tti,T n. ., !Gss4.ss-s ,fs>ss- III u
It is similar to the city manager
type except, the chief executive is
elected instead Of appointed and he
is independent of the, council. J. {,
Appointments of heads of depart
ments by the mayor, if approved by
the council, prevents machine pol:
itics. Z, l.., w ~ Z .F:s:. ~. e.. q
Against Mayor-Council Type
1t is difficult to select by ballot a
trained executive to carry on the ad-
ministration Of the city government.
It tends to cause the mayor to,
build up a political machine and keep
-. ,-lGoLtinued on Page 81