Evening journal., 1923-02-13

| llOns iFolu Nue ldikett 10 INe eHltAA-
est cities are very nearly similar.
The result OF the study brought
out the fact that the average per
capita levy OF property taxes for
the eight mayor cities was si6.36
as against s12.s1 for the commission
cities. or a difference OF S4.05 per
capita in favor OF the latter.
Another argument In favor OF the
commissio manager form OF gov
ernment is that It eliminates a great
deal of the friction usually found
in the older form. People have long
been laboring under tho delusion
that large councils with members
from every ward OF the city some
how conserved the interests OF a
democracy. In most cases. how
ever. these have been found alto
| gether too unwieldy. and friction
nearly always has prevented the au-
thorltles from conducting the bus
mess OF the city with the necessary
despatch. Moreover. no one in par
tlcular can be held TO strict ac-
countability, and corrupt practices
have been known 20 flourish. The
purposes OF a city democracy, there
fore. instead OF being served, more
often are defeated. With a small
council or commission. on the other
hand, responsibility is concen-
trated in the hands OF a few very
conspicuous persons. and the appli-
cation OF business methods 20 the
conduct Of citys affairs Is made
possible. AS already has been sug-
gested, the business OF city differs
only slightly from the ordinary ac-
tivitles OF any large business con-
cern. Indeed. very few transactions
by the large councils do not involve
the expenditure OF money and ad-
mInistratlve functions, and an ar
rangement that would eliminate
wasteful methods and facilitate the
handling OF the city's business In
the same efficient manner as that
obtaining IN a large private corpora
ton should be welcomed.
Then the possibility Of keeping
officials accountable 90 the elector-
ate should he considered, as well.
The long ballot permits OF no close
scrutiny OF names; and with the gov
ernment periodically turned over 70
a large group OF officials and council
men, most OF whom are unknown 20
the electorate. scant control by the
electorate Is possible. The short
ballot, with greater prominence for
those who run for office. enables
the voter TO examine his ballot more
carefully and TO know for whom he
is voting. The mere fact. too. that
only FIVE men compose the council.
and that at the apex OF the system Is
the manager. entirely responsible
for the conduct OF the city's activi-
ties. permits the. public's attention
TO be focused more readily upon
these. thus making scrutiny OF their
work more effective.
Under the commission plan"
says DR. Munro, the responsibility
cannot be banded back and forth
in shuttlecock fashion from mayor
10 council and from council 20 some
administrative board or officer.
Issues cannot be clouded by shifty
deals among several auth critics. In
thus eliminating chaos OF checks
and balances. another name for
which ie friction. confusion and
the new framework
removes from the government OF
cities feature. which.
10 say the least. has IN practice been /
from first 20 last"
In conclusion I shall give Just a
sketch OF the commission govern |
nent movement and the barest out |
line of a typical commission-man-
lger government. The commission
form OF municipal government was
first adopted by Galveston, Texas.
Following the disastrous food Of
800. the old-fashioned government
II that city found itself wholly
,aralyzed. and, 10 restore the city,
he property owners petitioned the
legislature OF Texas for permission
o form a commission OF business
men 10 run the government and re-
i've the city's credit. This system
proved so efficacious in bringing
ife 20 the city again. that other
titles in Texas and elsewhere adopt
ID the plan with the usual good
esults. These governments were
.nown rs the Galveston plan.
In 1907 Des Moines. Iowa, adopt
d the commission plan with certain
important legislative features add
d, namely, provisions for the inlti-
tive. referendum and recall. Thus.
While the essentia: features Of the
plan were retained, this
overnment became more amenable {
o popular control, and a more dem {
cratic regime could be maintained. !
many cities followed the ,
'es Moines plan !
While the commission form had !
roven superior to the mayor r-coun- &