1. The organization of the national parties is permanent, and that of any citizens' movement temporary.
2. There has been bargaining between the parties to reward political services by city offices. Daily papers, March 12-20, 1909; March 3-15, 1910.
1. Contracts must be passed on separately by aldermen, common councilmen, and the mayor. Present city charter, sections 19-21.
2. Bargains are made between the aldermen representing different wards. Daily papers, October 3, 1908; January 25, 1910.
1. Heads of departments are responsible to the two boards and not to the mayor. Present city charter, section 15.
2. Accounts are submitted to separate committees of the two boards in which no members have special responsibility. Present city charter, sections 22-23.
II. The adoption of the plan will result in important economies; for
A. The administration of city affairs will be made simpler; since
1. The councilmen will both lay out the work and be responsible for the execution of it. Draft or charter, sections 5 and 13.
2. Plans for work in all departments will be considered together.
3. A small body with full powers can make better bargains than two larger ones acting independently.
B. The plan has resulted in economies where it has been tried; for
1. In Des Moines, Iowa, the first year under the new charter showed a relative saving of $182,949.65 as compared with the year before. C. R. Woodruff, as cited, p. 250.
2. In Haverhill, Massachusetts, in the first year of commission government a deficit of $79,452 was turned into a surplus of $36,511, after paying off indebtedness to the extent of $133,000. C. R. Woodruff, as cited, p. 278.
1'. Though a despatch in a daily paper (April 3, 1911) declares that the city of Haverhill has been forced to borrow, yet the report is untrustworthy without further evidence; for
a'. In itself it is contradictory and confused; and
b'. It is known that professional politicians and other enemies of the plan have often spread false reports about it. McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, p. 107.
1. The councilmen will both lay out the work and be responsible for the execution of it. Draft or charter, sections 5 and 13.
2. Plans for work in all departments will be considered together.
3. A small body with full powers can make better bargains than two larger ones acting independently.
1. In Des Moines, Iowa, the first year under the new charter showed a relative saving of $182,949.65 as compared with the year before. C. R. Woodruff, as cited, p. 250.
2. In Haverhill, Massachusetts, in the first year of commission government a deficit of $79,452 was turned into a surplus of $36,511, after paying off indebtedness to the extent of $133,000. C. R. Woodruff, as cited, p. 278.
1'. Though a despatch in a daily paper (April 3, 1911) declares that the city of Haverhill has been forced to borrow, yet the report is untrustworthy without further evidence; for
a'. In itself it is contradictory and confused; and
b'. It is known that professional politicians and other enemies of the plan have often spread false reports about it. McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, p. 107.
a'. In itself it is contradictory and confused; and
b'. It is known that professional politicians and other enemies of the plan have often spread false reports about it. McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, p. 107.
III. The adoption of the plan will result in more efficient service to the city; for
A. A better class of citizens will be drawn into office; for
1. City officials can plan and carry out their policies without petty interference;
2. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the commission, employed a civic-service expert, and carried out his recommendations. J. J. Hamilton, as cited, p. 180.
3. In Galveston, Texas, citizens of a better grade have taken office, and the tone of the city administration has been raised. W. B. Munro, in The Chautauquan, Vol. LI, p. 110.
B. Commission government has resulted in better administration where it has been tried; for
1. Galveston and Houston, Texas, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have all reported better police administration, improvements in streets and parks, more advantageous dealings with public-service corporations. C. J. Woodruff, as cited, pp. 242-287.
2. No city which has tried the plan has yet given it up. C. J. Woodruff, as cited, p. 310.
1'. Although Chelsea, Massachusetts, is cited as having given up a commission government, yet the case is not parallel, since
a'. The commission under which the city had lived was appointed by the governor after a disastrous conflagration; and
b'. The form of government substituted has most of the essential features of the: commission government except the size of the council, which has four members elected at large, and five by district.