The Chicago Heights Star from Chicago Heights, Illinois • Page 8

THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS STAR, FIIDAY, AECEMIER 2, 1938, CHARGE ABUSE Of AUTHOWTYIINDER PRESENTSYSTEM Handing Power to Few Dangerous, Say Ward Proponents Concentration of authority in the hands of few men is one of the most dangerous dtfecta of the commifi'ion form of government, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Citizens' Munici- party, sponsor of the proposed return to the aldermamc system 3fhe statement follow "Leading professors of government point out thit one of the most serious defects of the m- mission form is hat it too great a power in the hands of a Jew men This often results in corruptten or dishonesty, and makes it easier for those Who to 'buy' the citj government to carry out their design For a ommissioncr, be- Inf the absolute aiid supposedly responsible hoau 01 his department, and hot being subject to check or control by tt.p other commissioners, m.iy go ds far as to furnish ma'enals to others at the city's expense or he might resort to payroll padding. "On the other hand, under the aWermanic system there would te bnrtctn aldermen cheekier aid on ordinances, expenditures and payroUs Common torse-tense should tell us that tt is much easier to -buy' or slip over on four commissioners than fourteen aldermen. "A glance at the experience of Chicago Heights during the last eighteen years should convince any open-minded person that tht commission form has bean and a failure." Tears Under Aldermen "Our city operated under the aMermanic system from 1802 to 1921. During that time Chicago Heights grew bj leaps and bounds from a struggling city of 6,100 population In 1900 to a wide- awake, thriving, prosperous community of 19.8S3 people in 1920 (1930 population, 22,311) "In 1921 some of our citizens got the idea that the aldermanic system was old-fashioned and that the commission form was a step forward So, they held public meetings where out -of-town speakers urged the to adopt the commission form for these reasons 1 It was more simple 2 It would result in better qualified officials who would devote six hours daily to their duties "3 It would be more and would centralize responsibility "4 It would restrain certain 'evils' in a 'marked degree' "5 It would effect greater econ. omy in city government "6 It would reduce the city's debts "On February 15, 1921, by a votej of for to 1,460 against, the citizens adopted the commission form.

Now, bearing in mind the ibove let's took over the last eighteen years and see what our experience with the commis'iion form discloses" fToo Is Charge "First the commission form has been simple--in fact, too simple tat some people. Special- privilege groups have found it a simple task to elect or 'line up 1 tte three men necessary eon- trol the dty government. "Secondly--We leave it to the individual voter to dedde lor hlm- seK whether or tot the commission form has brought our dty better qualified officiate, Even when qualified commissioners were elected ttey were Further, a tap to the aty hall win convince anyone that not ja commissioners have taken the 1 six-hour daily requirement of the law very seriously" Efficiency Questioned "Thirdly--The efflcicrcy of the commission form, due to a great exent to the concentration of the city government in a few hands, has been openly- and often demonstrated In Chicago Heights by the ease with which certain special- privilege groups have been able to secure desired ordinances and favors by merely controling three of the five men If other two didn't 'go they were 'shelved' "And, If the commission form has centralized responsibility, of what value has it been when we consider that eighteen years of commission form has brought Chicago Heights a higher city tax rate, BORDEN'S CHEESE 239c MNCAKI FLOUR PANCAKE FLOUR IION FIG BARS 3 25c ANN PAGE BEANS 4 25c ANN PAGE MACARONI 13t and bow M4caroru ANN PAGE SALAD DRESSING 29t SPAIKU DESSERTS 6 25c ANN KETCHUP 12c ENCOBE NOODLES. 10c SIINNYFitn PANCAKE FLOUR 8e HAJAH BLENDED SYRUP OLD MANSE SYRUP tOUDEM EASLE HAND MILK COLLEGE INN SOUPS COLLEGE INN 12 02 IOTHE uoz 9 15 OZ 00. CANS 19e CHICKEN ALA KING 32e SAUERKRAUT 4 REX MINERAL SOAP WILSON CHILI CON CARNE WILSON TAMALES FRENCH BIRD SEED AMERICAN FAMILY SOAP FLAKES 19c CAN tOe IOC 15e 2 LARGE 1Qn PKGS V0G Small pi, tc 2 Lbs 'M 4.11/iI'Etlll IT 12 for Oregon 5 Lbs 25 SAVE ON FINE COFFEE AT APl OUR BIGGEST SELLER! EIGHT O'CLOCK COFFEE 39 BOKAR COFFEE jC AP FOOD STORES 1610 OTTO BLVD.

AP 27 ILLINOIS ST. I A SALE FKID and SATURDAY PICNIC STYLE YEARLING 4 PORK ROAST 13c LEG o'LAMB 11 IOC RIB CUT 3U4LI.JUe. PORK LOIN u. ROAST 1 SHORT CUT OCLEGo'VEAL EGVIOMY CUT a higher monthly payroll, an increased bonded indebtadixtc, higher offldal salaries, higher business Beanees, bnrtantome and unnecessary special assessments, new taxing bodies, a of a proper share of WPA projects, 'Corrigan' street signs, and other things too numerous to mention. 1 IMsf" Vcntst "Fourthly--What 'evils' the commission form was supposed to restrain In.a 'marked degree 1 war not enumerated in 1931.

However, since 1921 unto the present time, and in spite of the 'Clean Up the slogan of the last dry election, we feel certain that no one dares claim today that the commission form has restrained any tn the contrary, thert are many who believe that the concentration of power in the hands of five men has permitted certain 'evils' to flourish "In our next stafarnent we will cite facts and figures to show that, contrary to what was promised la 1921, the commission form has Increased the cost of dty government and hat added to our dty indebtedness" Letters from Readers Dear Editot of Star I have lived in Chicago Heights for forty years and always worked with our dty government, trying to make a blggc and better Chicago Heights. Knowing all this, I am asked by hundreds of my friends which form of government I like best My answer is always the st me--aldermamc form of government The city started about thirty- eight years ago as a city, then elected aldermen, city clerk, attorney, mayor They began improving the city at once and continued until the present form took effect. Practically all improvements have now stopped. Most of our citizens think we have no talent qualified to represent the East side We have plect- some very good men from the East side in the past; to mention a few, Thomas Bonick, A. Sauter, H.

Badenius, F. Fogg, Louis Ursitti and plenty others, including two of the present commissioners. We have some of these men still available for Office. So 1 say, Vote aldermanic on the 13th of the month and help the city grow to a bigger and better Chicago Heights. Respectfully submitted, Delbert H.

Johnson, 1343 Washington street NEW CONVENTIONS Proposals for constitutional conventions in Illinois have been submitted only twice since 1870. The 1918 proposal carried, the one 1934 was defeated WARD RULE NOT SAYS OPPOSITION of Commiwion System Emphasize Its That the ward system c' government is not actually representative from a city-wide standpoint Is one of the argumants advanced by file Committee Opposed to AUermanfc Form of Government, in a ment released yesterday. The statement is one of i series Issued liy both sides in the controversy over tiie relative merits of the commission and aldermanic systems. The opposition committee's statement "The simple question which the voters must decide on Tuesday, December 13, is what possible good could now be accomplished for Chicago Height: bv going back to the old ward and aldermanic form of government, which was discarded here almost twenty years ago. "Chicago Heights cor'-nue to be a progressive city It must be a better city.

It must always be a united city, and it must never be a city divided against itself "We have pointed out before that the business of running a dty is administrative. It is not political, and while the aldermanic form of government would put more people on the dty council, it does not follow that more would be accomplished for the city, ana past history of the old ward form shows that lesf is accomplished than under the commission form" Responsibility to City "We also contend that the aider- manic form is not a representative government It is only representative to the extent that the aldermen represent their own wards, and we contend that you cannot have city-wide representation unless you make the members of the council responsible to the entire citizenship by election at laige. "We have had the commission form of government in Chicago Heights since and no one has shown where the commission form has not met the of Chicago Heights in a better way than the old ward and aldermanic form. "Has the commission form of government failed to work in Chicago Heights' That is the question the people must dedde for themselves, and also, as stated above, The of the Christmas Spirit ENJOY THE MUSIC YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT IT with a It. C.

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Another print is that under the al- Uermanic form each voter casts, a vote for only one-seventh of'the membership of the council, and he has a voice In the election of only two of the total membership of the council How about tte other twelve? "Finally, we submit tte following brief for the commission form of governmwife "The commission form of ernment will keep Chicago a united city. "The commission form is a direct and busintcsUke way o' administering the affairs of city Fixes Responsibility commission form definitely fixes responsibility on each citv official so tha it canno be "The commiFsion form makes the city official responsible foi all parts of Chicago Heights and to all citizens nlike "The commission form provide' a system of local government at work every day "The commission form of government is a more modern plan and replaces the old system where there was a dhislon of power which hindered and obstructed the of the city. "A direct result of the commission form of government is the promptness and effectiveness of action. "The commission form of government provides the machinery of local government suitable to the work it must perform. commisrfo ftrm el ernment uquires that ORS commissions be responsible for the and maintain! HI fire to the rtreeto and alleys clean and in repair, another to toJt ifttr the public property af otter to supervise tht revenue.

Every commissioner must accept his individual responsibility. -Under the commisafan Arm. every dttsea is represented by ev- ery member of the comriisslo'i. Be baa a vote In their nomination and election. "The fundamental principle rf the commission toon of goveir- ment is that offlda! rwponsibilm abail be definitely fixed and th it shall be fixed or.

Just those offi citls elected by the people. the commission form government the council is dlrectlv charged with and is responstbl. the entire administration dty affairs." Many Designs Compltte Selection Personal CHristmas Cards $1 I Beautiful Cards With Envelopes tuner with your iwnw. Choke of tractive drngm ind colon. OTHER ATTRACTIVE CARDS SO for $1.50 and up WILLIAMS PRESS STAR BUILDING 1526 Otto Boulevard The Store of the Christmas Spirit LIONEL ELECTRIC TRAINS Seperate Tracks Switches Tunnels Stations and Extra Cars all here at Chicago Heights' Electric Train Headquarters- FUN FOR DAD AS WELL AS SON Ideas for Track Arrangements-- Remote Control Switches-- The New Automatic Coupling Track and other new ideas are here for you to see-- Expert attendant in charge.

Passenger Trains 9.75 27.JO Exact replicas of America's Most Famous Passenger Trains shown in operation. Freight Trains 9.75 27.30 of the types that hauls all kinds of freight-- oil, refrigerator cars, derricks, RAU'S Famous Toy Department Second Floor.