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Show NEEDS PROBING INTO. Tt docs not appear that the commission commis-sion form of govornmcnt has brought about complote satisfaction to Des Moines, Iowa, which is often quoted as an illustrious example of the beneficial workings of that form. Although Des Moines has had that form of government govern-ment for a number of years, and its benefits havo been dinned into the public pub-lic car on tho authority of Des Moines, it is now found that a Bureau of Public Pub-lic Efficiency and Economy- is necessary neces-sary in that city. This is a private organization, or-ganization, controlled by what is called "the Greater Des Moines Committee," which aims apparently to take the control con-trol of tho city affairs out of the hands of tho commission, and manage municipal munici-pal affairs to suit itself, partly by direct di-rect action and partly through subsidiary sub-sidiary organizations, like tho Bureau of Public Efficiency and Economy, which wo now hear about for tho first time. Jt is said, that this new bureau will resemble the Bureau of Municipal Research in New York City; "every- tbing in the line of municipal administration admin-istration will bo probed info, and the citizens will be kept thoroughly in-formod." in-formod." That is rather an alarming development develop-ment to arise in a city which enjoys the heavon-ordained oommiision system of government. It. pooms that that commission com-mission form needs to have its operations opera-tions probed into, and that it will be necessary to hnvo tho citizens "thoroughly "thor-oughly informed" as to what is going on. It has been insisted heretofore that, the commission form of government govern-ment was plain, simplo, direct, efficient; effi-cient; that, overy citizen was sure to know what was being done, and that everything would bo dono for tho best. Spocifically, wo havo boen assured that that, is tho result of a commission form in Des Moines. And now that pleasnnt dream is luridly lur-idly dispelled, and we find a Bureau of Municipal Rosoarch needed to probe into municipal affairs and inform the pooplc of whnt is going on; and that back of this bureau is "tho Greater Des Moines Committeo," which apparently appar-ently holds itself responsible over nnd abovo Uio commissioners who nominally nominal-ly govern tho city, for what is going on. It is a curious outgrowth from what was supposed to be a porfoct system; sys-tem; and it may be a forecast of what wo aro coming to after a while in Salt Lake. |