Aberdeen Herald

Aberdeen, the Standpatter.

Aberdeen is one of the very few cities in the nation that clings to the antiquated ward-councilmanic system of government, and its thoughtful citizens are asking: Why? When the effort to adopt the commission form was made four years ago it was defeated by a narrow margin—largely because the people were afraid of the new plan, and preferred to have it tried out by other communities.

The Allen law, under which cities of this class operate, has now been in force for more than four years, and it is a high testimonial to its author, Senator Allen of North Yakima, that although two sessions of the legislature have been held since its adoption, not a word has been changed, added to or subtracted from that law. Nearly all the cities of the state have adopted this modern plan, and none of them dream of returning to the old method.

It needs no argument to prove that three commissioners always on the job, receiving reasonable compensation, are calculated to give better attention to the somewhat complicated business affairs of the city than are thirteen men, at nominal salaries, meeting once a week. The records of Aberdeen abound in instances of unwise legislation and wasteful expenditure of public money, the responsibility for which can be definitely traced to no man or set of men. In fact, no person or persons appear to have been responsible—the system was and is to blame. Not a meeting of the city council is held that does not illustrate the travesty upon modern business methods that prevails.

Mayor Phillips recognized the faults of the present system when he named an advisory committee of citizens to aid in the Wynooche water project. A comparison of the city governments of Aberdeen and Hoquiam will reveal to the most casual observer the advantages the latter possesses over the former, and a suggestion in our sister city to return to the old system would be treated as a joke. A number of prominent citizens are planning an organization to have the question of a change to the more modern plan submitted to the voters within a few months, and if such an action is taken, the Herald predicts an overwhelming majority in favor of the change.