eir assault upon our main
contention:

First, that the evils in American city government are not
attributable to the fundamental principles of that government;
second, that the principles underlying the proposed form are in
themselves wrong and are not consonant generally with American
ideals. It remains to be shown that the commission form is
impracticable as a general scheme for the government of all American
cities.

We can very well agree that where the commission form of government
has been tried it has been productive of some good results, and
further, that in certain homogeneous communities of high culture and
intelligence it might work with considerable success; but that the
result obtained in cities where the commission form has been tried
would warrant the universal adoption of it by American cities we
must deny.

We deny the wisdom of adopting the commission form for it results in
inadequate responsibility; third, it could never work in the vast
majority of American cities. These reasons are apparent from
examinations of the commission form where it has been and is being
tried, and are inherent in the plan itself.

The tremendous centralization of power under this form of city
government cannot escape a critical observer. A small body of men
have absolute sway over the destiny of the city. They make all laws
from the minutely specified contract for a water system to all
important school legislation. All franchises are engineered by
them. All contracts, great and small, are let by them. The city's
bonded debt is in their hands; by them the city is taxed and
incumbered. Parks, police, streets, education, public buildings,
engineering, finance--everything from the smallest administrative
duty to the all-engrossing functions of legislation devolves upon
this commission. They can vacate any office, can create any office,
and without limit fix any salary they choose. The entire
officialdom, outside of the commission itself, and all the employes
and the servants of the city are by law made the agents, servants,
and dependents of the council. The possibilities for machine power
with this autocratic centralization of authority are without
condition. We can demonstrate this best by giving practical
illustrations taken from the active operation of the commission