plan show that by the use
of business principles the commissioners have economized in the
administration of the city's government.

The commission plan is adapted to the city's finances because it
provides a superior safeguard. Legislative bodies in our cities have
been depended upon to represent the citizens' best interest. In
practice, as we have pointed out, they have not done so. Never in
the history of our municipal affairs, says Henry D.F. Baldwin, has a
legislative body stood out as the representatives of the people
against the administrative department. Why then continue a
representative body which does not in fact represent? Instead of the
withered form of a council or legislative body standing between the
citizen and his government the commission plan simply removes this
useless obstacle and allows the citizen to participate directly in
the government. This is directly in harmony with the
well-established economic principle that the self-interest of the
taxpayer will control where responsibility is fixed.

Mr. Charles Briggs, the third speaker on the Negative, said:

It will be well while the matter is fresh in our minds, Honorable
Judges, to make a brief examination of one matter of which the
Affirmative are making a feature, that the commission form affords
unusual safeguards for the financial and economic interests of the
city. Now, in all fairness to the scheme which is doing quite well
in a very few of our smaller cities, the question ought to be raised
as to what other form of city government could be devised which
would provide greater opportunities for graft and corruption. A
little group of autocrats is the ideal form for which the ardent
corruptionists might pray. They have it in the commission form.
Exemplary men in office or a constant civic interest, may prevent
the commissioners from becoming a band of robbers; but are these two
preventives likely always to exist? Human experience says "No." The
history of New Orleans and Sacramento confirm that decision. Civic
interest is bound to subside; corrupt men are sure to become
commissioners. Then the oligarchy advocated by the Affirmative
becomes not a "safeguard" but a band of raiders equipped by the very
form of government to loot the treasury. We must insist, at this
point, that our opponents have failed in th