LIBRARY 
 
 University of California. 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 
 Class 
 
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 ■!008 with funding from 
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 ADOPTED BY TWL UI 
 
 SPECIAL ELECTION HELD 
 JUNE 20TH, 1907 
 
 The euECTioN of the New Council (Commis- 
 sioners) PROVIDED FOR IN THE ACT WILL. TAKE 
 
 PLACE IN March, 1908. Following this elec- 
 tion THE "Plan" will become operative on and 
 after April 1st. 
 
 (fliimiiUmiPtttg of ti^g 
 Commercial Club 
 
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CONTENTS 
 
 PAG« 
 
 Bnbfc?r.v, 6t?c. 5-b 10 
 
 Civil Service. Sec. 14 _ 17 
 
 Contracts with city, int^ /-. >.i. in jUOuUiU'd, Sw;. i;> .„ 15 
 
 Contracts with Public Service Companies, prohibited, Sea 
 
 13 — if^ 
 
 Conimissions, Civil Service, Sec. 14-a-b-c-n ^ 17-20^ 
 
 Candidates, how to become, Sec. 5 « 
 
 Candidates assisting for pay prohibited, Sec. 5-A 10 
 
 Departments, city of, Sec. 7 1^ 
 
 Examination of books and accounts. Sec. ' -_ 20 
 
 Election of officers. Sec. 4 ^ 
 
 Initiative, ordinances by the people, Sec. 19 -_- 2H 
 
 Merit system established. Sec. 14 „_.._17-20 
 
 Officials to be elected, Sec. 4 t) 
 
 Officers elected by Council, Sec. 8 __ 12 
 
 Ordinances, Sees. 12-19 15-24 
 
 Primary, nomination for office, See. 5 — ^ 
 
 Powers of City Council, Sees. 6-7-8-9 IMJ^ 
 
 Political or machine politics, a crime, Sec. 13 15 
 
 Petition by voters. Sec. 22 26 
 
 Recall, right of, Sec. 18 ., -^^-^2 
 
 Referendum, franchise voted upon. Sec. 12 ..-. 15 
 
 Return, to present system, Sec. 21 25-26 
 
 Rights, of people, Sees. 11-12:18-19 .. H-16 
 
 Removal, of officials by the people, Sec, 18 - --21 
 
 Statement of receipts and expenditures. Sec. 15 
 State Statutes, remaining unchanged, Sec. Z 
 Salaries, Mayor and CouneiimcTn, Sec. 10 
 Words and terms defined, Sec. 17 
 
 m 
 
.H^ 
 
 
 'ore\v^arc 
 
 The new municipal charter, known as the "Des 
 Moines Plan" of City Government, was not the out- 
 come of a crisis, or the issue of a sporadic reform move- 
 ment, but was rather the direct result of strong con- 
 victions on the part of the business men. This 
 led to an agitation favoring the application of 
 business methods to the management of our municipal 
 affairs, and resulted in the recent adoption, by the citi- 
 zens of Des Moines, of a charter which embodies many 
 new ideas in local self-government. Its adoption 
 presents the most important as well as the most radical 
 experiments in municipal government ever attempted in 
 the United States and its many unusual features are at- 
 tracting favorable comments throughout the country. 
 
 The following is an exact copy of the law, printed 
 in sections, together with a short statement, just above 
 each section, stating in clear and concise language the 
 principal features of that portion. 
 
 163601 
 
The Des Moines Plan 
 of City Government.... 
 
Section 1. This law applies only to cities having a popula- 
 tion of or exceeding 25,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Sec. 2. Upon the presentation of a petition, signed by elec- 
 tors equal in number to 25 per cent of all votes cast for all 
 candidates for mayor at the last preceding city election, the 
 question of adopting this plan of government shall be sub- 
 mitted to the voters. 
 
 Provides the manner of submitting the question to a vote 
 of the people. 
 
 An Act to provide for the government of certain cities, and the 
 adoption thereof by special election "additional to Title V 
 (five) of the Code." 
 
 Be It Enacted hy the General Assembly of the State of Iowa: 
 
 Section 1. That any city of the first class, or with special 
 charter, now or hereafter having a population of twenty-five 
 thousand or over, as shown by the last preceding State census, 
 may become organized as a city under the provisions of this act 
 by proceeding as hereinafter provided. 
 
 Sec. 2. Upon petition of electors equal in number to twenty- 
 five percentum of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor at 
 the last preceding city election of any such city, the mayor shall 
 by proclamation, submit the question of organizing as a city 
 under this act at a special election to be held at a time specified 
 therein, and within two months after said petition is filed. If 
 said plan is not adopted at the special election called, the ques- 
 tion of adopting said plan shall not be resubmitted to the voters 
 of said city for adoption within two years thereafter, and then 
 the question to adopt shall be resubmitted upon the presentation 
 of a petition signed by electors equal in number to twenty-five 
 percentum of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor at the 
 last preceding general city election. 
 
 At such election the proposition to be submitted shall be, 
 "Shall the proposition to organize the city or (name of a city), 
 
 —4— 
 
under chapter (naming the chapter containing this act) of the 
 acts of the Thirty-second General Assembly, be adopted?" and 
 the election thereupon shall be conducted, the vote canvassed, 
 and the result declared in the same manner as provided by law 
 in respect to other city elections. If the majority of the votes 
 cast shall be in favor thereof, the city shall thereupon proceed 
 to the election of a mayor and four (4) councilmen, as herein- 
 after provided. Immediately after such proposition is adopted, 
 the mayor shall transmit to the Governor, to the Secretary of 
 State, and to the county auditor, each a certificate stating that 
 such proposition was adopted. 
 
 At the regular city election after the adoption of such propo- 
 sition, there shall be elected a mayor and four (4) councilmen. 
 In the event, however, that the next regular city election does 
 not occur within one year after such special election, the mayor 
 shall, within ten days after such special election, by proclamation, 
 call a special election for the election of a mayor and four coun- 
 cilmen, sixty days' notice thereof being given in such call; such 
 election in either case to be conducted as hereinafter provided. 
 
 Section 3. All State laws not in conflict or inconsistent with 
 this law are retained and remain in full force and effect. 
 
 All contracts, rights and liabilities remain the same as 
 under the present form of government. 
 
 Sec. 3. All laws governing cities of the first class and not in- 
 consistent with the provisions of this act, and sections 955, 95t>, 
 959, 964, 989, 1000, 1023, and 1053 of the Code now applicable to 
 special charter cities and not inconsistent with the provisions 
 of this act shall apply to and govern cities organized under this 
 act. All by-law, ordinances and resolutions lawfully passed and 
 in force in any such city under its former organization shall re- 
 main in force until altered or repealed by the council elected 
 under the provisions of this act. The territorial limits of such 
 city shall remain the same as under its former organization, and 
 all rights and property of every description which were vested 
 in any such city under its former organization, shall vest in the 
 same under the organization herein contemplated, and no right 
 
 —5— 
 
or liability either in favor of or against it, existing at the time, 
 and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such 
 change, unless otherwise provided for in this act. 
 
 Section 4. A mayor and four councilmen (or aldermen) 
 shall be nominated and elected at large. They shall hold 
 office for two years and in case a vacancy occurs the remaining 
 members shall appoint to fill the vacancy. 
 
 Sec. 4. In every such city there shall be elected at the regular 
 biennial municipal election, a mayor and four councilmen. 
 
 If any vacancy occurs in any such office the remaining mem- 
 bers of said council shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy 
 during the balance of the unexpired term. 
 
 Said officers shall be nominated and elected at large. Said 
 officers shall qualify and their" terms of office shall begin on the 
 first Monday after their election. The terms of office of the 
 mayor and councilmen or aldermen in such city in office at the 
 beginning of the terms of office of the mayor and councilmen first 
 elected under the provisions of this act shall then cease and de- 
 termine, and the terms of office of all other appointive officers in 
 force in such city, except as hereinafter provided, shall cease and 
 determine as soon as the council shall by resolution declare. 
 
 Section 5. This section prescribes in detail the manner in 
 which the mayor and city councilmen are elected, and provides 
 for a non-partisan primary for nominations. 
 
 Sec. 5. Candidates to be voted for at all general municipal 
 elections at which a mayor and four councilmen are to be elected 
 under the provisions of this act shall be nominated by a pri- 
 mary election, and no other names shall be placed upon the 
 general ballot except those selected in the manner hereinafter 
 prescribed. Tlie primary election for such nomination shall be 
 held on the second Monday preceding the general municipal elec- 
 tion. The judges of election appointed for the general municipal 
 election shall be the judges of the primary election, and it shall 
 be held at the same place, so far as possible, and the polls shall 
 
 —6— 
 
be opened and closed at the same hours, with the same clerks 
 as are required for said general municipal election. 
 
 Any person desiring to become a candidate for mayor or coun- 
 cilman shall, at least ten days prior to said primary election, file 
 with the said clerk a statement of such candidacy, in substan- 
 tially the following form: 
 
 State of Iowa, County. — ss. 
 
 I ( ) being first duly sworn, say that 1 
 
 reside at street, city of county 
 
 of State of Iowa; that I am a qualified voteiT 
 
 therein; that I am a candidate for nomination to the office of 
 (mayor or councilman) to be voted upon at the primary election 
 
 to be held on the Monday of 19__ 
 
 and I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official 
 primary ballot for nomination by such primary election for such 
 office. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by 
 
 on this day of 19-- 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 and shall at the same time file therewith the petition of at least 
 twenty-five qualified voters requesting such candidacy. Each peti- 
 tion shall be verified by one or more persons as to the qualifica- 
 tions and residence, with street number, of each of the persons 
 so signing the said petition, and the said petition shall be in sub- 
 stantially the following form: 
 
 PETITION ACCOMPANYING NOMINATING STATEMENT. 
 
 The undersigned, duly qualified electors of the city of , 
 
 and residing at the places set opposite our respective names 
 hereto, do hereby request that the name of (name of candidate) 
 be placed on the ballot as a candidate for nomination for (name 
 of office) at the primary election to be held in such city on 
 the Monday of 19 We further state that 
 
 —7— 
 
we know him to be a qualified elector oi' said city and a man of 
 good moral character and qualified in our judgment for the duties 
 of such office. 
 
 Names of -kt i_ o.x 4. 
 
 Qualified Electors. Number. Streets. 
 
 Immediately upon the expiration of the time of filing the 
 statements and petitions for candidacies, the said city clerk shall 
 cause to be published for three successive days in all the daily 
 newspapers published in the city, in proper form, the names of 
 the persons as they are to appear upon the primary ballots, and 
 if there be no daily newspaper, then in two issues of any other 
 newspapers that may be published in said city; and the said 
 clerk shall thereupon cause the primary ballots to be printed, 
 authenticated with a fac simile of his signature. Upon -the said 
 ballot the names of the candidates for mayor, arranged alphabeti- 
 cally, shall first be placed, with a square at the left of each 
 name, and immediately below the words "Vote for one." Follow- 
 ing these names, likewise arranged in alphabetical order, shall 
 appear the names of the candidates for councilmen, with a square 
 at the left of each name and below the names of such candidates 
 shall appear the words, "Vote for four." The ballots shall be 
 printed upon plain, substantial white paper, and shall be headed: 
 
 CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION FOR MAYOR AND COUN- 
 CILMEN OF CITY AT THE PRIMARY ELECTION. 
 
 Out shall have no party designation or mark whatever. The bal- 
 lots shall be in substantially the following form: 
 
 (Place a cross in the square preceding the names of the parties 
 you favor as candidates for the respective positions.) 
 
OFFICIAL PRIMARY BALLOT. 
 
 CANDIDATE FOR NOMINATION FOR MAYOR AND COUN- 
 CILMEN OF CITY AT THE PRIMARY ELECTION. 
 
 For Mayor, 
 D (Name of Candidate.) 
 (Vote for one.) 
 
 For Councilman, 
 D (Name of Candidate.) 
 (Vote for four.) 
 
 Official ballot attest: 
 ( Signature) 
 
 City Clerk. 
 
 Having caused said ballots to be printed, the said city clerk 
 shall cause to be delivered at each polling place a number of said 
 ballots equal to twice the number of votes cast in such polling 
 precinct at the last general municipal election for mayor. The 
 persons who are qualified to vote at the general municipal elec- 
 tion shall be qualified to vote at such primary election, and chal- 
 lenges can be made by not more than two persons, to be ap- 
 pointed at the time of opening the polls by the judges of elec- 
 tion; and the law applicable to challenges at a general muni- 
 cipal election shall be applicable to challenges made at such pri- 
 mary election. Judges of election shall, immediately upon the 
 closing of the polls, count the ballots and ascertain the number 
 of votes cast in such precinct for each of the candidates, and 
 make return thereof to the city clerk, upon proper blanks to be 
 furnished by the said clerk, within six hours of the closing of 
 the polls. On the day following the said primary election the 
 said city clerk shall canvass said returns so received from all the 
 polling precincts, and shall make and publish in all the news- 
 papers of said city at least once, the result thereof. Said can- 
 vas by the city clerk shall be publicly made. The two candidates 
 
 —9— 
 
receiving the highest number of votes for mayor shall be the 
 candidates and the only candidates whose names shall be placed 
 upon the ballot for mayor at the next succeeding general muni- 
 cipal election, and the eight candidates receiving the highest 
 number of votes for councilman, or all such candidates if less 
 than eight, shall be the candidates and the only candidates whose 
 names shall be placed upon the ballot for councilman at such 
 municipal election. 
 
 All electors of cities under this act who by the laws govern- 
 ing cities of the first class and cities acting under special charter 
 would be entitled to vote for the election of officers at any 
 general municipal election in such cities, shall be qualified to 
 vote at all elections under this act; and the ballot at such 
 general municipal election shall be in the same general form as 
 for such primary election, so far as applicable, and in all elec- 
 tions in such city the election precincts, voting places, method of 
 conducting election, canvassing the votes and announcing the 
 results, shall be the same as by law provided for election of 
 ofiicers in such cities, so far as the same are applicable and not 
 inconsistent with the provisions of this act. 
 
 Section 5-A. This prohibits any person or candidate ac- 
 cepting from or giving money to any candidate for office to 
 secure election or appointment, and provides for the punish- 
 ment of any person who agrees to or does accept any money or 
 any valuable thing for services rendered to any candidate. 
 
 Sec. 5-A. Any person who shall agree to perform any ser- 
 vices in the interest of any candidate for any office provided in 
 this act, in consideration of any other money or other valuable 
 thing for such services performed in the interest of any candi- 
 date, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred 
 dollars ($'300), or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceed- 
 ing thirty (30) days. 
 
 Section 5-B. This section prescribes a severe penalty for 
 the acceptance or giving of any bribe to influence voters and 
 also for the violation of any election laws. 
 
 —10— 
 
Sec. 5-B. Any person offering to give a bribe, either in 
 money or other consideration, to any elector for the purpose of 
 influencing his vote at any election provided in this act, or any 
 elector entitled to vote at any such election receiving and ac- 
 cepting such bribe or other consideration; any person making 
 false answer to any of the provisions of this act relative to his 
 qualifications to vote at said election; any person wilfully vot- 
 ing or offering to vote at such election who has not been a resi- 
 dent of this State for six months next preceding said election, 
 or who is not twenty-one years of age, or is not a citizen of the 
 United States; or knowing himself not to be a qualified elector 
 of such precinct where he offers to vote; any person knowingly 
 procuring, aiding or abetting any violation hereof shall be 
 deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be 
 fined a sum not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more 
 than five hundred dollars ($500), and be imprisoned in the 
 county jail not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (90) 
 days. 
 
 Section 6. The city shall be governed by the mayor and 
 four councilmen. Majority vote of these five officials shall be 
 necessary to pass any ordinance or other measure. 
 
 Sec. 6. Every such city shall be governed by a council, con- 
 sisting of the maj'or and four councilmen, chosen as provided in 
 this act, each of whom shall have the right to vote on all ques- 
 tions coming before the council. Three members of the council 
 shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of three mem- 
 bers shall be necessary to adopt any motion, resolution or or- 
 dinance, or pass any measure, unless a greater number is pro- 
 vided for in this act. Upon every vote the yeas and nays shall 
 be called and recorded, and every motion, resolution or ordin- 
 ance shall be reduced to writing and read before the vote is 
 taken theron. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the 
 council; he shall have no power to veto any measure, but every 
 resolution or ordinance passed by the council must be signed by 
 the mayor, or by two councilmen, and be recorded, before the 
 same shall be in force. 
 
 —11— 
 
Section 7. Prescribes the powers and duties of the city 
 council and creates the five departments through which the 
 city's affairs shall be administered. 
 
 Sec. 7. The council shall have and possess and the council 
 and its members shall exercise all executive, legislative and ju- 
 dicial powers and duties now had, possessed and exercised by the 
 mayor, city council, board of public work, park commissioners, 
 board of police and fire commissioners, board of water-works 
 trustees, board of library trustees, solicitor, assessor, treasurer, 
 auditor, city engineer, and other executive and administrative 
 officers in cities of the first class and cities acting under special 
 charter. The executive and administrative powers, authority and 
 duties in such cities shall be distributed into and among five de- 
 partments, as follows: 
 
 1. Department of Public Affairs. 
 
 2. Department of Accounts and Finances. 
 
 3. Department of Public Safety. 
 
 4. Department of Streets and Public Improvements. 
 
 5. Department of Parks and Public Property. 
 
 The council shall determine the powers and duties to be per- 
 formed by, and assign them to the appropriate department; shall 
 prescribe the powers and duties of officers and employes; may 
 assign particular officers and employes to one or more of the de- 
 partments; may require an officer or employe to perform duties 
 in two or more departments; and may make such other rules and 
 regulations as may be necessary or proper for the efficient and 
 economical conduct of the business of the city. 
 
 Section 8. Provides that each member of the city council 
 shall be made superintendent of a department; also for the 
 election of other city officers by a majority vote of the city 
 council. 
 
 Sec. 8. The mayor shall be superintendent of the depart- 
 ment of Public Affairs, and the council shall at the first regular 
 meeting after election of its members designate by majority vote 
 
 —12— 
 
one councilman to be superintendent of the department of Ac- 
 counts and Finances; one to be superintendent of the depart- 
 ment of Public Safety; one to be superintendent of the depart- 
 ment of Streets and Public Improvements; and one to be superin- 
 tendent of the department of Parks and Public Property; but 
 such designation shall be changed whenever it appears that the 
 public service would be benefited thereby. 
 
 The council shall, at said first meeting, or as soon as prac- 
 ticable thereafter, elect by majority vote the following officers: 
 A city clerk, solicitor, assessor, treasurer, auditor, civil engineer, 
 city physician, marshal, chief of fire department, market master, 
 street commissioner, three library trustees, and such other officers 
 and assistants as shall be provided for by ordinance and necessary 
 to the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the city; and 
 shall appoint a police judge in those cities not having a superior 
 court. Any oflSlcer or assistant elected or appointed by the coun- 
 cil may be removed from office at any time by vote of a majority 
 of the members of the council except as otherwise provided for 
 in this act. 
 
 Section 9. This section provides for the creation and dis- 
 continuance of offices as it may be necessary for the welfare 
 of tlie city and gives autliority to the council to fix the com- 
 pensation which shall be received by officers and employes. 
 
 Sec. 9. The council shall have power from time to time to 
 create, fill and discontinue offices and employments other than 
 herein prescribed, according to their judgment of the needs of 
 the city; and,jiiay by majority vote of all the members remove 
 any such officer or employe, except as otherwise provided for in 
 this act; and may by resolution or otherwise prescribe, limit or 
 change the compensation of such officers or employes. 
 
 Section 10. Provides that the mayor and city councilmen 
 shall receive a certain salary, according to the population of 
 the city. 
 
 Sec. 10. The mayor and council shall have an office at the 
 city hall, and their total compensation shall be as follows: In 
 
 —13— 
 
elites having by the last preceding State or National census from 
 25,000 to 40,000 people, the annual salary ot the mayor shall be 
 $2,500, and of each councilman $1,800. In cities having by such 
 census from 40,000 to 60,000 people, the mayor's annual salary 
 shall be $3,000, and that each councilman $2,500; and in cities 
 having by such census over 60,000 population, the mayor's an- 
 nual salary shall be $'3,500, and that of each councilmen $3,000. 
 Such salaries shall be payable in equal monthly installments. 
 
 Any increase in salary occasioned under the provisions of this 
 scale by increase in population in any city shall commence with 
 the month next after the official publication of the census show- 
 ing such increase therein. 
 
 Every other officer or assistant shall receive such salary or. 
 compensation as the council shall by ordinance provide, payable 
 in equal monthly installments. 
 
 The salary or compensation of all other employes of such city 
 shall be fixed by the council and shall be payable monthly or at 
 such shorter periods as the council shall determine. 
 
 Section 11. Provides for regular and special nneetlngs of 
 the city council. 
 
 Sec. 11. Regular meetings of the council shall be held on the 
 first Monday after the election of councilmen, and thereafter at 
 least once each month. The council shall provide by ordinance 
 for the time of holding regular meetings, and special meetings 
 may be called from time to time by the mayor or two councilmen. 
 All meetings of the council, whether regular or special, at which 
 any person not a city officer is admitted, shall be open to the 
 public. 
 
 The mayor shall be president of the council and preside 
 at its meetings, and shall supervise all departments and report 
 to the council for its action all matters requiring attention in 
 either. The superintendent of the department of Accounts and 
 Finances shall be vice-president of the council, and in case of va- 
 cancy in the office of mayor, or the absence or inability of the 
 mayor, shall perform the duties of the mayor. 
 
 — 14_ 
 
Section 12. This section provides the manner in which ordi- 
 nances shall be passed and the means by which the rights of 
 the people are preserved in the granting of franchises. 
 
 Every ordinance, franchise and contract must be open to 
 public inspection for seven days before its final passage and 
 does not go in force for ten days thereafter. 
 
 ALL FRANCHISES TO PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS 
 MUST BE SUBMITTED TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE FOR 
 APPROVAL. 
 
 Sec. 12. Every ordinance or resolution appropriating money 
 or ordering any street improvement or sewer, or making or au- 
 thorizing the making of any contract, or granting any franchise 
 or right to occupy or use the streets, highways, bridges or public 
 places in the city for any purpose, shall be complete in the form 
 in v/hicli it is finally passed, and remain on file with the city 
 clerk for public inspection at least one week before the final 
 passage on adoption thereof. No franchise or right to occupy or 
 use the streets, highways, bridges or public places in any city 
 shall be granted, renewed or extended, except by ordinance, and 
 every franchise or grant for interurban or street railways, gas or 
 water-works, electric light or power plants, heating plants, tele- 
 graph or telephone systems, or other public service utilities with- 
 in said city, must be authorized or approved by a majority of 
 the electors voting thereon at a general or special election, as 
 provided in section 776 of the Code. 
 
 Section 13. This section prohibits any officer or employe, 
 elected or appointed, from being, either directly or indirectly 
 financially interested In any contract or job to which the city 
 is a party or in which any public service corporation is inter- 
 ested; nor shall any such officer or employe accept any service 
 favor from any such service corporations. 
 
 Every violation of this section shall be punished by heavy 
 penalty. 
 
 —15— 
 
Provides that if any city official or employe attempts to 
 influence any other city official politically, or attempts to con- 
 trol or influence appointments, either directly or indirectly, he 
 shall be subject to a fine of $300 or a term in the county jail. 
 
 Sec. 13. No officer or employe elected or appointed in any- 
 such city shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in any con- 
 tract or job for v/ork or materials, or the profits thereof, or ser- 
 vices to be furnished or performed for the city; and no such of- 
 ficer or employe shall be interested directly or indirectly, in any 
 contract or job for work or materials, or the profits thereof, or 
 services to be furnished or performed for any person, firm or 
 corporation operating interurban railway, street railway, gas 
 works, water-works, electric light or power plant, heating plant, 
 telegraph line, telephone exchange, or other public utility within 
 the territorial limits of said city. No such officer or employe 
 shall accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, 
 firm or corporation operating within the territorial limits of said 
 city, any interurban railway, street railway, gas works, water- 
 works, electric light or power plant, heating plant, telegraph 
 line or telephone exchange, or other business using or operating 
 under a public franchise, any frank, free ticket or free service, 
 or accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any such person, 
 firm or corporation, any other service upon terms more favor- 
 able than is granted to the public generally. Any violation of 
 the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor, and every 
 such contract or agreement shall be void. 
 
 Such prohibition of free transportation shall not apply to po- 
 licemen or firemen in uniform; nor shall any free service to city 
 officials heretofore provided by any franchise or ordinance be af- 
 fected by this section. Any officer or employe of such city who, by 
 solicitation or otherwise, shall exert his infiuence directly or in- 
 directly to infiuence other officers or employes of such city to 
 adopt his political views or to favor any particular person or can- 
 didate for office, or who shall in any manner contribute money, 
 labor, or other valuable thing to any person for election purposes, 
 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be 
 punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) or 
 by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty (30) 
 
 —16— 
 
Section 14. Provides for a civil service commission, fixes 
 the power of this commission and determines the manner in 
 which it shall act. 
 
 Substitutes personal merit for political pull in securing and 
 holding positions as employes. 
 
 Insures the best possible service for the city. 
 
 Merit, and not politics, the requisite. 
 
 Sec. 14. Immediately after organizing the council shall by 
 ordinance appoint three civil service commissioners, who shall 
 hold oflfice, one until the first Monday in April in the second year 
 after his appointment, one until the first Monday in April of the 
 fourth year after his appointment, and one until the first Monday 
 in April of the sixth year after his appointment. Each succeed- 
 ing council shall, as soon as practicable after organizing appoint 
 one commissioner for six years, who shall take the place of the 
 commissioner whose term of ofiice expires. The chairman of the 
 commission for each biennial period shall be the member whose 
 term first expires. No person while on the said commission shall 
 hold or be a candidate for any office of public trust. Two of said 
 members shall constitute a quorum to transact business. The 
 commissioners must be citizens of Iowa, and residents of the city 
 for more than three years next preceding their appointment. 
 
 The council may remove any of said commissioners during 
 their term of office for cause, four councilmen voting in favor of 
 such removal, and shall fill any vacancy that may occur in said 
 commission for the unexpired term. The city council shall pro- 
 vide suitable rooms in which the said civil service commission 
 may hold its meetings. They shall have a clerk, who shall keep 
 a record of all its meetings, such city to supply the said commis- 
 sion with all necessary equipment to properly attend to such busi- 
 ness. 
 
 (a) Before entering upon the duties of their office, each of 
 said commissioners shall take and subscribe an oath, which shall 
 be filed and kept in the office of the city clerk, to support the 
 Constitution of the United States and the State of Iowa, and to 
 obey the laws, and to aim to secure and maintain an honest and 
 
 —17— 
 
efficient force, free from partisan distinction or control, and to 
 perform the duties of his office to the best of his ability. 
 
 (b) Said commission shall, on the first Monday of April and 
 October of each year, or oftener if it shall be deemed necessary, 
 under such rules and regulation as may be prescribed by the 
 council, hold examinations for the purpose of determining the 
 qualifications of applicants for positions, which examination shall 
 be practical and shall fairly test the fitness of the persons exam- 
 ined to discharge the duties of the position to which they seek to 
 be appointed. Said commission shall as soon as possible after 
 such examination, certify to the council double the number of 
 persons necessary to fill vacancies who, according to its records, 
 have the highest standing for the position they seek to fill as a 
 result of such examination, and all vacancies which occur, that 
 come under the civil service, prior to the date of the next regular 
 examination, shall be filled from said list so certified; provided, 
 however, that should the list for any cause be reduced to less 
 than three for any division, then the council or the head of the 
 proper department may temporarily fill a vacancy, but not to 
 exceed thirty days. 
 
 (c) All persons subject to such civil service examination shall 
 be subject to removal from office or employment by the council 
 for misconduct or failure to perform their duties under such rules 
 and regulations as it may adopt, and the chief of police, chief of 
 the fire department, or any superintendent or foreman in charge 
 of municipal work, may peremptorily suspend or discharge any 
 subordinate then under his direction for neglect of duty or diso- 
 bedience of his orders, but shall, within twenty-four hours there- 
 after, report such suspension or discharge, and the reason there- 
 for, to the superintendent of his department, who shall thereupon 
 affirm or revoke such discharge or suspension, according to the 
 facts. 
 
 Such employe (or the office discharging or suspending him) 
 may, within five days of such ruling, appeal therefrom to the 
 council, which shall fully hear and determine the matter. 
 
 (d) The council shall have the power to enforce the attend- 
 ance of witnesses, the production of books and papers, and power 
 to administer oaths in the same manner and with like effect, and 
 
 —18— 
 
under the same penalties, as in the case of magistrates exercising 
 criminal or civil jurisdiction under the statutes of Iowa. 
 
 Said commissioners shall make annual report to the council, 
 and it may require a special report from said commission at any 
 time; and said council may prescribe such rules and regulations 
 for the proper conduct of the business of the said commission as 
 shall be found expedient and advisable, including restrictions on 
 appointment, promotions, removals for cause, roster of employes, 
 certification of records to the auditor, and restrictions on payment 
 to persons improperly employed. 
 
 (e) The council of such city shall have power to pass or- 
 dinances imposing suitable penalties for the punishment of per- 
 sons violating any of the provisions of this act relating to the 
 civil service commission. 
 
 (f) The provisions of this section shall apply to all ap- 
 pointive officers and employes of such city, except those especi- 
 ally named in section 8 of this act, commissioners of any kind 
 (laborers whose occupation requires no special skill or fitness), 
 election oflScials, and mayor's secretary and assistant solicitor, 
 where such officers are appointed; provided, however, that ex- 
 isting employes heretofore appointed, or employed after com- 
 petitive examination, or for long service under the provisions 
 of chapter 31, acts of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly, and 
 subsequent amendments thereto, shall retain their positions 
 without further examination unless removed for cause. 
 
 All officers and employes in any such city shall be elected 
 or appointed with reference to their qualifications and fitness, 
 and for the good of the public service, and without reference 
 to their political faith or party affiliations. 
 
 It shall be unlawful for any candidate for office, or any of- 
 ficer in any such city, directly or indirectly, to give or promise 
 any person or persons any office, position, employment, benefit, 
 or anything of value, for the purpose of infiuencing or obtain- 
 ing the political support, aid or vote of any person or persons. 
 
 Every elective officer in any such city shall, within thirty 
 days after qualifying, file with the city clerk, and publish at 
 least once in a daily newspaper of general circulation, his 
 sworn statement of all his election and campaign expenses, and 
 by whom such funds were contributed. 
 
 —19— 
 
Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be a 
 misdemeanor and be a ground for removal from office. 
 
 Section 15. This section provides for complete publicity 
 of city affairs, requiring a monthly statement of all receipts 
 and expenditures the same to be given to the newspapers. It 
 also further provides for an annual examination of the books of 
 the city. 
 
 Sec. 15. The council shall each month print in pamphlet 
 form a detailed itemized statement of all receipts and expenses 
 of the city and a summary of its proceedings during the pre- 
 ceding month, and furnish printed copies thereof to the state 
 library, the city library, the daily newspapers of the city, and 
 to persons who shall apply therefor at the office of the city 
 clerk. At the end of each year the council shall cause a full 
 and complete examination of all the books and accounts of the 
 city to be made by competent accountants, and shall publish 
 the result of such examination in the manner above provided 
 for publication of statements of monthly expenditures. 
 
 Section 16. The first city council may revise, repeal or 
 change any appropriation made to take effect during the first 
 year of their term of office. 
 
 Sec. 16. It at the beginning of the term of office of the 
 first council elected in such city under the provisions of this 
 act, the appropriations for the expenditures of the city govern- 
 ment for the current fiscal year have been made, said council 
 shall have power, by ordinance, to revise, to repeal or change 
 said appropriations and to make additional appropriations. 
 
 Section 17. This section explains the meaning of certain 
 words and terms as used in this law. 
 
 Sec. 17. In the construction of this act the following rules 
 shall be observed, unless such construction would be incon- 
 sistent with the manifest intent, or repugnant to the context of 
 the statute: 
 
 —20— 
 
1. The words "councilman" or "alderman" shall be con- 
 strued to mean "councilman" when applied to cities under this 
 act. 
 
 2. When an office or officer is named in any law referred to 
 in this act, it shall, when applied to cities under this act, be 
 construed to mean the office or officer having the same func- 
 tions or duties under the provisions of this act, or under or- 
 dinances passed under authority thereof. 
 
 3. The word "franchise" shall include every special privi- 
 lege in the streets, highways and public places of the city, 
 whether granted by the State or the city, which does not belong 
 to the citizens generally by common right. 
 
 4. The word "electors" shall be construed to mean persons 
 qualified to vote for elective offices at regular municipal elec- 
 tions. 
 
 Section 18. This section establishes the right of recall, that 
 is provides the ways and means by which a dishonest or Incom- 
 petent mayor or councilman can be removed from office by a 
 vote of the people. 
 
 Sec. 18. The holder of any elective office may be removed 
 at any time by the electors qualified to vote for a successor of 
 such incumbent. The procedure to effect the removal of an in- 
 cumbent of an elective office shall be as follows: A petition 
 signed by electors entitled to vote for a successor to the incum- 
 bent sought to be removed, equal in number to at least twenty- 
 five percentum of the entire vote for all candidates for the of- 
 fice of mayor cast at the last precedin'g general municipal elec- 
 tion, demanding an election of a successor of the person sought 
 to be removed shall be filed with the city clerk, which petition 
 shall contain a general statement of the grounds for which the 
 removal is sought. The signatures to the petition need not all 
 be appended to one paper, but each signer shall add to his 
 signature his place of residence, giving the street and number. 
 One of the signers of each such paper shall make oath before 
 an officer competent to administer oaths that the statements 
 
 —21— 
 
therein made are true as he believes, and that each signature to 
 the paper appended is the genuine signature of the person whose 
 name it purports to be. Vv^ithin ten days from the date of fil- 
 ing such petition the city clerk shall examine and from the 
 voters' register ascertain whether or not said petition is signed 
 by the requisite number of qualified electors, and, if necessary, 
 the council shall allow him extra help for that purpose; and 
 he shall attach to said petition his certificate, showing the re- 
 sult of said examination. If by the clerk's certificate the peti- 
 tion is shown to be insufficient, it may be amended within ten 
 days from the date of said certificate. The clerk shall, within 
 ten days after such amendment, make like examination of the 
 amended petition, and if his certificate shall show the same to 
 be insufficient, it shall be returned to the. person filing the same; 
 without prejudice, however, to the filing of a new petition to 
 the same effect. If the petition shall be deemed to be sufficient, 
 the clerk shall submit the same to the council without delay. 
 If the petition shall be found to be sufficient, the council shall 
 order and fix a date for holding the said election, not less than 
 thirty days or more than forty days from the date of the clerk's 
 certificate to the council taat a sufficient petition is filed. 
 
 The council shall make or cause to be made publication of 
 notice and all arrangements for holding such election, and the 
 same shall be conducted, returned and the result thereof de- 
 clared, in all respects as are other city elections. The successor 
 of any officer so removed shall hold office during the unexpired 
 term of his predecessor. Any person sought to be removed 
 may be a candidate to succeed himself, and unless he requests 
 otherwise in writing, the clerk shall place his name on the 
 official ballot without nomination. In any such removal elec- 
 tion, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall 
 be declared elected. At such election if som.e other person 
 than the incumbent receives the highest number of votes the 
 incumbent shall thereupon be deemed removed from the office 
 upon qualification of his successor. In case the party who re- 
 ceives the highest number of votes should fail to qualify, within 
 ten days after receiving notification of election, the office shall 
 be deemed vacant. If the incumbent receives the highest num- 
 ber of votes he shall continue in office. The same method of 
 removal shall be cumulative and additional to the methods 
 heretofore provided by law. 
 
 —22— 
 
Section 19. Provides for the initiative. If the council re- 
 fuses to pass needed ordinances, the people can connpel the 
 passage thereof. 
 
 Sec. 19. Any proposed ordinance may be submitted to the 
 council by petition signed by electors of the city equal in num- 
 ber to the percentage hereinafter required. The signatures, 
 verification, authentication, inspection, certification, amendment 
 and submission of such petition shall be the same as provided 
 for petitions under section 18 hereof. 
 
 If the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance be 
 signed by electors equal in number to twenty-five percentum of 
 the votes cast for all candidates for mayor at the last preceding 
 general election, and contains a request that the said ordinance 
 be submitted to a vote of the people if not passed by the coun- 
 cil, such council shall either 
 
 (a) Pass said ordinance without alteration within twenty 
 days after attachment of the clerk's certificate to the accom- 
 panying petition, or 
 
 (b) Forthwith after the clerk shall attach to the petition 
 accompanying such ordinance his certificate of sufficiency, the 
 council shall call a special election, unless a general municipal 
 election is fixed within ninety days thereafter, and at such 
 special or general municipal election, if one is so fixed, such 
 ordinance shall be submitted without alteration to the vote of 
 the electors of said city. 
 
 But if the petition is signed by not less than ten nor more 
 than twenty-five percentum of the electors, as above defined, 
 then the council shall, within twenty days, pass said ordinance 
 without change, or submit the same at the next general city 
 election occurring not more than thirty days after the clerk's 
 certificate of sufficiency is attached to said petition. 
 
 The ballots used when voting upon said ordinance shall con- 
 tain these words: "For the Ordinance" (stating the nature of 
 the proposed ordinance), and "Against the Ordinance" (stating 
 the nature of the proposed ordinance). If a majority of the quali- 
 fied electors voting on the proposed ordinance shall vote in favor 
 thereof, such ordinance shall thereupon became a valid and bind- 
 
 —23— 
 
ing ordinance of the city; and any ordinance proposed by petition, 
 or which shall be adopted by a vote of the people, cannot be re- 
 pealed or amended except by a vote of the people. 
 
 Any number of proposed ordinances may be voted upon at 
 the same election, in accordance with the provisions of this 
 section; but there shall not be more than one special election 
 in any period of six months for such purpose. 
 
 The council may submit a proposition for the repeal of any 
 such ordinance, or for amendments thereto, to be voted upon at 
 any succeeding general city election; and should such proposi- 
 tion so submitted receive a majority of the votes cast thereon 
 at such election, such ordinance shall thereby be repealed or 
 amended accordingly. Whenever any ordinance or proposition 
 is required by this act to be submitted to the voters of the city 
 at any election, the city clerk shall cause such ordinance or 
 proposition to be published once in each of the daily newspapers 
 published in said city; such publication to be not more than 
 twenty or less than five days before the submission of such 
 proposition or ordinance to be voted on. 
 
 Section 20. Provides for the protest and referendum. If 
 any ordinance is passed by the council which is not satisfactory 
 to the people, they have a right to reject it by vote. 
 
 Sec. 20. No ordinance passed by the council, except when 
 otherwise required by the general laws of the State or by the 
 provisions of this act, except an ordinance for the immediate 
 preservation of the public peace, health or safety, which con- 
 tains a statement of its urgency and is passed by a two-thirds 
 vote of the council, shall go into effect before ten days from 
 the time of its final passage; and if during said ten days a 
 petition signed by electors of the city equal in number to at 
 least twenty-five percentum of the entire vote cast for all can- 
 didates for mayor at the last preceding general municipal elec- 
 tion at which a mayor was elected, protesting against the pass- 
 age of such ordinance, be presented to the council, the same 
 shall thereupon be suspended from going into operation, and it 
 shall be the duty of the council to reconsider such ordinance; 
 and if the same is not entirely repealed, the council shall sub- 
 
 —24— 
 
mit the ordinance, as is provided bj^ sub-section b of section 19 
 of this act, to the vote of the electors of the city, either at the 
 general election or at a special municipal election to be called 
 for that purpose; and such ordinance shall not go into effect 
 or become operative unless a majority of the qualified electors 
 voting on the same shall vote in favor thereof. Said petition 
 shall be in all respects in accordance with the provisions of 
 said section 19, except as to the percentage of signers, and be 
 examined and certified to by the clerk in all respects as therein 
 provided. 
 
 Section 21. This section provides the method by which a 
 city may, after a six years' trial, if it is so desired, return to 
 its former plan of government. 
 
 Sec. 21. Any city which shall have operated for more than 
 six years under the provisions of this act many abandon such 
 organization hereunder, and accept the provisions of the gen- 
 eral law of the State then applicable to cities of its population, 
 or if now organized under special charter, may resume said 
 special charter by proceeding as follows: 
 
 Upon the petition of not less than twenty-five percentum of 
 the electors of such city a special election shall be callea, at 
 which the following proposition only shall be submitted: "Shall 
 the city of (name the city) abandon its organization under chap- 
 ter — of the acts of Tbirty-second General Assembly and 
 become a city under the general law governing cities of like 
 population or if now organized under special charter shall re- 
 sume said special charter?" 
 
 If a majority of the votes cast at such special election be in 
 favor of such proposition, the officers elected at the next suc- 
 ceeding biennial election shall be those then prescribed by the 
 general law of the State for cities of like population, and , 
 upon the qualification of such officers such city shall become 
 a city under such general law of the State; but such change 
 shall not in any manner or degree alTect the property, right 
 or liabilities of any nature of such city, but shall merely extend 
 to such change in its form of government. 
 
 The sufficiency of such petition shall be determined, the 
 election * ordered and conducted, and the results declared,- gen- 
 
 —25— 
 
erally as provided by section 18 of this act, in so tar as the 
 provisions thereof are applicable. 
 
 Section 22. Defines the form of petition required in this 
 law. 
 
 Sec. 22. Petitions provided for in this act shall be signed 
 by none but legal voters of the city. Each petition shall con- 
 tain, in addition to the names of the petitioners, the street 
 and house number in which the petitioner resides, his age and 
 length of residence in the city. It shall also be accompanied by 
 the affidavit of one or more legal v.oters of the city stating that 
 the signers thereof were, at the time of signing, legal voters 
 of said city, and the number of signers at the time the affi- 
 uavit was made. 
 
 Section 23. Publication clause. 
 
 Sec. 23. This act, being deemed of immediate importance, 
 shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication 
 in The Register and Leader and Des Moines Capital, news- 
 papers published in Des Moines, Iowa. 
 
 Approved March 29, A. D. 1907. 
 
 —26— 
 
Dummary 
 
 The Des Moines plan of city government is the best 
 and most advanced system yet devised. It is the most 
 representative, since it places the entire power of govern- 
 ment in the hands of the people. Lincoln said, "Ours is 
 a government of the people," and in the Des Moines 
 plan that idea is carried out to its fullest extent as is il- 
 lustrated by the referendum, the initiative and the power 
 of recall. In the past the politician ruled, under the new 
 plan the people retain the balance of power. 
 
 No franchise or other valuable right can be given 
 away by the city council until the people vote in favor 
 of. it. The people can compel or prevent the passage of 
 any law or ordinance. Under the Des Moines plan the 
 ci^y official is under the control of the people. 
 
 Under this new plan all aldermen are elected from at 
 large. Each citizen votes for all candidates, instead of 
 voting for only three out of the nine aldermen as under 
 present system. These councilmen having to depend 
 upon votes from all portions of the city w\\\ consider the 
 needs of the whole city, rather than the needs of a par- 
 ticular section which they desire to benefit for the pur- 
 
 —27— 
 
pose of securing political support as a means of keeping 
 themselves in office. 
 
 The Des Moines plan fixes responsibility by placing 
 one member of the city council at the head of each of the 
 five departments, thereby doing away with the confusion 
 and irresponsibility which exists under the present sys- 
 tem. 
 
 The aldermen receive such a salary that men of ability 
 and honesty will devote their whole time to the afifairs of 
 the city. They cannot wiiile serving be interested, 
 directly or indirectly, in any contract with the city or 
 wath any public service corporation, such as water, tele- 
 phone or street car companies. This last provision in- 
 sures due consideration for the rights of the people and 
 prevents corporations from obtaining by any indirect 
 method an influence over the action of the city council. 
 
 Civil service is made a prominent feature of this law, 
 honesty and ability will be the qualifications demanded of 
 employes. The question of their political strength will 
 not be considered. 
 
 This new plan provides that all candidates for office 
 shall be selected at a non-partisan primary, and also a 
 simple method by w4iich a citizen may become a candi- 
 date. 
 
 The Des Moines plan prescribes a severe punishment 
 for attempting to form a political combination, or for 
 
 —28— 
 
using, directly or indirectly, political influence in the in- 
 terest of any person or measure. This makes machine 
 politics impossible. 
 
 All officials must, after election, publish a sworn 
 itemized statement of their campaign expenses. 
 
 All persons are prohibited from accepting any money 
 or other compensations for services rendered the candi- 
 date. 
 
 This is a very brief statement of a number of the im- 
 portant features of this law and the reader for a more 
 thorough understanding of the advantages of this sys- 
 tem of government should carefully read the law itself. 
 
 -29— 
 
Magazine and Newspaper Articles on the 
 ^^Des Moines Plan/^ 
 
 Outlook, May 25th, 1907, Lyman Abbott. 
 
 Outlook, August, 1907, Lyman Abbott. 
 
 National, September, 1907, Sidney J. Dillon. 
 
 World Today, August, 1907, editorial. 
 
 New York Herald, Sept. 22, Editor. 
 
 Century, October, 1907, Henry E. Sampson. 
 
 Boston Herald, Sept. 22, 1907, Frank W. Woodward. 
 
 Cosmopolitan, November, 1907, Frank Rinhart. 
 
 Overland, October, 1907, Sidney J. Dillon. 
 
 Chicago Tribune, August, 1907, Editor. 
 
 Civic News, July 1, 1907, Editor. 
 
 Delta Chi, Quarterly, August, 1907, Henry E. Sampson, Pub., 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Register & Leader of Des Moines — Frequent Articles. 
 
 Des Moines Daily Capital — Frequent Articles. 
 
 Des Moines Daily News — Frequent Articles. 
 
 —30— 
 
Some of tke Many Comments on tke 
 "'■ Des Moines Plan. 
 
 'The Des Moines Charter has more real democracy — democ- 
 racy with a little "d" — in it than any city charter in America". 
 — Brandt Whitlock, Mayor of Toledo, Ohio. 
 
 "I am greatly impressed with the simplicity, flexibility and 
 accessibility of the system of government therein provided". 
 — Prof. W. C. McNaul, Des Moines College. 
 
 "I am free to say that the Iowa charter comes nearer cover- 
 ing my ideas of the perfect city charter than anything I have 
 ever seen". 
 
 — Ex-Mayor J. M. Head of Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 "It seems to be the best guarded in its administrative pro- 
 visions and the most democratic in ease and finality of popular 
 control, of any municipal charter as yet known to American 
 legislation". 
 
 — Louis F. Post, Editor The Public, Chicago. 
 
 "The claim that this method is undemocratic is totally fal- 
 lacious". 
 
 — Lymann Abbott in the Outlook. 
 
 "Everything that tends to interest the voters of a city in the 
 public questions that concern the city makes for public spirit 
 and for the public welfare, and this plan carries that idea as 
 far as possible". 
 
 —Hon. Seth Low, former Mayor of New York, and 
 
 Ex-President of Columbia University. 
 
 "The charter combines effective administration by an execu- 
 tive board with final popular control, and therefore combines 
 approved American business methods with approved American 
 principles of popular government in local affairs". 
 
 — Progress. 
 
 —31— 
 
DES MOINES INFORMATION. 
 
 "Des Moines Does Things." 
 
 Des Moines has 110 miles of paving. (Brick, Asphalt and 
 Creosote Blocks.) 
 
 Des Moines has 146 miles of sewerage. 
 
 Des Moines has 125 miles of water mains. 
 
 Des Moines lias 120 miles of gas mains, (dollar gas.) 
 
 Des Moines has 96 miles of electric street railway trackage. 
 
 Des Moines has 19 Parks, 750 acres. 
 
 Des Moines has Interurban lines to the north, south, east and 
 west. 
 
 Des Moines has 19 steam roads in and out of the city. 
 
 Des Moines has 94 churches — every denomination. 
 
 Des Moines has 49 schools, public and private. 
 
 Des Moines has 13 Colleges and Technical schools. 
 
 Des Moines has 5,000 college iK)pulation. 
 
 Des Moines has 28 hotels; ten of which are large and import- 
 ant. 
 
 Des Moines is the home of 44 Insurance Companies. 
 
 Des Moines has 6,000 insurance workers. 
 
 Des Moines has fully 250 important factories. 
 
 Des Moines has 148 jobbing houses. 
 
 Des Moines supplies paving brick to other cities. 
 
 Des Moines has 19 Banks, with thirty million deposits. 
 
 Des Moines entertains 80 Conventions annually. 
 
 Des Moines has a large Auditorium, seats 3,000. 
 
 Des Moines has four great daily newspapers. 
 
 Des Moines has 54 newspapers and periodicals. 
 
 Des Moines has 40 farm implement houses. 
 
 Des Moines has 12,000 telephones in use — 2 systems. 
 
 Des Moines is the home of the Iowa State Fair. 
 
 Des Moines has cheap coal in abundance. 
 
 Des Moines postoifice business is equal to that of any other 
 city in the IT. S. of twice its population. 
 
 Business transacted in Des Moines annually exceeds 90 mil- 
 lions about as follows: 
 
 Manufacturing, including coal output 25 Millions 
 
 Jobbing and Wholesale 40 Millions 
 
 Retail— all lines 30 Millions 
 
UNIVERSITY OP CALIFORN 
 
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