Question

Why would the author of this quotation say the commission plan has “perfect simplicity”?

The strongest feature of the commission plan of city government is its perfect simplicity, its directness and in limiting the number of those directly charged with the management of the city's affairs.
All the power to make decisions rests with one person: the mayor.
There are a limited number of people responsible, and each has a specific area of responsibility.
The system is too simple to meet the needs of a modern city.

Answer 1

The 'perfect simplicity' of the commission plan refers to its streamlined decision-making process, direct accountability due to fewer elected officials, and minimized bureaucracy which aims to cut inefficiency and corruption.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author might refer to the commission plan as having "perfect simplicity" because it streamlines government operations by having a small, elected commission conduct all legislative and executive functions. This contrasts traditional forms where responsibilities might be spread across a larger bureaucracy. It simplifies governance by having each commissioner, including the mayor, directly responsible for specific areas, increasing directness and reducing the potential for inefficiency, while limiting the number of those charged with city management.

In line with Progressive Era reforms, it could also imply that this system reduces the potential for corruption by undercutting the influence of political machines and bosses, making the government more accountable. This is because fewer elected officials typically lead to increased transparency and accountability, as well as simplified decision-making processes. Thus, citizens could find government procedures easier to understand and manage under this commission system.

Answer 2

Perhaps the reason why the author stated that the commission plan has "perfect simplicity" is because this seems like an archaic way of running anything regarding modern government. Having only one, or a few, making all of the decisions for the majority is extremely backwards. Corruption could very easily run rampant in situations like these. While the Mayor & others in office are elected officials, no one is infallible, nor are they immune to the evils that are surrounding the current state of affairs. With the abundance of money, technology, & "smarter" ways of running every day business, it could be very easy for 1 person to overlook blatant transgressions, especially behind closed doors. It's time for a more open government, & ways that anyone could do the checks & balances.