The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-11-16
RESULTS COUNT.

In measuring up governmental policy, espe-
cally local one, results are the one thing which
brand it good or bad. The fact that a comparison
of the finances of the city of Galveston for period
of twelve years, six of which were under commits
sion system of government and six under political
party misrule, shows a saving in municipal reve-
nues and expenditures of $500 day is one of the
results that counts. There doesn't seem any argu-
ment which can be successfully urged against that
$500 day saving 1t is there, and the lingo and
buncombe of political spellbnders avail nothing
Whether the political party system be infested
with graft and corruption or be of sanity purity
ineficency is complicated with the political party
supervision of public affairs and it can't be got
rid of as long as the present cumbersome "no gov
eminent" obtains If there was nothing better
available and experience of other cities did not
Justify the belief that the operation of the com
mission system affords certain relief from the ex-
pensive and undesirable present plan, the people
might be content to suffer present ills rather than
flee to others which seem in the light of expert
ment. But the experimental stage has been passed,
and the practical workings as exemplified in Texas
cities are before them. The people want good
clean, efficient local self government Obviously it
cannot be obtained through partisan management
of civic affairs, and the commission system is of
fered and urged substitute.
There are several variations of the Galveston
system, each modified to meet the requirements of
the locality in which it is practical Houston re-
quires the whole time of the mayor and aldermen,
and pays the mayor $4,000 and the aldermen 49, 400
each year. The Galveston salaries are Just half
those of Houston, and only part of the time is
required, thus affording men of large capacity an
opportunity to serve the city in official positions
Houston has been three years under commission
government with results SO happy that the people
have desire to return to the old way Galvestons
experience runs over period of six years and hence
is more valuable as an example of the successful
operation of the plan. Galveston was not notorious
ly badly governed under the old regime like New
York, Philadelphia st. Louis or San Francisco.
There was present only the customary amount of
which may be found anywhere in the
United States. But when the tidal wave swept
5000 of her citizens from life and 1900 others
from home and devastated the city it became nee
essary to do something. Official ineficiency could
lot cope with the calamity which had befallen Gal
7eston, and commission was formed with no,var
o do things, with direct and definite responsib;l+
o the people. Bringing order out of chaos. the
commission was perpetuated by legislative enact
nent, and the good work has since gone on uninter-
upted. The commission needed money, SO collect
q lot OF back taxes. 1t being unfair to allow
axes TO run ON uncollected indefinitely few chr I
ent taxes are now allowed to become delinouent ,
he commission collects interest on about 100000
lty deposits IN banks, all unprecedented thereto
ore; makes fair assessment upon individuals and
ubllc service corporations and comnele q 1oroar Z
roportlon OF the expense of public improvements
be borne by the corporations 1t long ago dropped