The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-07-18
Meetings Are Expeditions.

~~A-o~- - A@$-
The city charter requires that the
board shall meet in regular session
at least once every week. These
/ meetings are conducted in dignified,
businesslike manner, and are free
from wrangling or disputes. The
Commissioners sit around a Direc-
tors table, the Mayor presiding. The
City Attorney and the heads of the
various departments are always in
attendance. Little speechmaking is
INDUCED in, and the presence Of idle
spectators is an exception rather than
the rule. All important matters are
discussed and differences adjusted in
conference. 1Too many cooks spoil
the broth" is an old saying which
can well be applied to a board of
twelve or sixteen Aldermen. Four
Commissioners and a Mayor, as has
been proved, can transact the BUSH
| ness of sixteen Aldermen and a
Mayor, and do it better, more expe-
ditiously and with greater harmony.
No Shifting Responsibility.
| Under the commission form of gov
eminent, while the Commissioners
| powers are Joint and several, "every
| tub stands on its own bottom" and
the shifting Of responsibility is i'm
| possible.
The mismanagement of depart
| ment is promptly laid at the door of
! the derelict Commissioners. This
knowledge of personal responsibility
causes each Commissioner to feel
a special pride in the proper manage
ment of his department, realizing as
he must that merit, as well as de-
fects, is easily recognized by the pub
lie. The commission form of city
| government was actively inaugurated
in the early part of September, 1901,
| and therefore has been in existence
for five years and eight months, and
in all that time the success has been
such as to make it daily increase in
| favor.
| After the various city departments
became thoroughly organized under
the commission plan and the services
of competent city employees had been
secured, the duties of the different
Commissioners became largely direc-
tory, and, with the exception of the
Commissioner Of Streets and Public
| Property, not at all burdensome.
There is absolutely no confusion in
running the city government after
the present plan. 1t is very simple
and direct. None of the Commission
ers has had his time sufficiently oc-
cupied to compel him to abandon his
| private business. This enables the
| city to secure the services of thor
| oughly competent business men, The
| City Commissioners are in reality a
Board Of Directors, which has charge
OF the management and business af-
fairs of the city Of Galveston.
! The Commissioner of Finance and
ERevenue is president of two banks and
the head of a large financial insti-
tuition, and yet he finds time to look
after his department in the most eff
ficient manner. He, of course, has
| the assistance and advice of the City
| Attorney, the City Treasurer and the
City Auditor.
| The financing of the grade raising
was splendid achievement Dur
ing the past three years $4,000, 900
/ grade raising bonds have been issued
by the city. These bonds are being
rapidly retired with the State dona-
ton. The city has been rid OF numer-
| Gus lawsuits and a number of serious
claims, among them the Alta Iona
suit. which threatened the water sup
ply OF the city.
| Tax collections have been pushed
in businesslike way. Old, long
| standing damage and lawsuits and
other litigation have been settled, as
has the Wharf Company controversy,
with its several features, insuring the
| city 100000 for additional drainage
to the channel of the bay.
The Commissioners have worked
faithfully and industriously for the
restoration and upbuilding of the
city. and their success has been be-
yond the greatest expectation.
The city budgets covering the an
nual expenditures are prepared by
the Commissioner of Finance and
Revenue and presented to the board
for adoption. In preparing this
budget the Commissioner Of Finance
and Revenue exercises great care. In
no instance has the city expended
more money in one year than is pro-
yided for by its budget The streets
of the city are kept scrupulously
clean.
The Police Department. is conduct
ed more with a view OF preventing
than the punishment Of crime The
Chief was taken from the ranks and
selected because Of the fact that he
is absolutely honest, strictly temper
ate, fearless and possesses common
sense. Neither the Chief nor the
members Of the police force seek
newspaper notoriety The depart
ment is working in perfect harmonys
which is something unheard Of under
former administrations. Many Of the
lowest dives Of the city have been
! suppressed In a quiet but effective