The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17

rom him about a month ago;
 AIr. r. G. Glass; Montgomery, Ala.
 Dear Sir-Replying to your request for information as to the commission form of government for municipalities, we take pleasure in sending you under seperate cover a copy of the charter of the city of Houston. and submit the following statements with reference to the advan- tages of the commission form of govern ment in general, and it's practical benefits to the city of Houston, in particular. We have summarized some of the advantages of the commission form of government over the old system, as follows
 It applies business methods to the ad- nlinistration of municipal affairs.
 It is a means by which the affairs of the city may receive prompt and intelli- gent attention, without harangue and waste of time.
 It places the responsibility of city af- fairs on responsible individuals and holds them. and them alone, responsible for the conduct of the city government.
 It is a quick and adequate means of avoiding complications and expensive en- tanglements.
 It affords an adequate system for the provisions of means for the payment of legitimate debts.
 It is of inestimable value of stopping financial leakage
 By the application of business methods
  the city to get on it's fleets financially
 It affords sure way to reduce the tax rate of the city, and at the same time to increase the expenditures for public im- provements.
 It Is a guarantee or dispatch in all mat ters of interest coming before it's execu- tive officers.
 It is a gateway through which greater current of prosperity may flow. It is an asurance of prompt attention to the petitions of citizens.
 It is one form of government for munich palites admitting of the application of modern business methods. It is method of government which af- lords power to act, and fixes responsibil- ity for action.
 That the commission form of govern ment has been of great benefit to the city of Houston we adduce the following:
 Debt Paid Off In less than one year a floating in debtedness in the neighborhood of $4Oo0O0, was paid in full.
 The tax levy has been reduced from $2 to s190 on the hundred dollar valuation. | It has been made possible a larger bud get of appropriations than ever known before
 It has enabled the present adminstra- tion to erect three excellent, modern school buildings at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars $Q25,0 ,0o0), and to build six miles of street paving, without bond issue. | It has created business confidence in the city as a government, and has given a rating to the credit of the city that it never had before.
 It has enabled the city of Houston to save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
 Our experience demonstrates to the | world that the commission form of gov enment is decidedly a success. It has cleaned out the gambling insti- tutions, and abolished variety theatres; showing an increased moral tone. During seventeen months of the com mission form of government. there has not been q speech made on the floors of the council chamber nor a veto by the mayor, nor a dissenting vote on any ques- ton. The average length of the public sessions of the counlcl is less than ten minutes.
 The time is rlpe' for the adoption of business methods in connection with our municipal governments Long ago better methods were adopted in our systems of banking merchandising and even in the modes of farming. but the great major ity of our cities are still being operated under the old slipshod method inagurated with the settlement of the country. What the modern electric light of today is to the tallow dip of the DOS, the commission form of government, as adopted by the city of Houston, is to the old form which it displaced. Yours truly, 1T. B. RICE. The usual criticism of the commission form of government is that it concen- trates too much power In a few hands. But that is better than the common plan of diffusing power in so many hands, with the resulting lack of responsibility and efficiency. Concentration of power and increase of responsibility attract g higher class of men to office, because they see that they can do something. Their earnest. patriotic work pleases the people and the people vote their con- tinued confidence. No one crticises a great railroad corporation, or manufactur ing business because of concentration of power in the hands of one man or a few men, Why should not the successful methods of conducting private business be applied to municipal affars-the big business of the people in one crowded territory, really a great corporation it. self?
 How long will it be before Alabama takes the cure from Texas?