The San Francisco call., 1907-06-18
City Government by Commission
the Salvation of Galveston
Once Bankrupt Texan City Now Ruled Ideally
With Politics and Graft Eliminated

q
received yesterday from H A Landes.
nayor-presi6ent OF the city Of Calves
ton, Texas. IN reply 70 q request from
Rufus P Jennings for information as
20 the efficiency OF the form OF govern
nent put into effect after the disaster
q 1899. The letter, which tells OF the
rapid strides made by Galveston in its
municipal development, follows:
Galveston. Texas. June 10. 1907
Rufus ?. Jennings. San Francisco,
Csl-Desr Sir Z an in receipt OF yours
as king q brief history OF the cause for
TIE change IN our city government and
It's effect since II went into operstfon.
The cd plan OF our municipal gov
ernuent consisted OF q mayor and .
aldermen, each OF the aldermen being
e representative OF one OF the u wards
II or city, but for I've years beginning
IN 1880 our city council consisted Of a
mayor and Is aldermen. one from each
q The p wards and four from the city
al large
Each administration Of our city
Sovernnent- contained some Of our
very best citizens. but this class were
always II the minority. hence the fnan-
ctsl condition OF our city kept grad
uallE growing from bad 10 worse.
caused by extravaganza, unbusiness-
Ike Ee--oCS and graf
Our city's current expenses ex-
ceeded her receipts each year. and this
deficiency was met by the Issue and
sale of bonds % the extent that for the
period between 1875 and 1887 bonds 10
The amount OF s.. $50 .0ee had been is
sued for which the city had received
10 beneft n the way OF public i'm
proveDerts. except . few strips OF di-
lspl6ated wooden block pavements-
fairs continued 70 exist until our great
calamity in 1900, after which the city
Of Galveston found herself face 10 face
with financial bankruptcy Il she could
not revolutiOnize and place herself
upon q business basis and L was under
such forced and unfortunate conditions
SIS then prevailed that a committee OF
our citizens from the very best legal
and business eleme.r conceived the
idea OF city government by commission
and al Snce vent actively 20 work,
framing & new charter based upon q
commission plan IS the leading fea-
-ure. Application was made TO- the
legislature then II session 10 annul the
old charter and grant the new one as
applied for, completely changing the
form Of our city government espe-
cfa-ly IN the election OF its officers and
The details OF its government This
great change was opposed by certain
Of our citizens as being an innovation
on the established rules Of many years
standing. and this opposition was even
carried 10 our state capitol and the
legislature asked 70 defeat the move;
but that body was with the people, as
e knew and realized our helpless con-
dItion, and the bill passed april 1s,
1901
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED
The charter as granted placed our
city government ia the hands OF FIVE
commissioners. three Of whom were 10
be appointed BY the governor and two
selected by The people The object OF
this was 70 eliminate politics. with all
OF its kindred evils from our city EoT-
ernment. believing the governor would
aupoinr only capable. efficient and hon
est men. and. with g majority OF that
material fn the board. would certainly
insure Us a good government; and.
srzIu. good and efficient men would
accent appointment when they would
not enter into a political scramble for
an Office. and 70 that extent II would
be the oEice seeking the man, and not
the man the OGce-
Our charter called for one comr1s-
siouer. 10 be known as msyor-presi-
dent. whose duty Il was 70 overlook
the city IS e whole. and commissioners
OF finance and revenue, water works
and sewerage. police and FIRE and
streets. public property and electric
lights
branches Of arms OF the city govern
uenr efdcientiv. honestly and econoni-
calIy administered. We believed the
perplexing problem OF municipal gov
ernnent was satisfactorily solved
The next difficulty confronting our
citizens was TO ind five good and re-
liable men. who, each IN his own way.
were particularly adapted TO the posi-
tons 70 be filed. as : man who would
be z good commissioner OF FIRE and
police would not make q good one for
finance and revenue, and 50 through the
whole list
Our city was very fortunate in ind
ing Eve men who we're especially 1tIec
for the positions named IN the char
ter and getting their consent 70 serve
The governor appointed three from tne
number selected and the remaining
two were elected By g good majority
st the municipal election. and about
September Is. 1901. the newly appoint
Cd and elected commissioners took over
The city government The Old charter
having expired upon the qualification
Of the new officers, the old board N
cluding mayor and aldermen, tcgetner
with al their appcintees and employees,
ceased their connection with our city
government The city then passed IN
Ger control Of the following officers:
william 7 Eusr1u. u-ayor-7resident'
= Ksmrner. cor missioner OF rev
eu,,e and 1snzncs. H c Lsnge, commits
sioner Of water works and sewerage
A. P Norman. commissioner OF police
and IRE. Y E Austin. commissioner OF
streets. electric lights and public prop
erty-
NAME DEPARTNENT HEADS
The commissioners or each depart
neat. being held responsible for re-
suits IN his particular d8ty, was al
lowed 70 nane. subject 70 the approval
OF tie board. al heads Of departments
and emuloyes The city government
was completed by tie appointment and
confirmation by the board Of The FOL
lowing
&C. r J. zrtz. city secretary: J z
II scott. city attorney. 7. J Groce- city
treasurer 6 W Tr1ehsart- city health
ulsvsician. A. Ferrier. city auditor; n
Easron. city assessor ana collector' I
A Siss. city engineer, II H Royston,
city recorder. A ;. brewery, superin-
terdent water works and sewerage }.
T Rowan. chief Of police department
= r. Gernand. chief of 1re department I