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


obtaining good city government, ev-
erywhere a foremost question, has
probably nowhere been SO nearly
solved as in Texas, where several
cities are now enjoying exemplary
administration under the commits
sion plan. Galveston was the first to
put the plan in operation, and the
results were SO gratifying that two
years ago Houston obtained from the
Legislature similar charter The
success OF the Houston government
has been equally as pronounced as
that Of Galveston, and now Dallas,
with population of $4,000; Fort
Worth, with population of 10000,
and several smaller cities have fol-
lowed suit, and others are preparing
to do so. Memphis, Tenn, has also
adopted the plan, and other large
cities throughout the country have
it under consideration
At the time the commission form of
government was adopted here the
city was practically bankrupt, having
defaulted in the payment of its in
terest. There was also a very large
sum owing for current expenses, and
a great deal of city scrip outstand-
Ing. What the present commission
has accomplished for the city, under
the most adverse circumstances, is
here briefly summarized: The float
ing debt Of the city on January 1,
1901, according to the City Auditors
report, was $204,974.54. This has
been entirely paid. The commission
ers secured the services Of board of
three eminent engineers, which re-
suited in obtaining plans for the sea
wall and grade raising, rebuilt the
City Hall, rebuilt the waterworks
pumping station, built a fine engine
house on Twenty-ninth and Market
streets, repaired the different engine
houses damaged by the storm, re-
paved with brick the streets through
out the entire business section of the
city at cost of about $50, 900, built
rock and shell filed roads at a cost
OF $4,000, retired large part of
the bonded debt, and also provided
large amount of permanent drain
age and paid off and settled numer-
Gus damage suits pending against the
city. These claims were inherited
from former city administrations.
All this has been accomplished with
out bond issue or a dollar of in
creased taxation. The city employees
have been regularly paid in cash, and
the summer season was passed
through without borrowing dollar.
During the year just ended the city
expended for public improvements
100000.
Functions of the Commission.
The strongest feature of the COM
mission plan OF city government is its
directness and simplicity, the CEN
tralization of responsibility. There
are only four elective officers -
Mayor and four commissioners
elected by the city at large without
regard to subdivisions The business
of the city is divided into four de-
partments with the Mayor-President
as the executive head, he being
charged with the duty of seeing that
all the city laws are enforced. The
Commissioners at the first meeting
after their election, or as soon there
after as possible, by majority vote
designate from among their mem
bers one Commissioner, who shall be
known as Commissioner of Finance
and Revenue, and under whose di-
rection is placed the Offices of City
Assessor and Collector, the City
is also charged with the duty of ex-
aiming into and keeping informed
as to the finances of the city, and
with the advice and assistance of the
other Commissioners prepares the
annual budget of the city.
Another Commissioners is desig-
mated as Commissioners of Water
works and Sewerage. He has under
his special charge the construction,
maintenance and operation of the
waterworks and sewer system and
departments. The superintendent
of these two departments and the
joint secretary and all employees are
Under the direction of this Commits
sioner.
Commissioner of Streets and Public
Property. He has under his special
charge the supervision of all mat
ters relating to the streets, alleys
and property belonging to the city,
and is charged with the duty of light
ing the streets, looking after street
cleaning and sanitation, the super
vision Of street paving, construction
of drains, and seeing that the condi-
tions of the grant of public fran
chises are complied with. The City
Engineer and his assistants, City
Health Physician, Superintendent of
Drays and City Sexton are under the
direction Of this Commissioners.
The other, and fourth, Commits
Eioner is known as the Police and
Fire Commissioner. He has under
his special charge the enforcement of
all police regulations and general SUI
pervision over the Police and Fire
Departments. The Chief OF Police,