Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-04-24
NEW PLAN OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
A Strictly Business Corporation Seems to
Be Success at Galveston
BY BYRON MIIIETr


Galveston, Texas. containing some
thing like $1,000 inhabitants, suffered
great affliction. More than One-third
of its population perished in the great
the Inflated city. causing the destruc
tion of large percentage OF its prop
t erty. The municipality had become
bankrupt through the manipulation OF
an aldermanic board that had run
things with high and reckless hand
| The situation was critical Should
map? Good citizens, without regard
to former party affiliations, in the face
of catastrophe. got together, resolved
that work should be prosecuted along
lines of greatest endeavor towards re-
constructing the city, and make her
secure from infliction, If possible, from
any future similar calamity. The first
matter Of Importance that presented
itself, was an efficient plan Of city gov
ernmen Good business management
was required Calamites often quicken
every energy Of n people or community
and promote grand achievements for
the general good. Such was the case
with Galveston.
1t is recognized nowadays that bust
ness affairs are in closer touch with
| ~ hnv hn,
been heretofore; that when applied to
city government we find that our cities
are really business corporations. True
1t is that in many instances they are
badly governed, but the power lies
with the citizens to improve their
municipal affairs if they so desire, and
act intelligently with that end in view.
The citizens Of this country in any
given community, having been schOOled
under Anglo Saxon institutions as a
whole, aim to do that which is right
whenever a fair opportunity shall be
presented Acting on such hypothesis,
in the year 1901, the inhabitants of the
unfortunate city through the agency
of it's leading business interests, OBJ
tanned from the State Legislature a
special charter. Special Laws Of
1901, chapter XII. page 104. This en-
actment provided that the city should
from thenceforth be governed by a
board. consisting of a President,
Mayor and four Commissioners. elected
by the citizens every two years. The
President receives salary of $4,000
per annum, is required to give at least
six hours service to the city each day
other than a legal holiday. Each of
the Commissioners receives yearly
compensation of $780, These officials
are placed under heavy bonds and may
be removed for cause. All the affairs
Of the city government are put under
their management and direction. The
President has no veto power. except as
his vote as a member of the Board
may have that effect. He is required
to cast the deciding ballot in case of a
tie among the members; otherwise he
may, or may not vote, as he sees fit.
The four departments assigned by the
charter to each Commissioner are
sharply defined:
/. Police and Fire Commissioner.
2. Commissioner OF Streets and
Public Improvements.
3. Waterworks and Sewerage Com
missioner.
4. Commissioner of Finance and
Revenue
OF course, in these several and dis
tinct departments, sub-heads are ar
ranged. to make the working machin-
cry Of the city harmonious and effect
i've. Each Commissioner is RESPONSE
BILE for the management of his depart
ment. There is no lodging RESPONSE
bility. Similar to the working OF an
aldermanic body, when measures are
often smothered in the hands Of a
committe, or where a grating scheme
is supported by an alderman from a
decent ward, in consideration of as
sistance from a member who happens
to represent rotten constituency
IT is claimed by an eminent maya
zine writer that a member Of a city
board, having such backing, is similar
in effect to placing rotten apple in a
barrel of good ones; that all will be-
come contaminated If the bad one Is
permitted to remain there long enough.
! Again. the bad alderman would doubt
less do better service If permitted by
his semi-criminal constituency. When
the entire city elects the members of
its municipal body such evil effects
are not likely to be so much in evi-
dence. 1t ofttimes occurs, when a
conscientious man of ability Is elected
as member of a city council, not
having the chance for individual initia-
tive in the disposition to enter into
questionable alliances to accomplish
an object, finds himself greatly hamp-
cred in the matter Of serving his con-
stituents or the municipality, as he
would des ire
1t Is different with the Galveston
system. A man of business tact and
honesty placed at the head of an i'm
portant department. feels his RESPONSE
bility without the usual limitations. |
and red-tape process prevailing among |
the membership of the ordinary city
council. Under the commissioner
plan. there the finger may be pointed
at the responsible individual. with
you did it,"
1t must not be understood the Com
missioner Of particular department
possesses arbitrary power to act as he
pleases. He acts in a supervisory ca.
pacity; matters of general interest