The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-13

keeping was hopeless, the aldermen
were in on contracts, embezzle-
ment and defalcation went unno-
ticed, public works were neglected,
vice was protected, the police were
corrupt, the fire department made
quate, the health department a
nullity, and there was no hope of
betterment.
When the storm had reduced Gal
weston to a wreck and had drowned
fifth of her people the old alder
manic government fell of it's own
weight. 1t acknowledged it's incOm-
petence and begged for aid and
advice Of the governor of the state.
One of its members advised that all
resign. AS there were no salaries
in sight the idea was rather pop
ular with the aldermen. But it
made no difference to anybody
what they said or did. Nobody paid
any heed In the stress of the hour
and the need for strong, intelligent
action, the city's affairs were taken
over by voluntary committee-an
association of property owners
known as the deep waterways COM
mission-which had at first been
formed to secure federal appropria-
lions for Galveston. To these men
the public looked; and at their ses-
sions, held daily, all was done that
was done.
An urgent appeal to the state leg
islature gave the city it's present
charter.
But" says somebody, lis this
government by the people"
To me it seems to beat least
more so than the old aldermanic
plan. In the last analysis it is a
question of what the people--a ma
jOrity of the people-want. Ger
tainly they did not want what they
got up to Sept. s, 1900. 1t seems
to me that they do want what they
are now getting.
But suppose the commission
should turn bad--or part bad?
1t is easy enough, under this sys-
TEN, to see where the badness lies.
If the public works are neglected,
one of these four men is directly
responsible, if the finances do not
turn proper balance, another of
these four men is directly respon-
sible; if the fire or police depart
ments are not right, the man to
blame is direct yin the public eye.
And at any of these two year cleo
lions the people have but to nom
mate a new man and throw the old
man out. There is a concentration
of responsibility as we'll as power;
and the remedy for evils is direct.
But suppose three of the commits
sioners should organize for loot?
There is an appeal provided to
the courts for removal in such
cases.
But suppose majorit yof the
commission should keep within the
la wand still sell out the people in
the grant of public franchises?
The people would be sold out.
Theoretically. then, the commits
sion plan is not perfect. 1t is like a
monarchy, which, with a perfect
monarch. is the ideal form of gov
eminent, but with a bad monarch,
! the worst.
But it is significant, to say the
least, that the only serious objec-
lions to the Galveston plan are
those raised In theory. In it's seven
years of practice they have not had
| to be confronted.
1t so happens that the Galveston
street railway franchises were dis
posed of before the commission
government came into power. The
city owns it's water and it's lighting
plants. There have been few spe
cial privilege to be farmed out.
On the other hand, there have
been enormous contracts in con
nection with the grade raising ant
the sea wall work, not to mention
paving and the installing of new
sewers; and in the handling of al