Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-11-19
MUNICIPAL PROBLEM
A BRIEF Description OF The
GALVESTON SYSTEM.
The Workings and Details of the Lat.
est Experiment In City Govern.
ment. The Commission Plan Has
Proved Successful Wherever u
Has Seen Tried.

In all probability the coming ses-
sion of the legislature will enact a
law providing for the commission form
OF municipal government, a system
that has proved so successful in Gal
weston, Des Moines and other Texas
and Iowa cities. so that the follow
ing description of the plan, written
by E. r. Chesborough, for the Citi-
zens' Bulletin, of Cincinnati, will be
OF interest. He said in part:
There is nothing at all remark
able about the Galveston plan, nor
about the men that are directing its
municipal government. The city
commission is simply board of di-
rectors elected at large by the quail
ified voters Of the entire city every
two years. This board is composed
of five practical business men, each
fully recognizing the fact that econ
omy and business methods, not pol
itics, should be employed in trans
acting the business affairs of the city
The business that is being direct
ed by these five men, as agents, for
the citizens of Galveston, can be
briefly summarized as follows:
Furnishing the people with pure
and wholesome water, adequate sew
erage, efficient police and fire pro-
lection, we'll lighted, clean and well
paved streets, drainage, sanitation,
public hospital for the sick and a
careful management of the city's fl
nances.
'The business of the city is divid-
ed into four departments, each de-
partment being under the charge and
direction of a commissioner. These
four commissioners and the mayor,
collectively, constitute what is term
ed the Board of Commissioners of
the City of Galveston" The mayor
IS the president of the board and the
executive head of the city govern
ment. He has all the rights, pow
ers and duties conferred upon the Of
fee of mayor by the constitution and
vote upon all questions, but has nc
veto power. Majority rule always
prevails.
The commissioners, at the first
meeting after their election, or as
soon thereafter as possible, by a ma
jority vote, designate from among
their members one commissioner
who shall be known as commission.
er of finance and revenue" and un.
der whose direction is placed the of.
fees of city assessor and collector
the city treasurer and city auditor
He is also charged with the duty ol
examining into and keeping inform
ed as to the finances of the city, and
with the advice and assistance o1
the other members of the board, hi
prepares the annual budget of the
city. Great care is exercised in pre-.
paing the city budget. and it is new
er exceeded in expenditures.
Another commissioner is designa'
ted, commissioner of water work!
and sewerage" He has under hi!
special charge the construction
maintenance and operation of the
waterworks and sewer system depart
ments. The superintendents Of these
two departments. and the Joint secre.
tary and all employees, are under the
direction of this commissioner.
Another commissioner is designat.
ed commissioner Of streets and pub.
lie property" He has under his speci'
al 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
lighting the streets, looking aftel
street cleaning and sanitation. thu
supervision of street paving, con
struction Of drains, and seeing thai
the conditions of the grant of pub
lie franchises are complied with.
The city engineer and his assist
ants. city health physicians. superin
tendent of drays, health inspectors
city sexton, sidewalk inspector ant
all employees in these department.
are under the direction Of this com
missioner.
The other and fourth commissions
is designated "police and fire com
missioner" He has under his specia
charge the enforcement Of all polic
regulations and the general super
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