Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-11-13
+ THE COMMISSION PLAN
Applied to City Government Shown
10 Work Well.
EN BYRON Mlll.Erf.

ARD on Tia" commission plan of city
government. | have been requested
to state some particulars regarding
the inltiatOry steps taken by the citi-
zcnS Of Galveston in formulating
their plan of municipal government.
From Il periodical containing com
mnication from the pen of a prom
ncnt business man Of that city. |
submit the following information.
The " Deep Water Committees" an
organization composed of about eighteen
of our leading business men. upon its
own initiative. took up the question OF
redeeming the city government from
bankruptcy and ruin. y subcommittee
oi three from SAID organization prepared
an entirely new charter embracing the
commission plan. This committee WAS
composed of Mr.. k Waverlrv Smith.
President ri the First National Bank of
Galveston, a lawyer by training. who for
four years had held the office OF CITY At
torncy Colonel Walter Gresham. an cX-
congressman, and Mr.. F. ID. Minor, Il
lawyer of splendid ability.
In presenting the proposed charter to
the Legislature for adoption, the " Deep
Water tommlttec' issued remarkable
al iress. settn. forth in strong language
the urgent needs Of Galveston. THIS
address stated in part: We believe
that municipal government. as it has
been administered in this community
ior the past twenty year, is Il failure.
II lII lt.. T.. hrlpr
realization OF this fact, but II brought 1t
home with greater force upon Us. We
are seeking relief from the municipal
destruction and despair starin. us in the
face. 1t il i question with IL OF civic
lie and death. This committee has
lahOrrd diligently and earnestly t. pre-
pare and present Ia the people "i tia,
city. and tn the legislature, remedial lc.
islatinn adequate for tn" grave cn"r.-
ency confronting us. Months have been
given To It's preparation. 1t is hoped
that the central idea ul the new charter
that OF ii commiSSipn--cmh hp,lirs the
practical solution ui that hitherto uu-
solved problem how to govern. che lplv
and we'll, municipal corporation. We
are skiing for Il charter. placing tn. en-
tire control OF the local government in
the hands OF five commissioners, design
ed To benefit the people Father than to
provide sinecures for politicians"
The storm swept the city Scptcm-
ber Sth, 1900 and th- new plan WAS
in working order one year thereafter.
There was some opposition to the
procuring of the charter from the
Texas Legislature. which came from
individuals who had proiitcd under
the old system by providing unnrccS-
sary and expensive officials and in
furnishing the city with merchandise
under contracts with former alder
manic boards Of which CRAFTS and
rakc-OtfS on extensive scale, were
frequent and wherein large profits
had been realized by the bcncticiarirs.
Undoubtedly. if this plan shall at
any future time b. seriously conSid-
cred by the citizens of this State.
pronounced opposition may be effect
ed from the same source.
Certain commercial and business in
terests of our nrighboring city, Port
land, have selected committee on
charter revision, who are seriously
considering the Galveston and DcS
Moincs plans, the latter embracing the
more radical measures concerning the
changes in municipal administration.
Concerning the application of the
commission plan to the government
of cities in this State, Olympia being
4 city of the third class. might fur
nish Il good illustration. 1t is ncccs
sary that general law be enacted.
as special charters are not author
lied under our State constitution, rs
in Texas and in some other States.
Dcs Moines adopted the new plan in
perSuance of a general law.
After the Legislature shall have
enacted the proper law, twenty-ti five
per cent of the voters of Olympia
could petition the City Council t.
call an election for the purpose OF
determining whether or not We
would organize under the new law
If a majority of the voters should
favor the change, it may be made
with very Slight friction. All ordi
nanccs and rights of the former
ngin', could be retained, and exist
ing liabilities recognized until other
wise directed; the commission tC
consist of three persons elected by
the voters at large for the period o
two or three years, the members
of the board to receive stated salI
rieS, the president of the board OF
mayor selected by the members OF
voters, will receive 81 200 per annum
the other two commissioners SSOl
each yearly. There shall be thrc,
departments;
| |, Department of Public Affair:
under the supervision of presidcn
or mayor.
,. Commissioner of Finance Ac
counts and Taxation.
3, Commissioner of streets. fran
chiscs and public property.
The president to be the head q
the police department, shall see tina
the laws and ordinances are en-
forced. that the welfare and goo,
order Of the city are preserved. Th
Commissioners are To have full charn.