Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-22
COMMISSION SYSTEM
MORE ABOUT THE GALVESTON
SYSTEM.

MORE ABOUT THE GALVESTON
SYSTEM.
Answers to Queries Submitted by judo
Millett-That Plan of Government 70
Municipalities Pronounced 4 Great Success.
Since my first communication ap
peared in the columns of the STANDARI
on the oath of April, ultimo, a few O
the citizens of Olympia said to M
they wOIld Ike to learn more abou
this Galveston commission system o
municipal government, and requested
me to write for additional data
thereupOn submitted certain writer
questions by correspondence to the
legal department of that city, and re
ceived prompt answers. as follows:
/. What was the population OF your
city at the time of the catastrophe
and what Is its present population?
In September. 1900. population 81,
S39. City directory just out shows
| 3S,931. BY death and moved away
lost about 5000 in 1900. AS you can
see, city has made up the loss and
gained 1000. In other words. 1000
new people have come here to reside
since 1900. We gained 3.513 in last
IS months. The figures are accurate
and made from actual count by city
directory people
| ?. What was the city Indebtedness
and rate of tax levy at that time on
the basis OF the dollar valuation for
| the purposes Of taxation? Comparison
| as to current expenses with regard to
| that time and the present
In 1900 assessed valuation $27 O0O,-
600; in 1907 assessed valuation $24.-
| 293,529. Storm loss $4,000. 900. We
! assess at about so per cent. of true
! cash value. Personal property escapes
taxation, largely due to custom and
lack of proper law. Tax rate for city
is same as last year. $1.6O. In 1900
was $l57.
3. What is the present municipal
debt and rate Of taxation?
Rate $3.50 on 800 valuation. Net
debt. $3,9S3.S0S31. This includes ST.
100000 grade raising bonds issued
since storm.
4. Expenditures for improvements
since flood?
Grade raising. 32,0O0.OOO. Other i'm.
provements. $5OO,OOO. The county built
the sea wall, which cost $780, 900.
.. Value of property destroyed by
Hood and the number of persons who
lost their lives?
Property loss, $17,OOO.OOO. Loss of
life in city about 5000 outside of CITY
but in the county about 500. Total
number known $500. but We speak of
total as 5000.
6. How has the new plan worked
In comparison with the former regime? :?
New plan so far superior to old plan
that no citizen OF Galveston can be
found who would dare advocate a re-.
turn to the old plan.
1t is noted that the tax rate of 1907
was trifle higher than in 1900. the
year of the disaster, but that is ex-
planned by taking into consideration
the heavy expenditures required to re-
pair the great losses sustained and the
making Of further substantial improve
ment under the new regime.
The state and county rate for 1907
was Sligo per hundred dollars valua-
,, tion. Added to the city rate Of $3.50
equals $2673. Galveston forms an in.
dependent school district Its schools
are maintained out of the city treas
ury.
A writer In commenting upon the
plan in an Eastern periodical. OBJ
serves:
Practical experience, extending over
period of six and a half years. has
conclusively proved that the Calves
ton plan of city government by COM
| mission is complete success.
There is nothing at all remarkable
| about the Galveston plan, nor about
the men that are directing its munich
pal government. The city commission
is simply board of directors. elected
! ut large by the qualified voters of the
| entire city every two years. This
board is composed of five practical
business men. each fully recognizing
| the fact that economy and business
methods, not politics. should be EN-
ployed in transacting the business af-
fairs of the city.
The business that Is being directed
by these five men, as agents for the
citizens of Galveston, can be briefly
| summarized as follows Furnishing
the people with pure wholesome water,
| adequate sewerage. efficient police and
| fire protection. we'll lighted, clean and
| well paved streets. drainage, santa
| tion. public hospital for the sick and
careful management of the city
| finances"
The commission has the power to
appoint and discharge city officials and
employees. and fix their compensation
within certain limits. Formerly Gal
weston was governed by a mayor elect
ed by the voters of the entire city. and
twelve aldermen elected by the voters
from each Of the twelve wards. There
after the plan was changed and all
the aldermen were elected at large.
This change also proved unsatisfactory.
On September Sth. 1900. the great
storm swept over the ill-fated city.
She faced ruin and bankruptcy. Now
her credit under the present system
is at par. and she stands forth as a
model city of our Republic, saying by
her example in language more forcible
than pen or tongue can indicate. il
other cities shall do likewise when not
assailed by calamity, their welfare and
prosperity will be promoted in a still
greater degree.
Local municipal government con-
Germs the life, health and prosperity
I