The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-19
i ley, and he is retired banker. He

ley. and he Is q retired banker. He
managed the campaign just as ne
would manage his business. The pledge
idea was the Invention OF his own mind.
and ninety per cent. OF those who
gave pledges voted for the ticket put
out by the organization. which was
known as "The Citizens. Association
Ticket Tho men selected are either
prominent In business circles or else
retired merchants. With two excep-
.tions none has ever taken part In poll
tics. One held hifice here twenty
years ago, and one had at the incep-
ton Of the commission idea given sat
isfaction to the general public as po-
lice and tire commissioner.
The new charter divorces the public
school system from the rest OF the
government, the commission merely
having supervision over purchases
made by the Board Of Education in
excess Of $500. The idea was to so
commissioners might be the schools
could never be raided by the politi-
clans. The Board of EDUCATION IS COM
posed OF five men. They draw no
salary. They serve two years. The
commissioners are elected one year and
the school officials the next year In
order that there may be no collision
or connection whatever.
The so-called commission form OF
government originated, so far|as Texas
. Is concerned, in the city Of Galveston
just after the disastrous storm and
flood Of September, 1900. Early IN
1901 representative citizens took posi-
tive action their necessities for firm
I.business-like administration Of their
municipal affairs being desperate, Il
a 9 FOL to fri ri an
condition of the city there should be
the most rigid regulations. They hat
before them the example Of the COM
mission government Of Washington, D
c., and 1t was by the governing forms
Isof this that the original draft Of tn.
| Galveston charter was drawn. Vi Because
lsof the conditions prevailing at the
time, the innovation met with only
slight objection, the politicians being
thoroughly cowed.
The results at Galveston have beer
most satisfactory. During the first
two years OF the commissions work 4
paid off the floating debt of'nearlS
/ S135, 900, expended large sums for the
.repair$ Of damage done by the storm
land retired several thousand dollars
I worth OF old claims against the city
LIT reduced the tax valuation lowered
1.-THE rate OF taxation and put the cit,
on cash basis, paying employees ane
current blllsGo the first Of the montl
with all the promptitude OLA large
business concern, The success at Gal,
weston induced Houston to adopt ,
similar plan, Political conditions ii
4 Houston were In frightful condition
4 ,A New York firm of expert account
ants (Haskins & sells) has been EN-
I ployed to 60 over the books and fount
4 hundreds of thousands OF dollars gone
SEThen theaclty hall with allgit book!
Twas destroyed by fire whtchh,:Was be;
s|lleved to be of incendlary. I. origin. TIL,
:Esituation served to direct attention t.
1.-THE success OF the Galveston plan
|8It was adopted with very materia
4 qualifications, and Houston seems I,
5Ebe satisfied with the way In which /
Il has worked. 8 y .s5 s5S
I The charter Of Dallas claimed I,
4 contain all or the best features ant
A none Iot the had ones Of the charters Q
Il Cialveston and Houston. JUS, JUS y what ar,
a Its bad features, II anytime alon,
a can tell, but at present the ndminis
Y 3tration Of tho measure has givel I'm
i prec edented satisfaction and NJ faul
u has been found. ssy