The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1908-12-22
THE BUSINESS IDEA Of
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Continued from Page Nine.)

Continued from Page Nine.)
commissioner represents the whole
city, instead of a particular ward
hence his task is the development OF
the city as a whole, and not one sec
tion at the expense of another. Ward
lines have been abolished in Houston
and the ward idea of local self-gov
ernment, borrowed from state and ma
ton, has been very properly labeled
:" Mis6t," +" and placed among the relic:
of things that were. Other heads OF
departments are appointed by the
mayor and serve during his pleasure
excepting the controller, who is con,
firmed by the council, and can be re.
moved only with their consent. As.
sistants and employees are selected by
the heads of departments and are sub
iect to dismissal whenever their ser
vices are not satisfactory, just as is
the case in a private concern. Know
ing that his tenure depends upon his
ability to render satisfactory service,
and impelled by good wages, promptly
paid, the employe has every incentive
TO render faithful service, and eff
cheney among employees has been the
result in almost every case. Perhaps
the application of no other business
principle has produced better results
than this. 1t eliminates the necessity
of providing places for political IA
vorites. On the other hand, the city
receives in return for the expenditure
of every dollar, value received in
labor honestly performed.
The salary of the mayor is $4,000
per annum, and that of the commits
sioners is $24OO While these salaries
are extremely modest, it is believed
that they will attract the services of
men thoroughly competent, who are
willing to serve their city on condi-
tion that they can accomplish results.
What business concern would be will
ing to employ cheap ward politicians
to run its business7 Offices not abso-
lutely necessary have been eliminated.
The office of city secretary was CON-
bined with that of controller, thus saw
ing the salary of one official. A local
banker was appointed city treasurer
with a nominal salary; thus practically
saving another salary, while receiving
four per cent interest on the city's
deposits.
The mayor and commissioners are
in continuous session from day to day,
each devoting his entire time to the
eity's welfare. They are easily acces-
sible during all business hours, and by
one citizen as easily as another. Only
the fellow with ga job' or who at
tempts to use personal influence finds
it difficult to get an audience; neither,
however, is much in evidence, for no
lesson has been better taught than
that "pull doesn't 60" The plain
citizen finds no more difficulty in sub
mitting a business proposition and get
ting prompt action thereon than he
would experience in dealing with the
best managed private corporation.
Public council meetings are held at
formerly, each Monday at 4 p m, but !
they are little more than a public rat
ifcation of those matters previously |
agreed upon by the council in execu-
tive session. They are entirely devoid |
of those peculiar features that once at
tracted lovers of the spectacular to the
City Hall on Monday afternoon. The
and unseemly oldtime
council meeting has been relegated to
The shades of things that ought never
to have been.
a complete statement of what has
been accomplished by the chairman of
each of the four committees, acting
directly through well-organized depart
nents. and due directly to the appliea-
ANAA VI Su9AhCSS piihCAp pACS 10 IHe us I
charge of the duties of his department,
S not possible within present limita-
lions. But, as illustrating how the ak
was laid at the root of the tree, a
political mares nest of back-taxes to
the extent of many thousands Of dol
ars has been cleaned out, and the man
that shirks his duty has been called
to book, and taught the wholesome les
son that taxes are to be collected. not
alone from those willing to bear their
part of the burden, but from the
'shirk' - as well. There has been
adopted a system of block books for
the tax department which enables the
board of appraisers to locate the owner
of every tract of land in the city, and |
to properly assess same so that the |
taxes can be levied properly and col
leeted by suit. if necessary. The aver
age assessment is certainly less than