The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-26
CKansas City Starr


reached the definite conclusion that it
has at least partly solved the problem
of municipal government with it's com
mission plaza simple and direct adj
ministration of the citys business by
a mayor president and four commits
sioners elected at large.
Originally. Galveston was governed
by mayor, elected by the voters of the
entire city. and twelve aldermen elect
ed by the respective voters of each of
the twelve city wards. This was a
most unsatisfactory system, and was
changed for a plan calling for sixteen
aldermen, four elected at large and
twelve by wards.
This change was a failure
The number was reduced back to
twelve, and the aldermen were all elect
ed at large. This was an improvement,
but still unsatisfactory.
On Sept. s, 1900, the great storm
struck Galveston. The old government
broke down. The deep water commit
tee, an organization composed of about
eighteen business men, upon its own
initiative took up the question of re-
deeming the city government from
bankruptcy and ruin. A sub-commit-
tee of three from this organization pre-
pared a new charter embracing the
commission plan. This was granted by
the Texas legisla ture
How 1t Is Working.
Experience, extending over a period
of six and a half years, has proved that
the Galveston plan of city government
by commission is a success.
There is nothing at all remarkable
about the Galveston plan, or about the
men that are directing it's municipal
government The city commission is
simply board OF directors elected at
large by the qualified voters of the en-
tire city every two years. The board
is composed of five practical business
men. each fully recognizing the fact
that economy and business methods.
not politics, should be employed in
transacting the business affairs of the
city.
The business that is being directed by
these five men, as agents for the cltl-
zens of Galveston, can be briefly sum-
married as follows; Furnishing the peo-
pie with pure. wholesome water. ade-
protection, well lighted, clean and well
paved streets, drainage, sanitation.
public hospital for the sick and care
full management of the city finances.
The business of the city is divided
into four departments, each department
being under the charge and direction of
a commissioner. These four commits
sioners and the mayor collectively con-
stitute what is turned the board of
commissioners of the city of Calves
ton" The mayor is the president of
the board and the executive head OF the
city government. He has all. the rights,
powers and duties conferred upon the
office of mayor by the constitution and
laws of this state, has the right to vote
upon all questions, but has no veto
power Majority rule always prevails.
Dividing the Work.
The commissioners at the first meet
ing after their election, or as soon
thereafter as possible, by a majority
vote designate from among their MEM
bers one commissioner who shall be
known as commissioner of finance and
revenue" and under whose direction is
placed the Offices of city assessor and
collector, the city treasurer and the city
auditor. He is also charged with the
duty of examining into and keeping in
formed as to the finances of the city,
and with the advice and assistance OF
the other members of the board he pre-
pareS the annual budget of the city.
Great care is exercised in preparing the
city budget ana il is never exceeded in
expenditures
Another commissioner is designated
as commissioner Of water works and
sewerage" He has under his special
u
and operation of the water works and
sewer system departments. The super
intendents of these two departments
and the joint secretary and all en-
ployes are under the direction of this
commissioner.
Another commissioner is designated
as commissioner of streets and public
property" He has under his special
charge the supervision of ali matters
relating to the streets, alleys and prop
erty belonging to the city. and is
charged with the duty of lighting the
streets looking after street cleaning
and sanitation. the supervision of street
paving, construction of drains and see
ing that the conditions of the grant of
public franchises are complied with
The city engineer and his assistants.
city health physician. superintendent of
drays. health inspectors. city sexton.
sidewalk inspector and all employees in
these departments are under the direc-
ton of this commissioner
The other and fourth commissioner.
is designated as police and fire COM
missioner" He has charge of the en-
forcement of all police regulations and
the general supervision over the police
and fire departments. The chief of po-
lice. police officers. chief of fire depart
ment and firemen, and the judge and
clerk of the corporation court are un-
der the direction of this commissioner.
The city secretary and city attorney
corresponding to the city recorder of
Kansas City. are officers with which
the mayor-president is closely associat-
ed and are usually nominated by him.
All officers and employees nominated by
the commissioners in charge of the re-
spective departments are elected by a
majority vote of the entire board.
The mayor. or any commissioners, can
be removed from Office for official mis-
conduct. drunkenness or incompetency
upon a proved charge made before a
district judge.
Like Directors Meeting.
The city charter requires that the
board shall meet i'm regular session at
least once a week. These meetings take