The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-30
First Year of Plan Proves the Most
Economical Administration in
the History of Des
Moines.
GOOD THING FOR CITY
The City Hall is No Longer a Loafing
Place For Politicians But Re-
sembIes Business
HOUSE.

DIES MONIES, Ia, March S0.-Des
MONIES first year under the commits
sion form of government ends next
Wednesday, after twelve months of
what everybody considers the most
efficient and economical conduct of
municipal affairs the city ever has ex-
perienced
For the second time in its history
Des Moines has lived within its in
come. Starting under the handicap
OF S1S0000 debt left by former adj
ministrations the commission will end
the year without exceeding a single
appropriation, and with money left
over in several of the funds. Old debts
were paid off by bond issue, but
none of the money derived from the
sale OF bonds was used in paying cur
rent expenses.
Not only has the city been managed
more economically than ever before
but more efficient service has been
rendered in every department. The
streets have been kept clean. paving
has been laid according to contract
civil service has been installed in all
departments, the efficiency of the po-
lice department has been increased, a
new system of accounting has been
installed-in fact, the entire municipal
government has been placed on bust
ness basis.
Chicago Traction Plan Favored.
Perhaps the most valuable achieve
ments of the new administration nave
been its dealing with public service
corporations. BY an agreement with
the electric light company the rates on
street lights were reduced from $l5
to $50 a year, under on all nigh. sched-
ule. instead of a moonlight schedule.
An ordinance was passed reducing
the water rates from so to 20 cents
per thousand gallons, but the company
enioined the new rates from going IN
to effect. President Payson OF the
water company is in the city now from
ortland. Maine, with the view OF
reaching an agreement with lhe city.
/ Negotiations are well under way
with the street car company TOR the
the adoption of the Chicago profit
sharing plan and it is probable that
i the city will soon have an interest," III
! the street car company.
| Rates on gas, street lights, when
were Arbitrarily raised by the former
i council have been reduced to tie Ola
| figure by the present council
/ one of the first things the new
council did was to require banks 10
nav interest on city funds. Since that
time all the city's cash has been draw
inp interest of from to per cen T.
.monnting to several hundred dollars
a year. .a
The most spectacular Of the reforms
instituted under the new admlnlstfa
tion was the wiping out of the RED
l;eht district, by Councilman j. l.
Hamcry. who is head oil Ihe oepal
ment of public safety ne ISSUE
an order notifying keepers Oh iilllloi q; a.
houses that they could not operate ~
hes MONIES after Sept. 10. On ina
day every such house was vacateu..
! LOT machines have been driven o ,I
I NV Sunt Hamery and it is senerails
conceded that Des Moines IS one o
tne most orderly towns in the couh
NV saloons are required 10 NV
Strictly iy nm to the letter OF the state
law - .;sranutahl,
ho,ses the city has broken up 'i'
bond shark business. indeed
was the practice CT the bono s 81 N N,
which led to the suppression ~ s,nn,
red light district me p oun,.1d .
had tae women Of the underM . =, ~ &c
their mercy. Finally the sllar , ~ ~,
grew so bold that they mad llie rs. va =, .,
Crested at frequent Intervals III y,
der d 70 secure the commission iof 90
i'is su ua Hamery decided that the sae ew'
evils we're mseparable AS d f soin,
PROFESSIONAL bondsmen are NOW nov . uJin
only. legitimate business in the poi''
court.
pei ated Commission Plan. -
PIERRE, S. D., March So.-lne ea pru
,osed change to the commission ioIl