Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-01
The COMMISSION.
PLAN A SUCCESS
FIRST YEARS REPORT ON Mu-
NIcIPAL CONDITIONS IN DIES
MONIES SHOWS PROGRESS

Des Moines, March 30-Character-
ICED by numerous reforms, the adj
option of business methods in all de-
partments, the elimination Of petty
graft and general betterment OF
conditions, the first year of commits
sion form of government in Des
Moines will close Wednesday with a.
balance instead of a deficit in the
treasury, for the first time in seven
teen years, and the second time in the
history of the city.
Instead of exceeding its income by
$4,000, as did the old city council
during the last year of its regime, the
year of its history, $4,000 ito the
good Not single appropriation
was exceeded, while some We're several
thousand dollars below the limit.
Economy was the watchword through
out the year. and strictly business
methods prevailed. Every expenditure
was. watched and closely checked The
result as far as finances are concern
ed. is that the interests of the city
under the first year of the new plan
were looked after 100000 better than
the last of the old. As for the accom-
plishment, their superiority is recog-
nized by all The streets have been
kept cleaner. contracts have been per-
| formed according to specifications,
| civil service has been installed, electric
rates have been lowered. and there
has been a general revision of NUM-
| Clpal affairs.
Handicapped at Start.
Although handicapped by a debt of
| SIS0,000 left it by former councils, the
slate was cleaned by a bond issue and
the commission plan launched on a
/ clear seat to demonstrate what could
be accomplished. That the test has
been more than satisfactory is the
opinion of every Des Moines citizen.
! The $4,000 the city has in its treas
ury at the beginning of the new year
is largely due to the superintendent
of the various departments living be-
low their appropriations. Approx
nately $4,000 was saved in this way,
while there was paid to the city from
the council $4,000 more than was es-
timated.
Many of the notable achievements
of the commission plan are the results
of elimination of small wastes. Indeed
it is estimated such savings would
more than pay the $4,000 in commits
sioners' salaries. The item of interest
alone amounts to more than $4,000
Under the old aldernanic system
nothing was received, while the city
now draws 4 per cent on time deposits
and 2 per cent on daily balances The
city's funds will have earned durins
The last Twelve iIOIlllS oAiiileilCiJ
$500, but portion of the interest il
on the bond and waterworks funt
which was secured under the old a.
we'll as the new administration.
Can Tell Where City Stands.
The new system has made 1t pos
n sible to ascertain the standing of tn
: citv at any time, which was PRACTICAL.
! impossible under the old SYSTEM
: where each department was separate
4 " handled with no common center
q All cash is now paid into the treasur
: and warrants drawn by the auditor TO
q every expenditure. Uniform receipt
a are used in all branches. Every de
e partment is audited and semi monthly
r monthly, and yearly reports are fur
nished.
The year has been marked by
;, wonderful Improvement in the stree
:, cleaning service. With only $500
s in the fund the streets have been KEY
= in excellent condition and the alley
a have been clean. something heretofof
s never done.
Opportunities for petty graft, afford
n ed under the old system, have bee
:. eliminated. Enforcement of cohtrac
specifications has been rigid lnstea
W of letting contracts for one class
material and allowing the substitute
IN of an inferior grade at saving tn
"A council has refused to accept wor
N Requirements On Twelfth lsetwee
GO School and Center streets, three di1
ferent lots of brick were laid befol
in the paving was finally accepted, be
L, cause the material used was not VIII;
=. was called for in the specification
Example of poor material substit,
Ia ton. such as occurred under the o
form, is given on West Court avenu
Mt where asphalt little more than yei
J.. old is in bad condition.
n Rates Lowered.
Particularly successful have bee
+ the dealings of the new administratit
lie with public utilities. Without litig;
}. ton the city lowered the electric rat
sh for street lamps in July from $50
e. SIS a year and a few months al
from SIS to S65 under an all mig
in schedule instead of a moonlight sche
ule.
O. But for an injunction secured
the Des Moines Water company &