Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-28
HOW DIES MONIES is Run.

One Year of Commission Govern
ment In the Capital of lowa-Ev-
erythins Rosy.
From the Worlds Work.-A year
ago the city of Des Moines adopted
plan of city government by commits
sion, a modification Of that adopted
by the city of Galveston. In brief,
it put the whole government of the
city in the hands of FIVE men elected
by the entire voting population, Civ
ing them salaries which enable them
to devote their whole time to the
work of governing the city. The
plan, while it insures individual re-
sponsibiIity, reserves check upon
the individual, ny the entire council,
thus making the head re the depart
ment responsible to the council and
the council TO the city. There is
referendum and recall, which has a
wholesome influence upon the ac-
tions of the officials. and OFF sets the
pernicious influence of personal in
|terests.
The system has been in operation
in Des Moines but one year Al
though some of the members of the
council were not in full sympathy
with the plan, nevertheless it has
so far worked well In the previous
years, the old city council had ex
ceeded its income by $4,000. The
new administration closed its first
year with $4,000 in the treasury,
by strict watenfulness and close
checking of accounts. In short
there was a saving of 100000 I'M
been a great elimination OF small
wastes. In fact, this more than COW
cred the salaries of the commission
ers, s15,50O Under the old alder
manic system. no interest was re-
ceived on city funds. They now
draw per cent on time and per
cent on daily balances.
There has been a wonderful i'm
provement in the STRENGTHENING SER
vice With only $4,000 in the fund.
the streets have been kept in good
condition and the alleys clean for
the first time in the history of the
city. Without litigation the city
lowered the rates for electric street
lamps in July from ninety to sew
enty-fve dollars and few months
ago from seventy-fve to sixey-fve
dollars under an all-night schedule
instead of moonlight schedule.
The system has reduced water rates
from thirty cents to twenty cents
| per thousand gallons Whether this
decision win be effective depends on
the result of litigation. Gas rates,
which were Arbitrarily raised by a
former city council from seventeen
to twenty-five dollars, have been
| dropped back to the old rate Steps
have been taken toward the estab-
hshment of the Chicago profit-shar-
ting plan for the settlement of all
| litigation between the city and the
street railway company, by which
the city win have an interest in the
railway company's business. The
| disreputable district has been wiped
out. While it could not truthfully
be said that the reform in this re-
spect is complete, the evils have
been greatly reduced. Coincident
with the suppression of iisreputa-
bic houses, tne bond-shark business
has been abolished. Bondsmen are,
no longer allowed to operate in the
police court. An agreement between
the railroads and the city for the
construc ion of a yiaduct over the
railway racks has now been reach
ed without litigation. It can be safe
ly said that the city hall is free
from politicians and political influ-
ences, and that the old political ma
chine has been sent to the Junk
heap.
Much larger achievements are an
ticipated IN the years to come. when
it is hoped that the entire council
will be in through sympathy with
the plan