The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-11
(ey Carl Bernhardt.)
ARTICLE 5.

"How did you become interested in
the Des Moines Plan? How did you
get the Des Moines Plan adopted
Who were the men who were active In
the work." These are the questions
put to Mr.. Berryhill, who is given
credit for having more to do with the
adoption of the plan than any other
man in the city.
For Mr.. Berryhill not only investi.
gated the Galveston plan but correct.
ed Its defects and with the help OF
others drafted the enabling act, he
aroused interest In the boosters of
the town and explained the plan to
the people so clearly that they were
determined to have the right system
of government.
1t Is well to remember that Mr. Ber-
ryhill drafted the old form of govern.
the legislature which gives him an
authority on old and new style munich
pal government.
For number of years past" said
Mr.. Berryhill, Il have visited the city
OF Galveston on my personal business,
and had opportunities to observe the
local government of the city, and was
especially impressed with the remark.
able revolution accomplished in its
affairs after the great hurricane of
September, 1900.
During the early fall of 1905 men,
toned to Mr.. Harvey Ingham, the edi-
tor of the Iowa State Register and
Leader, the fact that l contemplated
trip to Galveston and expected to
investigate the city's affairs more or
less critically. Mr.. Ingham urged me
to gather as much data as could be
secured and upon returning to Des
Moines. to present the same to the
citizens Of Des Moines that begin
ming might be made in a movement
starting the new system here On the
seventeenth day of November, 1905,
these observations were submitted at
a public meeting of Des Moines citi-
zens held in the Y. M. c. A. auditor
ium. and the following facts were de-
veloped:
The Story Of Galveston.
prior to September. 1900, and the
visitation of the city by the disastrous
West India hurricane, which destroy
ed from one-third to one-fourth of the
population Of the city, and at least
thirty million dollars worth Of prop
erty. the city government was con-
Quoted upon similar plan to that in
vogue in American cities generally.
The chief executive officer the mayor,
was elected at large and fourteen
councilmen were distributed among
and elected by the voters Of seven
wards. At the general municipal cleo
tion, city officials. such as treasurer,
auditor, police judge and city solicitor,
were elected by popular vote. The
government OF the city was unsatis-
factory in the extreme. Indebtedness,
aggregating two million of dollars,
was accumulated. the credit of the
city reduced to a low ebb .and it's
borrowing power was practically ex-
hausted.
AT the first meeting of the council
called after the storm. Alderman Nc
Master thus addressed the body. as
follows. Here is his speech:
Doom Of Old Plan.
1T strikes me. and I believe that
we are all of one mind. that We are
up against one Of the most momentous
propositions that any city ever had to
face. The resources of the city are
nearly exhausted. The mayor and the
twelve aldermen have been elected
from the different walks of life with
out any idea that such a calamity
would visit Galveston, and without
any idea that such questions would
arise"
without casting the slightest re-
f1ection upon any member of the coun.
ci. more than upon himself and with
the kindliest Of feeling toward each
Of them. he desired to say that he did
not think the thirteen men had the