Bisbee daily review., 1909-03-31
OES MONIES
 LIKES NEW
 GOVERNMENT
Commissioners System Has Proven Most Efficient and Economical Form of Admin iStering Public Affairs

DIES MONIES, Iowa. Mar. 3O.-Des MOines' 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- perieneed.
 For the second time in it's history Des Moines has lived within its in come Starting under the handicap of 8 sls0.000 debt left by former admin istrations, the commission will end the year without exceeding a single appropriation, and with monew left over n several of the funds. Old debts were paid of by a bond issue. but none of the money derived from the sale of bonds was used in paying current 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 mas been laid according to contract, ciKil service has been installed n all departments, the efficacy Of the police department has been increased, a new system of accounting has been install ed--in fact, the entire municipal gov ernment has been placed on a busi- ness basis.
 Chicago Traction Plan Favored.
 Perhaps the most valuable achieve ments ef the new adm nistration have been its dealing with public service corporations. By an agreement with rIf 1azfn hafxt.f atrse5 on street lights were reduced from s75 to se5 year. under an all night schedule, instead O. moonlight schedule.
 An ordinance was passed reducing the water rates from 30 to 20 cents per thousand gallons, but| the com pany eujoined the new rates from go- ing into effect President Payson of the water company is in the city now from Portland. Me, with the view of reaching an agreement with the city
 Negotiations are well under way with the street car company for the adoption of the Chicago profit sharing plan and it is probable that the c'ty soon will have an interest in the street car company.
 Rates on gas street lights. which were arbitrarily raised by the former council, have been reduced to the old figure by the present council.
 One of the first things the new council did was to require banks to pay interest on c'ty funds. Since that time all the city's cash has been drawing interest of from 2 to per cent, amounting to several hundred dollars a year
 Social Evils Are Eliminated.
 The most spectacular of the re. forms instituted under the new ad- ministration was the wiping out of the red rght district by Council man J. L. Hamery, who Is head of the department of public safety. He issued an order notifying keepers of immoral houses that they could not operate in Des Moines after Sept 15. On that day every such house was vacated.
 Slot machines have been driven out by Supt. Hamery, and it is generally conceded that pes Moines is one of the most orderly towns in the coun- try Saloons are required to live str ctly up to the letter of the state law.
 Along with suppressing disreputabie houses the city has broken up the bond shark" business Indeed, it was the practices of the bond sharks" which led to the suppression of the red light district" The bondsmen had the women of the underworld al their mercy. Finally the sharks grew so bold that they had the wo- men arrested at frequent intervals in order to secure the commission for going on their bonds.
 Supt. Hamery decided that the two evils were inseparable As a re suit professional bondsmen are now doing only legitimate business in the police court
 Twenty Year Quarrel Ended. Among other accomplishments Of the new administration m 'ght be men toned the agreement with the rail roads for the building of the viadDet over which the city and the roads have been QuarreIing for twenty years. Plans have been accented and
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