The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-07-12
SENTIMENT UNANIMOUS
FOR THE NEW PLAN
More Public Improvements
Carried On Than
Ever Before

Des Mones. Ia. July 12-The re.
port of Jhe city auditor which is now
being printed for distribution shows
that for the first year of the Des
Moines rlan the city taxpayers were
saved IN money the sum Of 1924. .O55 10
as compared 10 the last year of The
old ward plan. That means a saving
oi more than 81 each for every man.
woman end child in this city in the
cost OF maintaining their city GOV.
ernment
FIGURES For Two Years
Here are the figures taken from
the balance sheets OF the city treasur-
ers books showing the condition of
the currert expense funds for the two
years: On April /, 1908. the old ad-
hlihlstrat Oh left balance of s72,.
tsO.1 in the treasury, when 1t retired
to give J lace 10 the commission plan.
Against that balance there was an
outstanding Indebtedness of s191
sS9.9S On April OF this wear the
balance on hand In that fund was
Sl64,352.0b, a difference of s91. 1.5e1 "a
The outstanding Indebtedness against
mat balance was only $50. .4g6.77. n diff
ierent Of $l32,49316. or a total differ.
enee Of $224,O5510, in favor of the new
rule.
The only question then as to the eff
ilciency OF the Des Moines plan Is
th2t Of whether o. not Il Is possible
10 give the people better government
at this tremendous decrease in the
cost OF government Des Molpes,s an
swer Is practically unanimous on that
point Recently a committee OF bust.
ness men from Salt Lake City visited
Des M0iRes 20 investigate the new
RUE, tn members made canvnss of
the business houses. stopped people on
the streets, went among the l1horing
men In the packing houses and fac
tories aad interviewed with printed
questions more than one thousand cit
liens.
The -Four Who objected.
Whom the printed lists were check.
ed up II was found that only four men
In all That number expressed an adj
verse opinion. one OF the four was
Socialist, who objected 10 the plan
on general principles. but admitted
that II was better than the old ward
system, another was a wealthy prop.
esty owner who objected because the
new form of government was too AK.
Gressive in making public improve
ments, The third was a saloon keeper
who denounced the commission plan|
rs Sunday school movement. and
The fourth was n politician. who had
lost the office which he held un nler|
the old ward system.
II can Do truhfully stated that thfs|
canvass just about represents the sen.
'ments OF the people regarding the
new ralc Aud a remarkable thing
ABOUT ihe sentiment Is that The labor.
ing men and the small property hold.
ets are even more enthusiastic iu
thelr praise of the new rule than thel
business men and the big property
holders
But how was his great reduction IN
the operating expenses made without
sacfiticins the public interests? Is the
1irSt question asked by the visitorsl
who investigate the new rule.
Greater Efficiency At Less Cost
Are salaries and the wages of lab
pfing men reduced? Not by any
means a few months ago the com.
missionefs voluntarily increased the
wages OF day laborers from So per day
TO S22j and the wages of teamste~s
IRON 81 80 to $3.50 a day. because
OF the Increased cost OF living. The
contractors IN Des Molnes pay sI.75 a
day for day laborers and 81 for team
ers for a nine hour day. while the
eiiy pay It's increased price for an
eight hoar day
Has reduced the street force or /
abandoned any improvements? Not
~ all The commissioners are IN
aertakius more public improvements |
fh3h ever before More men are EN- /
lioFed "a the street gangs than ever
before more policemen are fin ne |
So vice ard more firemen Than ever
oeiore Every department has been