The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-17
This Feat Was Accomplished,
Notwithstanding the $780,
600 Deficit When System
Began Operations.
THIS SHOWING MADE
WITHOUT A "REF0RM''
With the Same Set Of Politi-
clans in Control the New
Method Was Not Handi-
capped the Least Degree.
NV Carl 1ernhardt.)
ARTICLE 10.

(ey Carl eernhardt.)
ARTICLE 10.
When the first council which was
elected under the Des Moines Plan
came into office it was confronted
with a deficit of $1SO,OOO, one half Of
which had accumulated the year be-
fore. The debt was Immediately
bonded and the new officials started
out with a clean sheet.
At the end of the first year there
was an actual surplus of $4,000 in
the treasury. There has always been
a deficit in the treasury up to this
time In the city of Des Moines. In
each department there is the same
story.
And yet, as have explained in
some detail, these are the same poll
ticians in power who have been in
politics before. The same politicians
who caused Des Moines to go over
to tho commission form of govern
ment.
should call this typical efficiency
in government called forth by the
Des Moines Plan from perfectly aver
age politicians the real proof of the
pudding. It is more than good gov
ernment-it is efficient government.
Efficiency 10 Difficult.
ITO be efficient is more difficult
than to be good. The average citizen,
honestly in favor of what he calls
good government does not yet under
stand that there are an intelligence
and efficiency as far beyond the reach
of mere goodness as is business eff
ficiency beyond the reach of mere
good intention"
This is the phrase that John Mac
Vicar-politician, twice mayor of Des
Moines under the old plan and coun-
Gilman under the new form of gov
eminent quoted to me- with particular
emphasis from Aliens efficient
Democracy" as representing his view
really evoked from the men who are
in office under it. am sure that he
was sincere in quoting it.
And these are the things which con-
WINGED me of its truth as applied to
Des Moines.
Interest on Funds
For the first time in its history Des
Moines Is receiving interest on all it's
deposits. The time deposits draw
four percent-two percent. The first
year the city operated under this
plan Of typical business-like admin
istration of her affairs the interest
on the funds amounted to $9,132.17.
The amount is not great-but the city
for the first time has had a surplus
in its general fund-which makes it
all the more pleasant sensation.
Decreased Cost Of Public Utilities.
Under the new administration the
lighting of the city was decreased
from $66,243 under the old admins
tration to $60,6e4-a saving of $3.50.
1t was the price of lighting and not
the amount which was lowered
Litigation is now pending which will
reduce the cost $1O,332 in the lighting
item alone.
But that is not all.
The city has actually able to gain
1.S1S hours per year on sos lamps
gain of 1,126.254 hours.
Paving Contracts.
Under the old administration the
paving of Grand Avenue Bridge cost
the city $4.47 per square yard; the
new administration did better paving
of the same kind Of material (creosote
block> at $4.os square yard. The
city saved $1,000. Cleaning 2.27e
catch basins cost Des Moines $14o-
now it cleans 1861 such basins at
s112-saving the city $1.069.25.
Beside this an enormous amount OF
petty graft in the street department
has been done away with by abolish
ing dishonest inspectors" who were
placed there for political purposes.
Beating the Asphalt Trust.
The Asphalt Trust has little reason
to look with favor on the Des Moines
Plan. 1t took away an important part
of its effective machinery. Several
thousands of dollars have been regain
ed by prosecuting forfeitures of paw
ing which did not come up to specifi-
cations. A thing unheard of there or
any place else where the trust has
made a treaty of mutual alliance with
the old ward system. This is practi-
cally impossible under the new Day
light Plan"
The asphalt paving combine has
been broken even more effectively by
- y