The Washington times., 1909-05-11
uHoUSToN.

AnSn ne maze a good justice OF the
peace and now's he's s frst-cIass city
director, explained a citizen
James Appleby was. up to March Is0a
cnalr man or the police and ire commit
tee, for they stil call them committees
IN Houston. lie is fifth of the commits
sion which goes by the name of ssrnavor
and city council
Differences in policy have developed
IN the board, the most marked being
over the question whether to save
money and leave the streets unswept
make improvements. such a difference
or opinion is bound to arise in sDv hoard
and referendum TO the people. as 70
pond issues, Is wisely provided for All
franchises must be referred 10 popular
vote. whenever $40 voters so petition
Modified Plan.
Houston, then. has the Galveston plan
In substance but modified A commits
sion of five. still called mayer and coun-
ell, PASS ali laws and ordinances, appoint
and remove city officers and employees
and grant franchises. But they give Gil
their time: the mayor has a veto as
well as a vote and large powers OF ap-
pOintment and removal, being. TO some
| extent, independent Of the other com
missionerss and important matters OF
general policy, Ike franchises and bond
issues. must, In certain cases, be sub
United to popular vote.
A large number OF citizens were in
terviewed concerning the new govern
nent, and the conversations brought
out an astonishing unaninfty of favor
able opinion Among others. Charles
Dithngham, cashier of the South Texas
/ National Bank, ard Horace Booth, as
sistant freight agent. International and
Great Northern railroad. declared en-
pnatleaily that -he present government
/ IS the best Houston has ever had; and
Stonewah Bond, Of 8 O. Cotton &
Bro hre insurance, J. NJ Dorrance p
cotton broker. and A l. Vandervoort,
| cashier Of the LumbeFman's National
Bank. were equally positive IN their
statements that the commission =vs-
tenn is a good and a great Improvement
over the old way
| Others, lawyers and merchants. en-
phasized the business-like character
| and efficiency of the commission ad-
/ ministration, one declaring that the
sands Of dollars each year on. the one
1 item Of paving brick" and Azt "the
/ city could well affod 10 pay thu 'di-
reetors 5000 a year each, and the
mayor twice what he now receives
/ purely as business proposition" An
/ other stated that under the old regime
/ taxes were higher than they BOW are
I yet the city was heavily in cebt; now,
4 though taxes are lower, that debt has
/ been paid and the streets are better
cared for and they. with the sewerage
system. are being improved
Graft Abolished.
Among other comments it was said
that graft has been done away with.
and that people have confidence in the
honesty OF the administration. one citi-
zen saying that he returned his prop
1 erty for taxation at a higher valuation
than he would have given under the
old administration. because he had con-
hdenRR that the money would be we'll
spent
! Another thsaght that the small num-
Der u the council, which makes 1t pos
sible to hold them strictly accountable,
coAtributed largely to bringing about
I this business efficiency, and that the
Abolition of ward lines was a help, and
/ he was OF the opinion that the fact
that the Commissioners give all their
time TO city business is a very irssor-
tant factor in promoting efficiency.
IN former days." he said, the water
pressure was so weak that. seven or
eight years age, when a 100000 manu-
featuring plant burned. the firemen
could not get water on the flames. Now
the city has bought out the water COM
pany ard the service and the pressure
are good The street railway company,
too is paying its share OF the receipts
and giving better service"
Several large taxpayers expressed
their belief that II was better to have
the commissioners give their whole time
to the city government and be elected
at large, one saying, We depend upon
and having them give all their time TO
the city's affairs. It is true that some
Of our best men cannot AFFORD to be
city commissioners for the salary paid,
be had Our government is new strict
, " honest Finance commissioners like
CASTOR are very valuable in watching
the city's expenses"
Principal Opposition.
The principal opposition TO the new
government was SAID by several TO
come from a few oId-line politicians
thrown out of power by the change.
OF whose mismanagement under the old
regime strong statements we're made
The flexibility of this plan is shown
by the recent transfer. $500. to the
mayor-commissioner. of the police,
light and sewer departments of the
city. in addition to his other duties,
by virtue OF an ordinance passed under
the emergency clause Of the charter.
! The distribution OF duties win be here
after as follows: One commissioner for
finances: one for streets and bridges:
another for the water department and
a fourth for the fire department. When-
ever the labors of one department de-
crease and those of another are greatly
augmented. the division OF the work Is
| eQualiZed by thus transferring 10 the
unburdened commissioner a section OF
the duties formerly assigned TO the
overbusy member.
IL is charged that most Of the COM
miss1oners are old-time politicians. it
/ Is true that at least three members
/ were in the former city government,
! either as aldermen. or as mayor AT
the same time, every one comedies the
great Improvement under the present
/ sysem eff a board composed CT poll
4 ticans can give us so good municipal
! government said q bCSiness man,
4 what can we not expect If We secure
! municipal experts or the highest type
OF business men for commissioners
! But he added. 1.-THE politician is like
! most Of the rest Of us-he VIII be honest
il you give him a chance and furnish
the proper backing.