The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-10

Because Galveston was swept by
great /storzn IN September, 1900. a new
form of city government, known as the
commission plan, is being widely adopt
ed in the United States. and bids fair
to become, shortly, a well recognized
method of conducting the administra-
ton of municipal affairs. In addition
TO Galveston, Houston, Dallas. FIT
Worth, Austin, and other Texas cities,
the plan has been adopted in Topeka
and wichita, Kan; Des Moines and
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Boise and Lewis
ton, Idaho, and Chelsea and Gloucester.
Mass.
Portland, Ore, has just voted to in
augurate the new system; Memphis will
be so governed after December 81, 1903,
and the board plan IS being seriously
considered for Boston More than thir-
ty cities are already operating with
commission. in place Of the former coun-
ell and mayor, and every week adds to
the list. Galveston, and later, Des
Moines. have been leading cities in the
movement.
The plan in operation at Galveston
since 1901 is as follows:
o. A commission Of five men consu-
tute the governing body Of the city.
One of the commissioners is called the
mavor-president, and presides at all
meetings; he has no veto, however; he
votes as one of the five, and ma
jority of three settles every question.
Duty OF the Mayor.
The duty Of the mayor-president is to
oversee the city business as whole.
and the law provides that he shall
~ ,4cfv. .s1
duties OF the other four, one commits
sioner has charge Of the police and fire
departments; one Is commissioner of
streets and public property, including
lighting and street cleaning; one is water
works and sewerage commissioner. and
the fourth is commissioner OF finance
and revenue
81. To these five men of the commits
sion is given power to appoint all Of
fcers and subOrdinates in all depart
ments of said city" (charter, section 3;
Ito make and enforce such rules and
proper for the organization,
management, and operation of all of
the departments Of said city and what
administration of its affairs (section
i2), and "to make all laws and ordt-
nances not inconsistent with the consti-
tuition and laws Of this State. touching
the local government. instituted by this
act" (section ID.
Checks on Board.
This is = large power to place in the
hands OF a board. but 1t is subject to the
provisions Of the city charter and the
State constitution The powers usually
exercised by the mayor and city coun-
ell of the average American city are
fv,4o Of
this one group. With their power goes
responsibility, for the commission has
no one else on whom TO lay the blame,
If matters do not go right.
The commissioners are elected at large
not by wards-but every body knows 10
whom to go with complaints. The old
theory of city government, divide up
the power among many officers for fear
II may be welded TO the disadvantage
of citizens" has given place TO the new
principle. Give a few municipal mana
gers power CROUCH TO do the city bust
ness well. and hold them strictly ac-
Countable.'
II is the same idea as that used in the
business corporation-the stockholders
elect a board Of directors, and they
under the charter. exercise all the power
needed to run the business successfully
Summary of Powers.
In Galveston, then, the commission:
Ca) Makes all laws and ordinances by
majority vote.
% Appoints and removes all city en-
ployes.
Cc) Determines salaries and qualifica-
lions for all employees.
(d) Grants all franchises.
The commission appoints secretary
who keeps the minutes of the meetings
of the board and conducts correspond
ence. a treasurer, who receives and
keeps all municipal funds; a city at
torney; a judge of the city court cor
poration court an assessor and col
iector Of taxes; an auditor; a health
physician; a CITY engineer; q harbor
master who controls the wharves and
the loading Of all ships; a superintend-