Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-08
The Story Of the plan.

The Story Of the Plan.
Prior to the storm Galveston was
governed conventionally. There was
mayor, with fourteen aldermen elected
from seven wards. City officials. such
as treasurer, auditor, police judge and
prosecutor, were elected by popular
vote. The aldermanic government had
plunged the city into debt aggregat-
ing $4,000. 600 with the municipal Dor
rowing power practically exhausted
Graft was considered here. as in many
other cities, "ar conventional crime" to
be laughed at and looked over. Then
came the calamity which decimated the
population about one fourth by sudden
death and another fourth by fight. At
the first meeting of the city council af-
ter the storm, while the amounted and
unidentified and uncoffined dead were
lying in windrows or being burned in
trenches and the wrecSage of homes
and business houses was piled in four
mile swath fifty feet high along the
eastern and southern parts OF the city,
Alderman McMaster arose and adj
dressed his colleagues:
'It strikes me, and / believe we are
all of one mind, that we are up against
one of the most momentous PROPOSE
tons that any city ever had to face.
The resources of chea city are nearly
exhausted The mayor and the alder
men have been elected from the differ
ent walks Of life without any idea that
such calamity would visit Galveston
and without any idea that such ques-
ton would arise"
Then Alderman McMaster proceeded
bluntly to suggest the resignation of
himself and his colleagues and also the
mayor and the creation by state au-
tlority of a commission Of three or
five men to take absolute charge Of city
affairs and save the municipality from
a threatened receivership. Out Of this
suggestion grew a public meeting CALI
ed by hundred citizens more or less
prominent. and at that meeting COM
mittee was appointed which prepared
a new charter and submitted 1t to the
Texas legislature for ratification. The
measure was enacted into law, sustain
ed almost unanim ously by public sentf-
ment It provided for the government
Of Galveston by five commissioners.
Two were to be elected by the people.
The other three, one OF whom was to
DC TndSOT, were " NC dPpoihSSN w tiiS'
governor. Thus came about the first
government by commission" In any
American city.
The commission, with the ,co-opera-
ton OF the people, raised Galveston out
Of the slough Of despond, restored her
credit, rebuilt her homes and houses Of
business and won the respect OF the
world. Literally the new deal In mum
icfpal management lifted the city out
Of the debts by building safe sea wall
and filing in behind it 30 that the level
OF the ground was raised to q point
from which the town can laugh at fu-
ture West India hurricanes.
In the autumn Of 1905 wealthy
business man Of Des Moines, James G.
Berryhill, accounted millionaire,
made trip to Galveston to study con-
ditions. So favorably impressed was
Mr.. Berryhill with the achievements
and promises of the new idea In NUM-
cipal government that upon his return
home he submitted report. Nov. II, at
a public meeting in the z. M. c. A.aud-
itorium in Des lMoines in which he urg-
ed that his city take steps toward re-
form in civic affairs by adopting form