Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-26
CITY EMPLOYEES
GO TO WORK AT
EIGHT O'CLOCK
Rule By Commission When it
Took Charge.

Budgets Of Public Expenditures
Memphis is a Better Place to
Live In.
a. R. Hornaly, in Savannah Press }
Memphis. Tenn, the largest city IA
he South to adopt tie commission
form Of government, made the change
on January1, 1910, but it was not untjl
the middle Of June that the inevitable
legal fight was brought TO a close and
tie new system indicated as it had
been in Texas and Iowa.
Six months is not long time, and
certainly the results of change 50
far-reaeaing in its effects cannot Re
fairly judged by a record so brief, yet
the commission forces of Memphis
have much to offer in yindication If
the system they cz,amioned when
the aliermanic plan proved an 90
vious failure Ii is we'll to remember.
too, that what has been accomplished
in Memphis has been in the face of ali
TIE legal OBSTACLES that a determined
opposition could throw in the way. A
decision of the supreme court of Ten
nessee removed this retariing infu-
ence only few months ago ard
friends Of the new system confidently
hope for a still better showing witp
the passing OF the months.
New Regime.
When the commission entered upon
their duties they made it clear tat the
new year in Memphis meant a new
regime in that city. To some it seemed
small thing when they issued an
order Immediately requiring all city
employes TO report for duty promptly
at o'clock in the morning instead of
permitting ITEM to drop in anywhere
up to 10 o'clock, as had been the rule
under old conditions. But 1t was hot
small thing. 1t meant that the city
hall was to become a house of bust
ness; that men who were paid with
the money of the people were expec.-
ed to render the same type of service
that would be expected of them in he
average bank or mercantile house. "A
full days work for a full days pay"
became TIE slogan in the municipal
building, and the same idea was ca
ried out in the investment of the peo-
PIES money.
Memphis had long been a notori-
ously bad town, and a war on dives
and criminals was opened forthwith
The result was eight hundred arrests
the first month, with a corresponding
decrease in hold-ups, burglaries and
other crimes. At the same time the
straw bond" system which had made
it easy for criminals to escape in the
old days was abolished, ami it soon
become known to every crook in Mem
phis that arrest meant either impris-
onment or a bond upon which the
municipality could collect. The result
was an exodus of habitual criminals
Another reform which promises 10
result in vast good was the establish
ment of a juvenile court, with com
petent 1oard of trustees. This court,
under the guidance of Judge P H.
Kelly is proving great factor in
dealing with the youthful criminals Of
Memphis and its work has attracted
wide attention.
Under the old conditions Memphis
paid five per cent upon all overdrafts,
while it received absolutely no inter
est on its deposits. This the commits
sioners changed at once, witE' the re-
suit that the city now pays four per
cent on overdrafts AMI receives three
and one-half per cent upon its de-
posits
Another important move was the
appointment of city purchasing
agent, through whom all supplies are
bought. The inauguration of this
Dlan-one long ago recognized by pri-
vate corporations as necessary to
economical nagement-resulted in
a great saving to the people; a saving
that will amount to thousands of DOL
lars in the course of a year. A con-
plete inventory of all city property
was taken; all stock was branded and
vehiclesc of every description painted
and lettered. All tie old and crippled
stock was disposed of and replaced ~
young and vigorous animals, with the
result that the city was for the first
time in years prepared to carry o1t
the work of the departments requiring
the use of such animals in a thorough
ly satisfactory manner
Public Health.
Steps were also taken to safeguard
the health of the community in a more
thorough manner To tits end hos
pital for the treatment of commun-
icable disease was provided for and
the tuberculosis hospital, formerly
entirely dependent upon charity, was
taken in charge by the city and COM
petent board of trustees was appoint
ed to care for it. A system of school
inspection was inaugurated by wEfcn
communicable diseases are at once H.
tected and the danger of epidemics re-
duced to minimum, and at the same
time a most thorough system of milk
inspection was introlacel. Then, to9,
there was a marked Improvement in
the work of cleaning streets andalleys.
For the safety of the public and tie
protection of property, system Of
boiler inspection was introduced, and