The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1910-09-24
The Story Of the Short Ballot Cities
A Series Of Articles the New Commission Form of
Municipal Government
By RICHARD s. CFiILDS
The Success of the Commission Plan

~ i Is no easy matter to prove con
clusively and in true scientific
u fashion that one city is better gov
erned than another Nevertheless
despite the difficulty of making com
PARSONS. there Is nothing moro certain
than the fact that whether the com
mission form OF government Is the ideal
form or not. 1t Is better than the forms
Of government which preceded 1t In the
various cities
ihe total list OF cities which now
have the commission form Of govern
ment numbers sixty-eight. Many 9th
ers have voted In favor Of 1t and are
waiting for legislative action. or these
sixty eight however, many are Of very
Small size. Some OF them, In fact, are
mere villages and do not present the
problems that a city does. Adopting
1000 ~ minimum population for a
true city, the list runs as follows:
Massachusetts Gloucester, Haver-
hill.
tennessee Memphis.
Iowa Burlington. Cedar Rapids.
Dcs Moines, Sioux City.
as-Leavenworth, Wichita, To
pcka.
Missouri st. Joseph.
Texas-Austin. Dallas, Fort Worth.
Galveston. Houston, Waco.
of these seventeen cities nine have
had the plan In actual operation so
short time-a year or less-that ac-
curnte comparison of the results Of
the new regime as compared with the
old Is not yet possible. All reliable
testimony regarding the commission
plan must therefore be based on the
remaining eight cities.
Brief as the trial has been the evil
dence nevertheless is startling. In
every one OF these cities there had
been waste, some corruption and
much incfliciency. In all Of them par
ty machines had been In complete con
troll and had been maintained In run
ming order at the public expense
through political favoritism in the
making Of appointments. How much
the gangs cost the cities was reveal
ed when the government passed into
the hands of men who. having obtain
ed office without the help Of the
gangs" could afford to ignore them.
Gnlvestons experience has already
been described.
Gloucester-Commission plan In ef-
feet 1909. The first years report
showed all bills paid and reduction
IN the city debt OF $4,000. 1t is
claimed that the roads and streets
nave been better kept at $4,000 less
annual expense. The city bookkeeping
1as been reformed. and the commits
'ioncrs point to reduction In the ex-
'ense OF caring for public property.
I Is still too early to demand much In
be way Of tangible results
Haverhill-Commiss plan In effect /
n 1909. The first years report IN.
Ter the new plan showed saving OF |
$4,000 IN running expenses When /
he commission took hold the finamiul
status Of tue city was very bad Ii
lad reached both its debt limit and |!
AK rate limit and was steadily fall |
Ing behind IN its payments Appeals
we're being made to the legislature for
II extension OF the tax rite limit, but I
his extension hns now become uunec-
ssary In addition the city has voted
10 license. the revenue from the 81
,ons being no longer needed The
has been lighting big
attic against the gas and electric
ght monopolics to obtain lower rates
or the city and for private consumers.
nd has obtained from the people per
lission to resort TO municipal owner
hip II necessary. There was fierce
Official opposition TO the commission
the expiration Of It's first term but
was re elected. Party lines In Hav-
rhill. which was formerly Republic
u city. have been completely broken
he commission consists Of two Dem
Gratis. two Republicans ard d So
alist.
Cedar Rapids. Ia.--Commission plan
J effect IN 1908. The commission has
aduced the tax rate and the debt.
lille making certain big improve
ents, such as the requirement Of
q island In the river. out OF current
lpenses instead Of bond issues The
land Is for municipal buildings In Il
,ndsome park setting. In accordance
18th ''city beautiful" plan devised
Y an expert. The police and fire |
'partment forces have been enlarged
spite the reduced tax rate. I
Des Moines, Ia.-Commission plan In
feet in 1907. In iM first year the I
saved $1S4.OOO In running
penses, as compared with the pre-
Gus year under the old government.
made better bargains for the city In q
ectric light charges, obtained inter-
t on city deposits for the first time,
'aned streets and alleys better. (the g
|eys had formerly not been cleaned at !
y and wiped out the red light dis Z
ct." the effect Of which has since
en- shown In reduced crime. A sys- {
n OF periodical fines which were {
actically licenses levied In this dis :
CT formerly brought In huge year I
revenue and the financial results L
owe noted were obtained despite the d
asing of this illegal income. b
-eavenworth. Kan. Commission y
IN In effect In 1908. The commission
$ reduced the bonded Indebtedness =
$l12.05O while the tax rate has re- I,
lined stationary. Kansas Is q prohi- =
ION state. but Leavenworfh had nj. :
~, =, s,