Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-10-07

es nave snowerea une ;world with | blessings unspeakable. Commission ! for municipalities is re- It strikes at the Vitals of the old system and relegates it to oblivion. It removes temptation and puts a premium on honesty. It eli inmates the curse of corrupt politics in civic affairs and substitutes for it safe and sound business methods. It places responsibility where it belongs and in so doing forsakes demagogy
 for the simplicity and efficiency of Democracy. It eliminates red tape,
 the greatest impeachment to our muni- cipal, state and national government. It punishes incompetence and dis honesty with instant removal from of flee. It dispenses wholly witffsnom
 mating conventions, and comes as
 nearly as possible to eliminating all
 politics In a word, Commission
 Government places the municipality 1 in the position of a business institu-
 tion to be managed and conducted
 upon a thoroughly economical basis.
 When Houston, Texas, adopted the
 Commission Plan the city was $400,-
 900 in debt, and the deficit was grow
 ing hourly to great proportions. Four years of Commission Government
 found this stupendous obligation wip-
 ed out and taxes reduced.
 When Galveston recovered from that terrible night in 1900 it was not
 only a physical wreck, but financial
 derelict as we'll. It owed approXi-
 mately $3O0,OOO and had defaulted in
 the payment of it's interest There
 was mot a penny in it's treasury, and it stood face to face with bankruptcy. Under Commission Government Gal weston soon recovered, paid it's debts and entered upon period of pros- perity which it still enjoys. The enor- nous sums expended in rejuvenation and in making additional municipal improvements were raised without bond issue and without dollar of increased taxation.
 These are things which it would be impossible to accomplish under the old system of municipal govern ment For instance, the old system in Des Moines, Iowa, struggled with a much needed but enormously ex- pensive viaduct for twenty-three years without accomplishing so much as the removal of single shovelful of dirt. Des Moines recently adopt ed the commission plan and the via duct is nearly completed.
 Every city which has enjoyed the new plan for as much as two years has had experiences similar to those of Galveston, Houston and Des Moines. They have been observed by non-commission cities, and the logi- cal result is obvious-agitation of the question locally. Pine Bluff is ripe for it, though it may not be aware of the fact. In the struggle to keep abreast of the times and remain in the vanguard of progressive south ern cities, a change from our present system of government is absolutely necessary. Little Rock, Fort Smith and Hot Springs have already taken up the question, and Pine Bluff should read the signs alright.
 In subsequent issues the Graphic will publish articles from the mayor of Houston, the mayor of Galveston, and others who have observed and helped to bring about the gratify- ing conditions due to Government by Commission. These articles will be and should be read care fully by every patriotic citizen. There is time to discuss the question thor oughly before the legislature meets, and this should be done Influential business and professional men those who realize the importance of the question of municipal government