Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-11
COMMISSION SYS-
TEN At GALVESTON
Concise Statement of Method
in Vogue There.
Business Administration of Affairs
Replaces Old WaStGful Political
Way Of Government Of Texas
City.


as a refuge from she wasreful, expens-
i've and generally unbusnesslike
methods that characterize the ordin-
larry American city under existing po-
litical system A municipal corpora
ton, it is becoming appreciated, is, OF
should be, a Business corporation, or
ganized to secure the best possible re-
suits from the money obtained by the
taxation of its citizens.
Editor Normally, of the Birmingham
News, is publishing a series OF aa~tclas
dealing with the commission system.
Dealing with the Galveston commits
sion, he says:
Simplicity is the keynote Of the Gal
weston plan of municipal government
unler the commission system. The
governing body consists of five men,
the mayor-president and four CON-
nIissioners. Formal meetings are held
once eaclt week and on these occa-
sions the humbles citizen can come
forward and present any subject in
which he may be interested. The
commissioners, with the mayor-presl-
dent, gather arous1 a table and busi-
ness is disposed of just as the dires
tors of bank would discharge their
duties There is NO oIatory, no red
tape, no star chamber proceedings.
Everything is open and above board
and the citizens feel thai they are as
much a part of tie government as the
men who administer their affairs.
This simplicity, this entire absence
Of administrative red tape, has served
to create in the public mind a feel
ing of proprietorship in the govern
ment that finds expression in TIE keen
Interest citizens of all classes take in
the management of municipal affairs.
The people have been made to under
stand that the government belongs to
them-not to the politicians-and out
of this knowledge has come a zeal for
progress and patriotism that is sur
prising to one not familiar with 10
cal conditions.
While the compensation of the
commissioner of Galveston is com
paratively small, the office is consiI-
cred one Of great honor and there has
never been any difficulty about gat-
ting men of the highest type to run
for office The mayor is paid two
thousand dollars per annlm and the
commissioners twelve hundred dol
lars each. They are not required to
give all of their time to the duties OF
their Office, as It's the case in Houston
and Dallas. nor do the people consider
/ such provision either wise or neces-
sary. They hold that to make such a
provision is to bar some of the best
business men in the community from
office and to bring about a lower order
7 of service. The people of Des Moines
! recognizing tile force of this sugges-
ton, eliminated this feature from is
plan. There the duties of the office
L are such that the full time of the com
4 nlissioners is required but they give
S it by consent instead of by legal r.
! quirement.
What feature of tie commission
plan do you think is chiefly respo l.
sible for its success?"
t Replying to this question, the aver
r age citizen of Galveston will say
P by the definite WAY in which il
fixes responsibility"
Speaking upon this phase of tLe
subject, Mr., E. r. Cheesborough, whl
lis regarded as the local authority upol
q the commission system, said
, Under the commission plan tGe
Encouragement OF a department is
; promptly laid at the door of the neg
. lectful commissioner, not only by the
f public but by the maglor-p resldent
and other members of the commission
This knowledge of personal responsi-
bility and watchfulness causes eacn
commissi oner to take a special inter
5 est and to feel a special pride in the
proper management of his department
realizing as he must that the good rs
we'll as the bad quickly becomes
known to his associates as well as the
public
The mayor-preSdent and commits
sioners are elected at large every two
years by the voters of the entire Cit.
At tie first meeting after their cleo
ton, or tas soon thereafter tals possible.
, they designate from among their
number who shall be at the head Of
the various departments. A commits
sioner of finance and revenue is first
chosen. He has charge of the office o.
| the city tax assessor and collector;
, the city treasurer and the city auditor.
He is also charged with the duty OF
keeping informed as to the finances Of
the city and, with the assistance OF
the other members of the board, must
: prepare the annual budget. This
) highly Important office is now held b.
. l. H Kempner, one of the most prom
inent financiers in the city He is at
: the head of a large banking instltu-
ton and is also president of three 9th
: er important enterprises in Galveston
!. Another commissioner is elected
head of the water works and sewerage
department.. He has under his i'm
= mediate charge tile construction
2 maintenance and operation of the
water works plant and the sewerage
system, all employees in these depart
ments being under his supervision anl
control This office is now ncNnnial