Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-10-30

The essential difference between inc form of municipal government, mh oh has prevailed in Houston since the passage of the charter Of 1905 and the old form of municipal gov ernnlent which has generally prevail ed throughout the United States heretofore are but three. The substi- tuition of a smaller number of alder men elected from the city at large in place Of larger number elect ed from different wards or subdi- visions of the city; the vestment of a co-ordinate power in the mayor as n the city councils to dismiss any officer of the city government, ex- cept the comptroller, at any time, and safeguarding the granting of municipal franchises.
 1. Instead of body of twelve al- der.nea, elected from different wards or subdivisions of the city, under the Houston system four aldermen are elected from the body of the city by the vote of all the citizens ill the same. way in which the mayor is elected. These -four aldermen to- gether with the mayor, constitute the city council or legislative department Of the city government. The execu- tive power is vested in the mayo |, but by an ordinance for the admin istration of the city's affairs large portion of the executive or adminis- trative power is divided into differ ent departments, and committee is placed over each department, one Of the four aldermen, nominated by the mayor, being what is known as the active chairman. The mayor and all four aldermen are members of each committee. The active chairman of the committee practically has con- trol Of the department and its ad- ministration unless his views upon the matter are overruled by the whole committee; but by the organ ization of the committee the active chairman does his work to certain extent under the supervisory d1rec- tion of the mayor, who is, m the last analysis, the head of each com- 1nittee and the person in whom the executive power of municipal gov ernment ultimately rests.
 Under the old system of govern 1.eat by which twelve aldermen were elected from as many different pre- circts of the city, it frequently re- suited that very unfit men came to represent certain wa"ds in the city council. Now, unless man has sui ficient standing and reputation to De known throughout the body of the cty as fit man fer the office of ai- derman, he will not be elected.
 Again, each alderman under the p.esert system, represents the whole city, and is rcsponsible to the whole city. Under the old system the con duct of public business was contln- uslly obstructed by system or pet ty. log-rolling going on among anu between the representatives cf the numerous subdivisions of the c,ty' Tho smallncss of the number or all. xlermen affords opportunity for. ana facilitates the transaction Of busf ness.
 An executive session is held pre- yious to each meeting of the city oounc:l. at which most Of the mat .ers to come before the council are discussed and determined. Again the small number of aldermen en- ,ahles the city administration, on any and all matters of importance to act as a unit. In other worlds t"e .svstem makes 1t possible to adm'n' 1ster the affairs of the city ID nrompt and bnsiness.like way. Here is one of the strong points, 1T not the strongest point. of the co"n' sson f,-m of government. You all