Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-12
COMMISSION SYS-
TEN IN HOUSTON
Redeemed City From Waste
and MisnaRagGmGnt.
Citizens Would Not Consider Return
ing to the Old SyStGm---SOme Of
the Many Good Results So Far
Obtained.

Continuing his discussion of the
commission system of government,
Editor Hornady, of Birmingham, pre-
SCENTS in the Savannah Press the facts
as he found them by personal invest
CATION at Houston, Texas. Says he:
A man witk a claim against the
city of Houston, Texas when that mrl-
nicapality was under he alderman c
system of government counted HIM
self fortunate if he could realize eight
cents on the dollar This is not hear
say 1t is a matter of public record.
When tile commissioners entered
office five wears ago, July, 1905, Hous-
ton had a floating debt of about $780,
900 and it's credit was such that cash
had to accompany the order if a sack
of oats was ordered. City employees
We're paid in scrip and claims against
the municipality went begging at
eighty cents on TIE dollar. The eli
hall was Synonymous with graft, inef-
ficiency and procrastination.
Within a year the commissioners
had restored the credit of the city,
paid off every dollar of the floating
debt and had transformed the city hail
into a business machine whose opera
tions had become an inspiration to the
whole community.
BY what magic was this marvellous
change brought about?
The answer to this question is
amazingly simple-it was merely the
result of applying the ordinary rules
of business to the management of pub
lie affairs That is all
One might be pardoned for presum-
ing that to the men who We're called TO
the front i'm Galveston wien the city
WAS FRUSTRATED by a great calamity
We're due the chief credit for the
splendid accomplishment in that city
under the commission plan of govern
ment. Yet, In the light of events at
Houston the plan itself must be cred
tied with "a major part in the result.
One New Man.
Ia Houston only one man new to
the public life of the community was
called to the front when the change
from the aldeGmanic to commission
plan was made. TIE pleasant mayo,
Fl. B. Rice, occupied the same Office
under tie old regime. serving from
1896 to 1898, but at that time he failed
completely TO bring about reforms.
Commissioner J. T. Castor and Jesse
"A. Thompson were members of the a.
delmanic board when that body WIS
abolished, and James B. Marmion,
another early commissioner, was the
recorder under old conditions James
Appleby was tie only commissioner
who was not identified with the OLD
regime. Yet, under the old system,
with all these excellent officials 81
duty, public business was neglected,
tie credit of the municipality was de-
stroyed and a condition bordering up
on bankruptcy was brought about.
1t is, therefore, Gear ttat the COM
mission plan itself is largely response
BILE for the tremendous change for the
better that was brought about III
Houston within the short period OF
twelve months.
Under THE afdermanic system the
tax rate in Houston reached 50 on the
800. This has been cut to $40 AMI
other reductions in the rate vii
doubtless follow. The commissioners
are determined to bring it down to 81
and the chances are that they viii
succeed, though they have good
many obstacles 10 overcome. Housto1 /,
so far as the writer is informed, is
the only city in the country where
street improvements are not assesse /
against the property owners. Every
mile of street that is laid has to be
paid out of the general revenue, AMI
this Stands in the way of a rapid re-
duction in ths TAX rate.
Since going into Office the commits
.sioners of Houston, in addition to pa =
ing off TIE floating debt, have put
something like $1,50O,00O into perma-
nent improvements, every dollar of
the money coming out of the general
revenues of the city and not from the
sale of bonds. 1t was told upon reacn-
ing the city that 100000 was put fn.o
permanent improvements last yer
without "a dollar of additional tax or
the issuance of bonds. This seemed
incredible, but an Inspection of the
books proved that the actual total
overshot this figure. The actual
amount thus saved from the general
revenues and invested in improve
ments for the benefit of the public
was $339,690
The state of the municipal treasury
may be judged from the last annual
report of the comptroller, which
showed balance on hand in the va
Erious funds aggregating $5S2,S32.2 ),
with, no floating debt.
Building Auditorium.
At the present moment the commits
sioners of Houston are putting $3.50 !
600 in great municipal auditorium.
The ground on which this splendid
structure stands was bought at an ex-
penditure of 100000 Thus totel
eff $350,O00, every cent derived from
the general revenues, is going into au
enterprise that will result in vast good
to tn community. This anditouiu n
win serve to make Houston the con-
yention city of the great southwest
1t will bring thousands of visitors to
the city eV6itF wear will divert mail l.