Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-10-22

chocolated tablets called Sarsatabs.
mittee Of three from said organiza-
tion was appointed. consisting of Mr..
Smith. Col Walter Gresham, a law
yer and former member of congress,
and Mr.. f. d. Minor, a lawyer of
high character and splendid ability.
This subcommittee procured copies
of the charters OF number Of cities,
including the law governing the city
of Washington, d. c.; copy Of the
act creating the taxing commission
for Memphis, Tenn, after the great
yellow fever epidemic of 1873, and a
copy of the so-called model charter
OF Baltimore, Md.
The commission features Of the
new charter we're suggested and
drawn by Mr. Smith. and the con-
trolling idea was tho creation OF a
government body which should con-
form, as near as possible, to the
organization of great business
corporation, providing the duties,
sharply defining the responsibilities,
and through the heads OF the various
departments, concentrating both pow
er and responsibility.
In presenting the proposed charter
to the legislature for adoption, the
Deep Water Committee" issued a
remarkable address, setting forth in
strong language the urgent neede of
Galveston. This address, which was
written by Mr.. r. Waverley Smith,
stated in part: I'VE believe that
municipal government, as 1t has been
administered in this community for
the past 20 years, Is failure. II
did not require the storm to bring a
realization OF this fact, but 1t brought
II home with greater force upon us.
We are seeking relief from the
municipal destruction aud despair
staring us in the face. 1t Is a ques-
tion with us of civic life and death
This committee has labored diligent-
ly and earnestly to prepare and pre-
sent to the people of this city, and to
the legislature, remedial legislation
adequate for the grave emergency
confronting us. Months have been
given to It's preparation. 1t is hoped
that the central idea OF the new char
ter--that of commission-em-
bodies the practical solution of that
hitherto unsolyed problem how to
govern. cheaply and well. a municipal
corporation. We are asking for a
charter, placing the entire control of
the local government in the hands of
five commissioners. designed to bene-
fit the people rather than to provide
sinecures for politicians" The pas
sage Of the Commission Charter bill
through the, legislature was accom-
plished only after a long and bitter
fight. AS a two-thirds vote in favor
OF the bill was not secured, It did not
go into active operation until 80 days
after the legislature adjourned. 1t
was Just t2 months after the great
storm OF Sept. 8. 1900, before the
city government passed into the
hands of the board of city commits
sioners, the new charter becoming eff
fective Sept. IS. 1901.
The Commission Plan Before the
Courts.
When the commission charter was
first presented to the legislature, i'll
provided for the appointment of the
and four commits
sioners by the governor of the state.
This appointive feature was opposed
on the ground that It deprived the
people OF the right OF self-govern-
ment. AS compromise the bill was
amended so that three would be APP
pointed and two elected by popular
vote.
The city government under the
charter continued for al
period of 20 months. The constitu-
OF the bill. by reason OF it's
appointive feature, was attacked
an arrest made for violating
a city ordinance. An appeal was
taken to the court OF criminal ap-
peals. which Is the chief tribunal Of
Texas In criminal matters. and the
law declared unconstitutional by
said court, by vote OF two to one,
there being three members OF the
court About this same time, but
shortly thereafter the same question
was presented 10 the supreme court
OF tho state in civil suit, and this