The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-09-11

The first test in the United States Oh
Government by Commission was at Gal
weston, Texas, after the flood in 1000
Galveston had been prostrated by ca
lanlity. A committee of citizens was
named by the Governor of Texas to take
charge of the city in its extremity. The
service rendered by these gentlemen was
SO efficient and satisfactory. the manage
ment of the affairs of the city on busi-
ness principles, was SO great an inn
proyenent over the municipal system BY
a mayor and councilmen, that the Leg
lslature was persuaded to provide an en-
actment by which was created COM
mission of five members, three being ap-
pointed by the Governor and two elected
by the people
Under this authority the city pro-
gressed amazingly. Galveston had ex-
perienved the rule of the boss, and un-
der the municipal system had incurred
obligations, with limited improvements,
to indicate some compensation for the
money expended.
Later on a new charter was adopted in
which it was stipulated that all the five
commissioners were electable by ma
jority of the people, qualified to vote.
What Galveston is today was made
possible by the Galveston plan of gov
ernment by commission, which had its
origin in the overwhelming calamity of
1900.
Under the municipal system it would
have been almost impossible for Calves
ton to have constructed the great sea
wall and the many substantial improve
ments which challenge the admiration of
the world.
Under the system Of Government by
Commission Galveston has been regen-
Grated, factional lines have been oblit-
Grated, spirit of progressiveness has
been aroused, and the municipality,
stimulated by this influence of a new
awakening, presents today the most en-
couraging of possibilities which are
within the reach of every community
determined on the emulation Of Calves
ton.
It was not long after the satisfactory
effectiveness of the Galveston plan had
been made practically manifest that
Houston substituted the municipality
with the Government by Commission
plan Then in 1907 Dallas, Fort Worth
Denison, El Paso, Sherman and Green
vile, all Texas towns, were aligned, fol-
lowed by Austin, San Antonio, Marshall,
Palestine and Corpus Christi.
In the United States today eighteen
States have provided the initiative which
enables cities and towns in these States
to adopt the Commission form of gov
ernment, and there are I2z cities which
are governed by the Commission system,
which is recognized as being more
economical and satisfactory than the
mayor and councilmen system and is
productive of the greatest good for theI
greatest number, and therefore it is only
a question Of a few years when the
municipal system, government BY al
mayor and aldermen or councilmen, will
become obsolete.
The plan devised by Representative
Smith is taken from the Des Moines,
Iowa. charter. The Des Moines plan is
not original nor has this claim ever beenI
In the Des Moines plan is
presented the best features which have
been developed by practical demonstra-
ton in other cities, and therefore,
Shreveport, when it shall have aligned
Itself with other progressive commune
ties, will have acquired a system respon-
sive to every up-to-date" need Of this
city.
Under the system Of Government BY
Commission the affairs of the city are
BY men who must be conpe-
tent and honest, and who are held re-
sponsible to the people for their man-
agement as would be the employees of a
bank, a railroad or any corporation or
business firm.
Under the system Of Government by
Commission the dominant public senti-
nent demands efficient service, besides
there is no system Of government de
pised by men which can be more thor
1uglly democratic.
The Government by Commission is
lon-poIitical and non-partisan. 1t is Gre
tied By majority Of the people. Il IS
and accountable to the peo-
ole. Il is in the power of the people to
'emoye an unfaithfui or an inefficient
i q dishonest commissioner. In brief,