The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-02

and it seemed that BANK
ings claims against the city were Sidd
ruptcy was inevitable. Persons hoio-
10 get eighty cents on the dollar, ana
after the commissioners entered office
a umbe Of creditors voluntarily OF
fered to settle for this sum. Nltnln
twelve months after the form OF gov
was changed, the commas
sioners had paid off about S400,0oo
in floating debts and everv claim was
being met promptly. The credit or
the city was put on a solid basis by
the creation of sinking funds and the
use Of scrip was abolished.
During the five years of commission
reign, about $780, coo has been put
into permanent improvements out OF
the general reVNnueS of the city. Many
miles of streets have been paved with
out one cent being assessed against the
property owners, and today $500, 600
is being invested in a great municipal
auditorium which Houston citizens be
lieve will make that place the great
convention city of the Southwest. The
spirit of enterprise manifest in the
city hall has become infectious, and
Houston is developing at a surprising
rate.
The success Of the commission plan
in Dallas. Tex, has been quite as pro-
unce as in Galveston and Houston.
Graft has been eliminated, along
VAIL o1 4" h LII liz lSI -
Of the municipality are managed with
a precision and dispatch suggestive Of
a great banking institution. The Dallas
plan differs from all others in that it
provides a nominating committee,
composed Of the heads of the local fl
nancial institutions, which names the
city auditor. This ~precaution was
suggested by the fact that the OutgO-
ing tax collector under the old sys-
tenn was credited with a balance of
$500 when his office was checked up
just before the change. Later his
bOndSmen We're required to pay over
about $16, 600 to the city. The auditor
today is independent of all other Off
GERS, and. has access to all books and
records at all times.
The Dallas commissioners work
hand in hand with the business in
terests for the progress of the city,
and a recent incident illustrates how
harmony Of action along this line
works to the advantage of all. Dallas
business men have long desired a
larger and more modern hotel than
any now in the city, and one of the
pressing needs of the municipality has
been a new city hall. Working to-
gether, the commissioners and bust
ness men nave completed a deal by
which the old city hall will be sold to
ST. Louis capitalists. who will erect
a million-dollar hotel on the site. Thus
one transaction gives the city its new
hotel and new municipal building.
Reforms Effected in Des Ioine
After a long and bitter fight in
which the ring politicians contested
every inch Of the way, Des Moines,
Ia, adopted the commission system a
little over two years ago, and the
changes brought about there were just
as significant and just as revolution
airy as in the Southern cities. Des
Moines was thoroughly corrupt. Alder
men openly profited by reason of their
position and there was hardly a pre-
tence of Disgusting 1T. Public service
corporations contracted with members
of the aldermanic board when they
had work to give out, and many sup
plies were purchased through the
same public Coco men were
elected to the board occasionally. in
spite Of the eff>rts of a powerful ring,
but they found themselves powerless.
Graft has now ceased to exist in
Des Moines, and the affairs of the
municipality are administered with a.
skill and devotion to duty that has at
tracted the attention of practically the
whole nation. Des Moines aspires to
be not only the best governed city
in America, but the most beautiful,
and substantial progress Is being
made along the lines Of it's ambition.
The streets are clean, we'll lighted. and
Well kept. The unsightly river-front
Is being converted into a scene of
beauty. The magnificent new munich
pal building, the cornerstone of which
was laid in June. ie going up on the
river-frOnt, and it will be surrounds
by attractive grounds. The charm Of
the city's splendid chain Of parks
nearly seven hundred acres in aIl-is
being constantly enhanced. and the
educational institutions of the city are
watched with jealous care. Last year
the city was third among American
cities in point Of building activity.
Two elections have been held in Des
MoineS under the commission system.
and in each instance attempts were
made to elect a slate" In each the
effort failed. In the first election
the friends of the commission system.
fearing that the fruits of their labors