The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-09-13

Ex-Mayor CASTOR of Houston, with
City Attorney Davidson of Marshall,
Judge ]. C. Pugh and Hon. Leon K
Smith the Speakers.
The rally of citizens at the opera
house last night was greater success
than had been anticipated. In attendance
there were fully five hundred citizens
who had come to hear and be informed
on Government by Commission.
Hon. Leon R. Smith, the author of
the bill, called the assemblage to order
in appropriate words He then intro
duced ex-Mayor CASTOR of Houston,
who held the close attention of his au-
dience for nearly two hours. Mr.. Gas
ton is a business man, not politician.
He spoke in a clear voice, each word
being expressed with ease, and yet with
force reaching all who were in this ed1-
| fee He made plain the advantages OF
the commission form over the alder
manic system. The commission form
was simply responsive to the present
needs of the people. How could people
/ travel if they had the accommodations
of a century ago? The system of local
government of fifty and twenty-five
years and even of today is not suited to
| the needs of the present time. In the
system of Government by Commission
there was combined good business sense
i practically exercised in the affairs of the
city and on the same principles which
apply to private corporations and bus1-
ness firms. In the system of the COM
mission form the agents of the people,
the commissioners, are held accountable
to the people.
/ Having been an alderman of the city
of Houston and being the author of the
q commission form for Houston and hav-
| ing had the experience from the two
,l systems, he pronounced unhesitatlngly
for the commission form as being the
Il best and most democratic for all the
people.
The next speaker, Hon. T. w David
son, city attorney of Marshall, Texas,
entertained the audience in a splendid
discourse, during which he gave his ex-
,perience acquired under the old and the
, new system of government. he sue
cess of the commission form is founded
on business principles. The affairs of a
city or town must receive the same at
tention which is given to a bank, rail-
road a corporation or business firm
II Marshall has had the commission form
on trial some eighteen months, and IS
i well satisfied The people would not
change to the old system. It is the
: most economical of governments. The
+ expenditures Of the community are Inn
: tied to actual needs There is no waste
E in extravaganza or in unnecessary out
Laws. Every dollar of the city money is
i accounted for to the cent There was nc
5 delay in transacting business. Under
!, 1.-the old form hours and days and weeks
! or months were wasted and frittered
= away in indecision over minor issue
3 or a resolution or a proposed ordinance
which can now be settled in a few min
] utes by the commissioners when called
: to transact the business of the city.
III The addresses of Mr.. CASTOR and by
h | Mr.. Davidson were received with erlthu-
Il siastic applause These addresses Wer'
Y interesting and instructive and had ;
splendid effect on the audience, many 0;
7 whom were undecided as to what the,
D would do before having heard the dis
e tinguished visitors from Texas.
# Judge 7. C. Pugh was the next speak
er. He was called from the audience
Q He spoke in a humorous vein. He wa
It given close attention and was frequentl
1t cheered, His presentation of the com
n mission form of government was clea
n and convincing. He urged the people f
It go to the polls on Thursday and vot
d for the commission form
e The next and last speaker was Hor
g Leon r. Smith. He explained the bill a
le introduced by him and as enacted by tn
Il Legislature He demonstrated the fal
q lacy Of the argument of the opposition
: The bill was thoroughly Democratic
le Through the provisions of the bill til
i people could have a government ths
g would not only be Democratic, BIT
IS would be responsive to the needs of tt
= community. He was frequently al
$ p1auded
Il At the close of the meeting nurnbe
: of citizens walked on the stage and con
: plinaented Mr.. CASTOR and Mr.. Davic
= Ison on their able presentation of II
- - Government by Commission.
= = The music was discoursed by Rettig
= - Band.
l. Mbs THE WEATHER.
Il =.