Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-08-05
CITY GOVERNMENT
 BY COMMISSION
Originated In Galveston Eleven
 Years Ago,
RESULT OF GREAT FLOOD.

How 1t Rebuilt the Town, Constructed
 ths Sea Wall, Restored Credit and
 Scored Such . Success That 1t Is
 Now Spreading Throughout the Land.
 By JAMES A EDGERTON.
 Americans are long suffering under abuses, but when the limit Is reached they so after the evil without gloves. Our municipal governments present case in point. For generations we have stood their rottenness, inefficien- cy, grating and disgrace. Now they are becoming so bad we can put up with them no longer. The result is that we are eradicating the old sys- tenn root and branch and substituting therefor tue commission plan of gov ernment. The old scheme had got past the mending point. It had be come honeycombed with ward and partisan politics. To ourselves it was reproaeh, to other nations standing joke. It was combination of Tam, many and Hinky Dink. The expo
 
 Pittsburg and elsewhere only scratch. ed the surface. It was time for new deal, and the new deal has come. Now the cities of the entire land are falling over each other in their haste to try on the commission system. Wherever inaugurated it has worked like charm. Everybody is happy over 1t except the professional politis clans and the grafters.
 The commission form of government in America is only tride more than ten years old It started in 1900 as q result of the Galveston food. So stag gering was the catastrophe that the old form of government was unable ] to meet the crisis Alderman MeMas- ter proposed that the council resign in q body and call in business men and experts 10 deal with the extraordinary situation This was done X commis- sion of five was formed, two of them elected by the people and three ap- pointed by the governor. Afterward the supreme court decided that the governor had no right to appoint. and all the commissioners were elected.
 Prior to the hurricane and tidal wave that so nearly swept her of the map Galveston had the usual discouragins history of municipal misgovernmeni. As result she was in debt. her bonds were below par and her treasury on the verge of bankruptcy Under the commission system the city was re built. the grade raised several feet, the streets repayed. a retaining sea wall constructed. the debt cut down. ex pendi,ures kept within the revenues. city employees paid in cash, bonds brought to a premium. streets kept cleaner. sanitation improved, saloons kept out of the residence districts, poli- tics banished from the city hall, public gambling abolished, civic spirit awak- ened and q condition of harmony and prosperity begun such as Galveston had never before known. h other words, the new government did better in the face of the calamity than the old had done in times of tranquility. One most significant fact IS that despite the eS. penditures required 10 rebuild, raise and protect the city. the tax rate WAS kept down 9ver than that Of an! large city ln Texas
 To show the contrast between the old Galveston government and the new. public improvements had stopped under the former ring rule and 1 public buildings were detevioratias, finances were going behind at an aver. age of SIo9oO every year. city erl. ployees. including even sehoolteaehers were paid ;n scrip. and the bosses, who were growing rich, had such q grip it ~aS impossible 10 shake them loose.
 All that is now changed The float, ] ias dehi has been retired, q sinking faad started public improvements are sela- forward. bills are paid in cash when due and the political bosses have beeoue unpleasant memories That these and other heae6eent re ;> are due ;o the commission sys ten of government $ proved by the fae' tlaa; other cite. adopting the , ceD3nliSS5oa pian have had Ike ex- pesieal.e
 Gntler what cs 1le .e he known as the ] Ga.veStQ Qn pan each ot fhe conm:s- .itrle-S reok charge q some branch of tse sify government For this he was responsible to -he commission as $ v.3a.s and to ;he reople Sc success fHl was fhe system :a the city of its o-ssi1 that o.te- municipalities in aN aas-S ' ,ae .&n3 began "a Ssadr .t w:sa inte7es.
 T. a.se Wssa eoes ns. osl.s7e in uni versa - assesas saai sane-aiis the working an' et shs commission firm ef government ss si-fse aess than naar- veloas + sas sSreeahay surprised hesa i's friends aaa enemies = i the 5aa- .oaS5-i fe- Ssssrza1 ot ear unaicinai government n-sesaDs: Al unqualified aSzsuaii-e 4aSR.- sS si- mos ttAa sc9d ie ee 1rue and ], :. toe early te so ;aa, far yet fhe 1a-s one Stua.es wsa, ms se7na9sz ae>s- arvouHli~hsd under Fag aew sFsfe-