Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-26

improved wonderfully, typhoid and
other malignant diseases directly
traceable TO poor sanitary conditions
have been kept at the lowest point
IN a number OF years As a whole
the health Of the city is better than
for years Compulsory registration
of births and deaths has been pro-
yided for.
AS TO CRITICISM.
These are some OF the material,
while accomplishments of
Commission government In Tulsa. II
Is not to be supposed that there have
been no criticisms. There has been
and there is now. And some Of the
minor criticisms appear to be Just.
Which Is only admitting that so long
as man administers government Just
that long will government have Its
weak points,
But the great flood OF criticisms
comes from the same source as the
opposition TO tho election OF the
board Of free holders; tho same who
tried to defeat the charter, that later
went to the governor and sought to
have him veto IT.; the identical ones
that would have defeated the nom
partisan ticket and re-enthroned the
spoilsmen. For this reason II ls be-
ing discounted by the vast majority
Of the people who understand quite
well all Of the finer points involved
Gambling Is as nearly extinct in
Tulsa as It is possible to make It.
There arc and have been since tho
Commission took charge, few regu-
larly established places Of gambling
such as existed under the old system.
Games are conducted here and there
behind closed shutter and barred
doors, but these are ralded as fast as
their presence become known. and
the fines assessed are intended to be
prohlbtlve. A hundred dollar fine Is
not calculated to encorage gambling.
SUMMING UP.
Thus II Is seen that the criticism
Of Commission government In Tulsa
Is either inslncerely voiced for partl-
san purposes pure and simple, or be-
cause OF dissatisfaction with the de-
tails Of o policy that are absolutely
lnconsequentlal when measured
against the material benefits pro-
cured.
It Is notable that nt no time, by
either friend or foe, has there been
any lntimatlon Of graft or corruption.
Tho predominant objection has been
and Is that too much zeal Is being
shown in tho matter Of collecting
revenue to meet the demands Of gov
vernmcnt, the critics I'm this case dis
regarding the point that the people
are the government and are CON
cerned that their government should
be placed on u solid foundation and
conducted according to good business
rules.
Tho reason that charges Of cor
ruptlon have not been made ls be-
cause the systcm Of accounting and
bookkeeping obtaining in every de-
partment renders the proof or falsity
OF such n charge mere matter OF
consulting the record BEFORE there
were no records to consult. As the
auditor says.
"Wo knew we had a certain amount
OF money to spend; knew II was spent,
and we believed It was spent hon
estly."
quito difference.
The chief points OF advantage in
Commission government such as
Tulsa enjoys are these:
Both the legislative and the ex-
ecutive functions are vested in tho
same officials. Therefore tho spirit
OF the law Is known to n certainty
by tho Official that enforces H.
This Capitalization OF authority
also results In centralizing respons-
blllty--b thing we'll nigh impossible
under the old aldcrmanlc form when
II was possible for derellct official
to escape the consequences by either