Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-05-14

through one pr more extra campaigns S during single term. It is very diff l ficult at best to induce competent business men to run for office.
 THE CITY ATTORNEY
 The city attorney is the pilot of the municipal ship of state. He not only should be high class lawyer, but a patriotic citizen deeply interested in the welfare of the city and thoroughly posted on municipal prac- tices, as we'll as municipal law.
 J. z. H. Scott, who was selected to fill this important office when the commissioners took hold of the af- fairs of the city, died Jan. 19, 1904, after two years and four months service
 He was succeeded by Judge M. B. Kleberg, the present city attorney, a lawyer of great ability, lofty patriot ism and splendid citizenship, The value of the services rendered to the city by Judge Scott and fudge Kle- berg can net be over-estimated. No !, private client ever received more de- voted or efficient service than the city of Galveston has received from these two men. Since 1875 Galveston has had as it's city attorneys a re- markable collection of lawyers, men of high standing and great legal abili- ty: A. H. Willie, George Mason, F. l Charles Hume, R. V. Davidson. James B. Stubbs, Thcs. J. lBallinger, R. Waverley Smith. J. z. H. Scott and M. E. Kleberg.
 PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
 Galveston is an independent school district. The school board is compos- ed of seven trustees, the very best men in our city, who are elected by a direct vote of the people at special elections three one year and four the next The office pays no salary. The city government makes the tax levy and collects the taxes, turning the money over to the school treasurer, but it has no other connection with the schools.
 The separation of the schools from the city government was wise meas ure, with the result that politics with all of it's disturbing influences has been kept out of their management ard administration. Besides being economical and progressive, our school system is looked upon as model throughout the state. THE CHIEF PERIL
 MT. Mcfarland, president of the ap- pointive board of commissioners TOT the city of Washington says that "the | great danger to the elective commits sion form of government is that while at first it would be non-partisan, 'af- ter while the inevitable effect of partisan politics may appear and 1t will lose it's high character. The idea system is one under which the clti- zens treat all municipal matters as public business and not political busl- ] ness, and that is not possible for any great length have nothing to do Wlth opinions which have nothing to do with. municipal business, and only con- fuse public opinion.
 On this subject former President Roosevelt says:
 ''The lines upon which national par ties divide have no necessary con- nection with the\ business of the city. Such connections open the way 10 countless schemes of public plumber and civic corruption.
 The truth of both these statements is we'll recognized in Galveston, ana if the high standard of our city gov ernment is to be maintained this peril must be avoided init the future as it has been in the past.
 FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION The ccnri:sian plsn If city gov E. 7