The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-12-18

Oklahoma fourteen. Spokane, 1O4 .4O2:
Tacoma, S3,745; Houston, 7S.SOO; Dali
las, 92,104. and Fort Worth. 73.312.are
Washington and Texas cities of the
larger size where it is in force.
The number of cities that have
adopted the commission form is how
ever, comparatively small when ar
rayed against the number that have it
under consideration. Hundreds are
awaiting the removal of legislative
obstacles or legislative authorization,
and there are other obstacles. In no
case has the commission form been
adopted without the vigorous opposi-
ton of machine bosses and public
service corporations
In New York state alone "A cities
have successfully petitioned the legis-
lature for charters drawn in the COM
mission form. Buffalo has twice sub
mitted the question of asking the leg
| islature for such a charter to popular
vote, and both times it carried by
ldISe maJOTltleS.
The commission form has also
been adopted, with notifications and
Celebrations, to the requirements of
| Boston. 1t is not the commission form
that Boston has, but it is a simplified
charter. 1t seems to have worked well
and was put to en- early test in one
respect The first mayor Boston elect
! ed under its new charter was a no
torious machine man. He attempted
to use the municipal patronage in
characteristic way to build up a politi-
cal machine and failed completely.
His efforts were checked by the civil
service commission and strict en-
torcement of the merit system.
In the St. Louis charter defeated
last winter the influence of the move
ment toward simplifcation of munich
pal government was plainly apparent.
While there were many departures
from it. the simplicity was retained.
st. Joseph, Mo, is another city that
succeeded in trimming the scheme to
meet the requirements of the law.
Gov. Woodrow Wilson recommended
action and the New Jersey legislature
opened the door for the system in
that state last spring During the
summer charters drawn on the COM
mission plan were submitted to the
people of five cities in that state. = In
only one did it carry. In four it was
defeated by small majorities, after
bitter campaigns in which boss and
public utility corporations were uni
formly the backbone of the opposi-
| ton.
Results in Typical Cities.
Galveston, Tex, found commission
government so economical that. in
/ spite of the necessity of extra expend-
lures of 100000 owing to the
/ Hood, the annual deficit of about
/ 100000 which the old government
had Incurred was done away with and
/ expenses kept within income.
floating debt OF. over 100000 was
paid on out of current revenues.
bonds to the amount of $462. 900 were
retired and new bonds restricted IN
permanent improvements. Judgments
against the city of nearly $4,000 were
paid off. The city's bonds rose from
oo 10 par and sold readily. The city
! employees We're paid in cash instead Of
scrip as formerly. A modern svsten,
OF bookkeeping was introduced. Sa-
looms We're excluded from the resi-
dence districts. Policy and gambline
-dens We're closed. In spite of a wide
extension of the city's activities the
tax rate. which was the lowest of anv
large city in Texas, was not increas-
ed
IN houston, Tex, an indebtedness
or 100000 was retired. The practice
OF Issuing bonds against an annual
deficit was discontinued and expendi-
lures were kept rigidly within in
come. Waterworks costing $4,000
We're purchased. The water service
and fire protection were greatly i'm
proved. The street railways were re-
CURED to bear their share of public
burdens and improve their service. A
park was bought and bridges we're re-
pared The cost Of electric lights was
reduced from $50 to $40 per year.
Ana the tax rate was cut down from
80 to $3.50.
Leayenworth. Kan. was brought
out of bankruptcy and financial chaos.
City bonds to the amount of 500 ooo