Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-08
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
By Frederic J. Haskin.
Vu-HOUST

IN===:
The situation which led Houston to try
the commission plan Of government was
far different from that which caused Gal
weston to adopt it. There was no grave
crisis Of municipal life or death to arouse
the people to great heights Of civic devo-
| ton. Prior to the adoption Of the plan
Houston was a city no better and no
worse governed than scores Of other mu-
inequalities. Therefore, the experience OF
| Houston affords a better test of the COM
| mission plan. since 1t was adopted under
| normal conditions.
The picture Of the success Of the Hous-
ton experiment may be drawn in a SIN
gle paragraph. Before the commission
| plan was adopted 1t was impossible for
| the city to meet Its current expenses. and
| claims against the municipality were sell
ing ut about so cents on the dollar. Since
then the commissioners have wiped out a
floating debt Of 100000 and have taken
81. 10000 from the current revenues OF
| the city for permanent municipal Inn
provements. Today the city Is so pros
| porous that the mayor says the actual
value OF the real and personal property
| is about $3.50. 900. yet it Is assessed at
| only So. 600. since the existing tax
| rate, on this basis of assessment, al
fords all the revenue the city needs for
| its operating expenses. The tax rate II,
dollars while the back debts were being
paid of and the improvements being
made.
In addition to the obliteration Of the
nent improvements and the reduction OF
the tax rate, there were still other bene-
| fits accruing. The price of gas was re-
duced from $3.50 for 1000 feet to s1.15.
the lowest rate in Texas. The cost Of arc
lighting Tor the city was cut down from
$50 per year per light to SO And these
reductions were accomplished without
friction or litigation. full hundred
thousand dollars OF delinquent taxes were
collected in q single eight.m9nth period.
| Il y
Contrasting this happy condition Of af-
fairs with those obtaining six years ago.
| Houstons citi-
| Citizens of Houston Gems are well
Are Well Satisfied. the tsI new form
Of government. The only criticism that
Is heard IL the fact that the present
mayor has held ONCE ever since the adop-
| ton Of the commission plan. Those who
| offer this criticism feel that changes in
| the mayoralty should be made occasion
| ally. Others assert that this Is one OF
the most commendable features OF the
plan-that they are glad to see the city
keep q chief magistrate who has made
good
The legislative government of the city
consists of four commissioners and 9
mayor, all Of them elected by the whole
city, and responsible to the city at large
instead Of to their respective wards. The
executive power is vested in the mayor,
but It Is exercised largely by four COM
mittees. each committee consisting of the
whole commission. The mayor desig-
mates one member Of the board to be the
finance and revenue. The mayor and the
other three commissioners assist him In
the conduct Of this department. Another
ia designated as active chairman OF the
department of fire and police. The mayor
and the other three members Of the COM
mission assist him. So. also. with the
departments Of water and that Of streets
and bridges. The result Of the actual
operation Of this plan is that each COM
missioner is the head Of one Of the de-
partments, and his work stands unless re-
versed by a majority OF the commission
ers.
The council is In session throughout
every business day. and the necessity OF
petitioning that body is averted. Any
citizen or body Of citizens may call at the
city hall any day and ask for the abate-
ment OF a nuisance, the paving OF street
or the adjustment Of taxes, and the mat
tcI - dClcu upOu 4hc dCtiOl
of the commission is taken In the pres
ence of the applicant. Mayor Rice relates a
story which illustrates the way Houston
does things A nonresident landowner.
whose property recently was taken into the
city limits. concluded that his assessment
was too high. He went to Houston and
called on a leading attorney to have the
matter adjusted. The attorney suggested
that they step over to the city hall and
have it attended to at once. The prop
erty owner thought they had better get
some one with influence to sign a petition
to the city council. The lawyer said this
was unnecessary in Houston. They went
to the city hall, the assessor was sent
for. and in an hour the whole matter was
settled. The nonresident declared 1t
would have taken weeks to do such a
thing in his home city.
An essential difference between the gov
eminent of Houston and other commits
sion cities is the
Mayor OF Houston fact that under
Has Large Powers. the the m ama.s1a ty
the power of 1ouston's mayor is almost
absolute. With the exception Of the four
councilmen and the controller. he has the
power to discharge any and every en-
ploye Of the city on q moments notice,
without the right of appeal from his deci-
sion. Not being elected by the people. the