Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-06

8euOW G&"
| d,at mikes friends
lions they offer or go on to Corpus
Christi, farther down the coast. which IS
developing into winter resort.
Commission Plan Of Government.
Galveston, as everybody knows. was
the first city in the United States to
adopt what II now known a. the COM
mission plan Of government. but was
originally known as the Galveston plan.
There is a difference Of opinion a TO
the origin Of the system. but there should
be no dispute. The District OF Columbia
had been governed by three Commits
soners for many years and some OF the
features had been adopted at Memphis
But the Galveston plan was the result OF
an emergency. and the original commits
sion represented a committee which
seised the administr alton Of municipal az
fairs. A group of business men who had
the confidence OF the public took COM
mand by selecting from their own num-
Der a committee Of five men Of means.
experience and integrity who controlled
the situation for several months until
the governor Of the state came to their
relief and gave their acts the force OF
law and their transactions the approval
Of the highest authority. Later the iegis-
lature confirmed the action OF the gov
enor and provided a new charter TOT
Galveston, which placed the control OF
the municipality in the hands OF mayor
and four commissioners who are man
ayers Of the different branches OF the
public service and give their entire time
to the work.
Commission Plan Dangers.
ala %hot ~ c,ti.. In thA limited
States have adopted the Galveston plan
and new ones are being heard from every
few weeks. 1t prevails in all the larger
cities of Texas, and wrote you about
tho satisfaction with which It Is COM
mended by the business men Of Dallas
and Houston. The objections are that 1t
Is not democratic: that 1t gives the mayor
and his associates autocratic and d1cta-
torial powers which, in the hands or un-
scrupulous men. would be dangerous 20
any community. There is no doubt about
that. With the authority vested In the
mayor under the commission plan. an am
bilious and interruptions man could or
ganize Q machine that would be impreg-
nable. If he had the nerve he could take
q city by the throat and play the part OF
Nero, but a governor and a legislature
could always be appealed to Tor defense
and protection in any such emergency.
ence Of the good people. Civic righteous
ness is spasmodic and occurs like reli-
gious REVEALS when something happens to
startle and arouse moral sentiment, and
property owners are compelled to become
public-spirited to save their property or
their business. There Is going to be an
example of the defects Of the commission
plan sooner or later, but everybody who
Is interested in good government should
hope and pray that 1t may be postponed
as long as possible
Satisfaction In Galveston.
The people OF Galveston are entirely
satisfied with the results Of the original
experiment, and their satisfaction is in
creasing as the years go on. The men
selected for mayor and commissioners are
thoroughly competent, and their admins
tration. which found the treasury empty
and the municipality bankrupt. has adj
vanced its credit to above par. has re-
per cent a year. has doubled the revenues,
thus furnishing means for the much
needed public improvements: 1t has re-
paired the damage done by the storm. 1t
water supply. 1t has cleaned the streets
and extended the pavements and has re-
deemed Galveston morally as well as
physically. The gambling dens and dives
fic is now regulated with a firm grasp
which gives a minimum amount Of disor-
der, poverty and vice.
l have written a good deal about the
commission plan Of municipal government
because 1t has been developed to q great
er extent in Texas than In any other part
OF the country. and SO many people out
side OF this state are continually writing
be to the advantage of those interested
In municipal reform to know q little more
OF the details.
How the Plan Uorks
A mayor and four commissioners, elect
ed by the people at large, give their en-
tire time to the administration of affairs
and exercise autocratic powers, making
the laws as well as executing them The
mayor is paid In some cases s., 600; I'm
others $4,000. and In one city $4,50O The
commissioners are paid in some cases
5000 and in other cases $1,000 less The
acts OF the mayor must be approved by
the commissioners. and he has the veto
over theirs. They appoint all their SUBJ
ordinates and fix their salaries, having
authority to remove for cause under regu-
lations which they themselves create. In
every city. have visited the. merit sys-
tenn prevails. all appointments are made
at the bottom except in the case of ex-
perts and those having to do with tech
meal affairs, and promotion is made on
merit. The public has the right of ap-
peal and Is the final authority by the
exercise Of the initiative, referendum and
| recall, which can be applied upon, the Pc
tition Of a certain percentage of voters,
although the supreme court OF Texas has
declared them unconstitutional.
The police commissioner Is charged with
looking after the consta bulary. The street
commissioner handles all streets and pub
| lie property: the water works and sew
| erage commissioner looks after these pub
| lie utilities. and the commissioner Of
| finance and revenue Is charged with man.
| aging the city's financial affairs. All Of
| these officers have the right to nominate
| the employees for their respective depart
ments. and are primarily responsible for
| the conduct Of such departments. but the
| board as a whole has supervision Of and
| is responsible for the administration of
| each and every department. 1t may re-
| fuse to approve the employment of any
person in any department. and may dis
! charge any off1cer, except the city at
| torney. corporation judge and auditor
| This board supervision. requiring the in
| dividual members to familiarize them
| selves with the work OF other depart
ments than their own, and calling into
| exercise their combined wisdom and re-
| sponsibilities, Is a strong feature.
Advantages Summarized.