Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-11-13
COMMISSION
IN DES MONIES
Supporters of New System
Assert Three Years Proves
Its Superiority
HAS A LOWER TAX LEVY
Better Lighting and Streets
at Less Cost And Lives
Within Income
HAS A LOWER TAX LEVY

DES MONIES, Ia, Nov. 9.-Ihat
this city has profted by thej change
to commission form of government is
shown by statistics, according to sup
porters of the new form of admin
istration.
They point out that during the last
eight years under the old plan of gov
..nment the maximum tax levy in Des
Moines for city purposes was 40.6
mills and the minimum 1873 mills and
the average 39.4 mills During the
three years under commission gov
ernment the maximum levy was 81,
the minimum 36.4 and the average
3G.S
TIE Dcs Moines levy is by law as
sessed against % per cent of the full
value of taxable property. The levy
for municipal purposes that the city
council has to do with does not in
clude schools or county. Therefore
Des Moines levy for municipal pur-
poses only is 925 mills.
Supporters contend that under the
old regime constant deficit for cur
rent expenses was incurred. amount
ing to the proceeds of | mill levy
annually, while during the three years
of commission rule the city has lived
practically within it's income for cur
rent expenses and further that there
was included in the budget, by drec-
ton of the voters and the legislature,
additional expenditures for new city
and firemens pension fund amount
ing in alto 81 mills annually.
Des Moines spends annually but
100000 for cleaning its 80 miles of
paved streets. The city grades her
450 miles of streets with $4,000. She
cares for II parks of 715 acres at an
expense of $4,000.
Comparing Des Moines under COM
mission government with former sys-
TEN the friends of commission gov
ernment find that with a smaller tax
levy the city is better cleaned, better
lighted, better kept in every way.
Long neglected pavements have been
repaired and replaced. A viaduct
sought for the past 20 years is in pro-
cess of completion; artistic bridges
have replaced the old steel, truss
bridges over important streets More
public improvements of an important
nature have been made during the
four years of commission rule than in
any previous eight years of the city's
history. BY securing competition, low.
er prices have been secured on near
ly all public works and rigid inspec.
ton has improved the quality. The
city has reduced the cost of electric
lights and power, and has under way
in the courts the regulation of her
water and gas companies, the first
time in 15 years that any attempt has
been made to reduce public service
rates.
Des Moines has modernized her sys-
teiu VI DuUllC MOThS anu SuDSlltulGO
day labor for the contractor in so far
as the law permits. BY the introduc-
ton of modern labor saving machin-
cry and equipment she has advanced
the price of labor and securing good
service in return, has thereby lowered
the cost of much of her public work.
She has improved her accounting sys.
TEN by close audit. BY securing in.
terest on deposits of her funds, TAX
ing cash discounts for cash purchases
and other important economies, has
shown real improvement in economy
and efficiency. The city has reformed
the conduct of her police court, i'm.
proved her police conditions, added ex.
tensively to her park and playground
facilities, and has made great strides
in establishing civic center of her
river front.