Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-12

pay was the slogan pasted up In tho
city hall when the commissioners OF
Memphis entered ofiice January /. 1910.
And thereupon the old habit OF EN-
ployes dropping into their ofnces any
where from $50 to 10 o'clock became q
thing OF the past. This was satisfying
to most people. but 1t was not sufficient
to end the war on the commission system
which had waged since the idea Of MAX
ing the change had first been proposed.
| and the contest was carried into the
courts. The result was that six or
| seven months passed before the newly
installed commissioners knew whether
they were going to be permitted to re-
port for duty at 8 o'clock in the morning
as steady policy. or would have to go
out and hunt other jobs while the ousted
aldermen returned to the management
Of the affairs of the municipality.
However. any anxiety they may have
felt on the subject was removed in Au-
gust. 1910 when the Supreme Court
knocked out the last legal obstacle ana
the new regime was permitted to feel
secure in It's possession of the city hall
In the meantime the commissioners OF
Memphis had undertaken the interesting
task Of cleaning up the city. Eight
hundred arrests were made the first
month, with the result that there was
general exodus of the criminal ele-
ment from the community and a cor
responding decrease in the number of
burslaries. holdups and other offenses
| familiar to the city in the old days. the
criminal element was also given Sc
we're blow when q system of straw
bonds" that had long prevailed was
knocked out by the commissioners Under
this straw bond" system II had been
possible for criminals OF all types to
make their getaway" when the ofense
was not of an exceedingly grave char
acter.
prisoners with enough money to turn the
trick were provided with q bond that
was accepted by the authorities, but upon
which 1t was impossible to realize any
thing in the event of the accused failing
to report for trial-as he usually did.
This practice was ended abruptly by the
commissioners and their action IN TINS
matter also contributed to the exodus OF
| the lawless element. The city does not
claim now TO be a modern paradise, put
| it is as orderly as the average American
| city.
Among other reforms brought about
| was the establishment of q juvenile court.
the execution of a
Soma Reforms contract und r
which the city re-
Brought About. cetved interest
upon its deposits. the appointment Of
purchasing agent for the city, the es-
| Establishment Of hospital for the treat
ment of tuberculosis. the Inauguration of
system Of school inspection. and also a
system of boiler and electrical inspection.
Street improvements involving an ex-
penditure OF about 100000 were carried
| ~ he cif ~
was greatly extended, the fire department
was provided with much new equipment.
| and city buildings and property of all
kinds were overhauled and put in first
class condition. All old and crippled live
stock used in the various departments
was replaced with active young animals.
thus Increasing the efficiency OF these
departments. and q budget system was
introduced under which the people were
for the first time Informed as to what
| disposition was made Of the money paid
In licenses and taxes.
| The Memphis plan is modelled after the
Des Moines system. but 1t does not carry
fact. there has been slight disposition in
the south to break kaway from the party
primary. Birmingham, Ala. which will
| be governed under a commission charter
within few weeks. is the first important
municipality in the south to abolish this
plan Of nominating city onciais. In
| stead Of nominations being made by
| primary elections. the Birmingham sys-
| tenn provides that any one can run for
office upon filing a petition signed by 500
qualified voters. The primary system
makes it certain that the Offices will be
filled by democrats, and inasmuch as the
democrats are largely in the majority In
southern cities the people. as a rule. in
sist upon holding to the old method of
selecting those whose names are to ap-
near on the official ballot.
The plan includes the recall. the refer
| endum. the civil service and the corrupt
practice feature
| Includes Recall The commission
and Referendum. ,,ndsr ,ha chsr,sr
To emnloy ALI subordiDates with refer