The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-11-25

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! Commissioning \ | ! J! i 4!
HOW THE NEW SCHEME OF GOV.
B EMINENT IS GRATING.
lDes MoInes has gprofitcd by her
change TO commission form Of govern;
ment:s ~ 4 Il
Y During the.aast, eight years under
the old plan Of government, the max.
imum tax levy In Des Moines for
city purposes was 400 mills. and the
minimum 1873 mills. and the average
1914 mills During the three years
under Commission Government, the
maximum levy was a7.1 the mini,
mum n. +, 1854 IA. and the average $50,
The Des Molnes tax levy Is by law
assessed aaginst Is per cent. OF the
presumably full value Of taxable prop.
erty. the levy for, municipal purposes
that the City council has to do with
does hot include schools or county.
Therefore when We show sDes Moihes'
Jevy for municipal purposes only, to be
37.1 mills on the dollar, 1t really
amounts to but one fourth that amount
or less than one per cent. To be
specific 9.25 mills. "
y Ia :. IS . III . & = .
THE decreased showing is OF great
Importance, when It is known that
under the old regime a constant def.
lett for current expenses was incur.
red. amounting in the aggregate to
the proceeds Of one mill levy annual.
ly. 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 direc.
! tion OF The voters and the Legislature.
additional expenditures for a new city
hall. for a new yladuct, right Of way,
and fireman's pension fund amount.
ing in all. to 81 mills annually 6P
Nothing is more fallaclous, than to
assume that comparison OF ;city's
tax.leyy., or It's bonded Indebtedness,
is an indication Of efficiency, or in.
efficiency, extravaganza or economy.
The realest Is whether the money
received has been expended wisely. i
The real test Is the result Des
Moines obtaines from the expenditure
OF but $4,000 for cleaning Its 90 miles
Of paved streets.
Des Moines grades her 450 miles OF
streets with $4,000. She, lights all
the necessary thoroughfares with
$4,000. She cares for her II parks
of; 715 acres at an expense OF $1,000
Comparing Des Moines under Com
i mission Government with former
administrations under the old sys
Item, we find now. with a smaller tax
fleyytthe city Is better cleaned, bet
ter lighted. better kept in every way
Long neglected payements have beer
REPAIRED and replaced. AaviaducI
lagitated for the past 20 years is In
process; of complexion; handsome ar
Etlstic bridges have replaced the oil
steel. truss bridges over important
streets. More public improvement
Of animportant nature have been con
structed during the nearly four year!
ofacommission rule than in any pre-
vious eight years of.the city's history
BY. securing competition, lower price!
have been secured on nearly all pub
| lie works and rigid inspection has i'm
proved the quality. She has estab
lished a reputation for. superior publl'
work that attracts other cities to view
J and emulate. She has reduced b!
mutual agreement, the cost Of electro
4 lights and power. and has under va!
In the courts the regulation Of he
!" water and gas companies. the frs
time in fifteen years that any attemp
has been made to reduce public ser
vice rates. ~. ~
She has modernlzed her system 0
public works and substituted day 10
!, Dor for the contractor in so far as til
low permits. BY the; introduction Q
modern labor saving machinery, an
, equipment she has thereby, lowere
the cost of much Of her public work.
, She, has improved her accountin
, system nv n close auflit nv securin