Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-04

does not include schools or couaty
Therefore when We show Des Moines'
levy for municipal purposes only To
be 37.i mills on the dollar 4 really
amounts to but one-fourth that
amount or less than per ccnt---fo
be specific. 9.25 mills.
The decreased showing Is OF great
importance, when II IN known that
under the old regime constant den.
,cit for current expenses was incurred.
amounting In the aggregate TO the
proceeds o. i.mill levy annually,
while during the three years OF COM
mission rule the city has levied prac-
tically within It's Income for current
expenses, aud farther that there was
included IN the budget, by direction
81 the votors and Tie h-lsiature. addi'
tional expenditure for new city hall,
for rev viaduct right OF way. and q
iircmen's pension fund amounting m
all to ~ mills annually.
Nothing il more tallaeioue than 10
assume that q comparison of a city \
tax levy, or It's bonded Indebtedness,
IL an Indication OF efficiency or In
deficiency, cxsrayagance or economy.
The real test IL whether the money
received has been expended wisely.
TIE real test Ia the result Des
Molnes obtains from The expenditure
OF but $40 OOo. for cleaning It's ninety
miles OF paved streets.
Des MONIES grades her 400 miles OF
streets with $4,000. She lights an
the necessary thoroughfarcs with tSs.-
eco. She cares for seventeen parks
Of us acres nj an expense OF t6j.nOJ.
comparing Des .d0inos under COM
mission government with former au'
inlnlstrations under the Old system,
We ind now, With a smaller tax iavy,
the city IL better cleaned. better light.
J cd, better Kept In every way long
neglected payements have been re-
paired and replaced. A vladuct agi-
lated for the last twen-y years Is IN
PROCESS OF completion; handsome ar
itlstic bridges have replaced the Old
steel truss bridges over important
streets. More Public improvements
OF an important nature have hcen
coustrustUd during the nearly ienr
years OF commission rule than M any
previous eight years OF the city's hiu-
tory.
Competition Lowers Ratcs.
by securing competition. lower
prices have been secured ON nearly ail
public works and rigid inspection has
Improved the quality. She has esinb-
lished reputation for superior public
work that attracts other cities 70 view
and emulate. She has reduced ny
mutual agreement the coat OF electric
lights and power and has uncer way
IN the courts the regulation OF her
water and gas companies. the FIRST
time In fifteen years that any attempt
has been made TO reduce public sorv'
ice rates.
She has modernlzed her system OF
public works and substituted day IA
hor for the contractor In 20 far as the
law permits. by toe introHuciion OF
modern iabor-saylng machinery and
equipment she has advanced tho price
of labor aad securing good service N
return has thereby lowered the eosl
| OF much OF her public work.
She has improved her accounting
system by close audit By securing
interest on deposits of her funds. TAX
ling cash discounts fer cash purchases
and other important economies, has
shown real Improvement IN economy
and efficiency.
What ~ more. she hns reformed the
conduct Of her police court. improved
her police conditions added oKten.
sIyely 10 her park and playground ~
|cllltiss, aud has made great strides
IN cssabllshlng civic center Of her
river front.
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