The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-02-10
NUMBER p
Commission GOVERNMENT,

Modern System of Managing Munici.
pal Affairs Effects Substantial
Economies - One City Saves
100000 and Another Nearly
$4,000 in One Year.
Columbia, S. c., is city Of 26,219
inhabitants, little less than the pop.
ulatlon of Baton Rouge. including our
suburbs, and 10000 more than our
census showing. Two years ago il
adopted the commission form of gov.
ernment, which, according to the Co.
lumbia State, the leading morning
newspaper Of the city, has brought to
the municipality "the blessings of "a
progressive and efficient manage
ment' of the city's business. The
commission charter was prepared af-
ter months of investigation of condt-
t1ons in other cities by earnest and
patriotic Columbians acting for the
local chamber Of commerce and for
the city taxpayers. "None." says the
State, "dare question the striking
success Of the conduct of the" city's
business under this law
One hundred thousand dollars, we
are informed, was the saving effected
in Columbia last year under the com.
mission form of government. Is tha,
not a splendid economy for city OF
a little more than $4,000 inhabitants?
Does that not speak volumes for the
benefits of commission government?
Think of it again: 100000 a year.
One hundred thousand dollars saved
is 100000 made. Better government.
better improvements, greater econ.
omy-all these make a vastly greater
city
Without exception, in the case OF
cities above $4,000 inhabitants the
commission form of government has
effected Ii = SIS - ~
poured money into the city treasury,
where the old form Of administration
used to take out great gobs for
unnecessary and wasteful eypendis
tures.-Baton Rouge Advocate.
The commission government reform
still goes on. 1t has pretty we'll
swept the country SO far as geogra.
ply is concerned. from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. and FROM the gulf
to the lakes.
It has been the best thing America
has evolved in city government, and
has redeemed a hundred cities from
corruption Shreveport Times.
For the enIightenn1e1 Of the tax
PAYERS as to what benefits have re-
tsss 3 Al
form of mlinicf ba1 er1lsfl elt I'll
5aldermanic to commission the conf
missioners of Hattiesbung, Miss, have
prepared a comparative statement
showing the expenditures of the last
year of the former government and
of the past year under the commits
sion plan. The statement shows
net decrease of S5S46.25 The say.
ing is made up by reduction in sale
aries and economy in buying fuel.
hose, ETC., and is considered all the
more commendable when it is taken
into consideration that the commits.
sion government had to meet an ex.
traordinary expense of approximately
$4,000, occasioned by increased inter.
est, loss Of city bridges by high wa.
ter and trouble with wells at the wa
ter plant, which entailed a heavy out.
lay of money and necessitated the
! buying of water from a private well.
Miscellaneous receipts fell $3S29.1S
short of the preceding year, due
chiefly to a falling off in fines and
sanitary fees. The commissioners
hope to make still better showing
during the current year. a new welY
with a guaranteed minimum capacity
Of half million gallons per day has
! just been completed at a cost OF
some $4,000, and new pumping machin-
cry will be installed at . cost ct
$1,000.
Borrowed Items Of Interest.
Mrs I 7 Medine of DnnaldsNne