Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-17

fled places. and as a rule they wen;
through without much argument. As in
the Omaha law, all the red tape has been
cut out OF the pes Mcines Law, Vet there
seems to be no way TO avoid what may
BE- called cabinet action on matters in
volving anything in the way Of sub
stantial expense. Night meetings OF the
council are not held unless to give hear.
ings on large matters of public concern.
''Des Moines has a very handsome and
practical municipal building. which rep
resents a total expense Of something over
500 90; the cost Of the building itself was
covered by bond issue and out Of this
the furnishing was done. II is Of the
classic type. with the main business Of.
fees all on one floor. The only part,
tons are those used to screen the private
offices OF the heads of departments. and
the effect is that Of very large office,
with the working force on two sides OF a
great corridor The council chamber Is
small and looks like a directors room
in some business concern. The river
hank on both sides. fronting the munle.
ipal building. is being prepared for park.
ing.
MaSnifieentIy lighted.
''Des Molnes is magnificantly lighted
throughout the business section with
cluster lights on posts placed at shorI
distances. The property owners pay fol-
the installation of the posts and the
tenants pay for the lights. All the ma
terisls used for paving are in evidence
on the streets and boulevsrds, though
asphalt is mainly used. Parks are nu.
merous and some of them promise to b.
exceedingly handsome when all III,
plans made have been carried out. The
city is spread over vast area OF ground
covering fifty-four square miles Of ter.
ritory since North Des Moines and Other
sections were taken into the city proper
and the paving OF streets has been pushed
far out into even the newer districts.
Mayor Hanna Is an enthusiastic advo.
cate Of the commission plan. judge, ant
his associates are hardly lass interested
but shortage Of funds is still the great
handicap in the departments The pub.
Ito can be interested. however, as has
benz amply proven. when matters ar,
strongly and effectively brought to thtil
attention. As one Des MoInes councilman
expressed It. In our homes and in oui
business. when we really need things W,
90 In debt for them, and the same rul,
must prevail In city business
As to the Social Evil.
Il gave some time, naturally, to in
ouiries into police matters. found De-
Moines has been making changes In III,
head Of the department that have no
added anything to its efficiency. to ss,
the least. As to the social evil. the sam,
differences Of opinion exist there a.
| everywhere else. There is no segregate,
district, but the women concerned hav,
devised various methods Of their own Il
sidestep the Law. as they do elsewhere.
This trip convinces me OF one thing
and that is. the best committee OF inves
tigation is one or two men, who will 8,
away and arrive without announcement
Des Moinss business men met US at tn,
station and gave US too much attention
so far as sleep was concerned; yet the,
aided us quite materially in getting al
inside view Of the general results OF thj
commission form of government Liz,
everything else in life. its success vii
depend largely on faithfulnsss In the ad
ministrators and on their ability to maxi
the very best OF the resources at thei
command