The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-11-30

al emu OK year ndO $50, 40l.ot sur
plus funds in the city treasury and
NO DEBT.
Reduced tax rate "a cents on each
500. Of valuation.
Collected interest on city's money,
which was never done before, getting
in nine months $6,272.16 interest.
Commissioners do not spend less,
but make money 60 further.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
Has not initiative, and referendum
only on franchises.
Operating expenses in first 20 days
that commission was in power were
ducing efficiency of the city govern
ment.
Bought at ONE TIME 16 motor
fire engines and trucks displacing all
horse-drawn apparatus. Think what
Duluth could save in fire losses if
we could do this.
HOUSTON, TEX.
Commission form in force five and
one-half years.
In July commissioners took over
city with a floating debt of over
100000 and an empty treasury and
no credit.
In less than one year had wiped
out the 100000 debt besides paying
cash for everything. In five and one
half years the commission form has
wiped out all debts and given the
city improvements valued at $2,179,-
585.87, distributed over the fire de-
partment, parks. asphalt plant for lay
Ing asphalt pavements, wharves, slips,
school buildings, law library for city
attorney, streets, bridges, etc.
At the same time the tax rate was
reduced 80 cents on each 500 of
valuation.
Under old form Of government one
department cost s15,9S6 to operate
with. a. revenue Of $15.172, a loss of
1914.
Under the commission form of
government the same department cost
$1.074.81 to operate and earned &c.,
692.75, leaving a net earning of
$5,6O1.19.
In two years the government was
transformed from one threatened
with receivership to one on cash
basis with half million dollars to
spend annually for improvements
First commissioners were H. Bald
Win Rice, mayor, and rich business
man.
j. A. Thompson, a printer.
Mr.. CASTOR, a machinist and for
merly owner Of small store.
James Appleby, an auditor and
bookkeeper.
/. James Marmion, blacksmith, and
called the best horseshoer in Houston.
The second commission consisted
of H. Baldwin Rice, mayor.
Jack Kennedy, railroad contractor
w. J. Kohlhoff, printer.
Robert L. Jones, politician and
former alderman.
BERKELEY, CAL.
Reduced taxes. slightly.
Personnel of police and fire Depart
ments not changed, but greatly inn
proved efficiency brought about under
same chiefs and with same men.
Cost of street lights reduced 25 per
cent, and arrests from petty crimes
and misdemeanors reduced by over
SO per cent.
HUNTINGTON, w. VA.
In force for two years.
Tax rate the same, but the cily's
debt has been entirely wiped out.
Police and fire department has been
doubled, new apparatus bought and
new buildings built. More streets ex-
tended and repaired, and more sew
ers and other improvements built
than ever before. All With the same
amount Of money.
EMPORIA, KAN.
Population 9,05S. Old salary Of
mayor and councilmen was $1.00 per
year.
Now the mayor receives 1000 and
councilmen or commissioners 5000.
City has saved about $4,000 the
| first year in spite of the raise in
salaries.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.
Adopted charter Sept. IA, 1909.
Suffered, like Duluth by reason Of
the impure water supply furnished
by privately owned water company.
Took Is years under old form of city
government for the city to acquire it's
own plant. The street railway COM
| pany practically owned the city and
| controlled the city council, doing as
| it pleased in all cases.
| After the commission form. was
adopted the street railway company
constructed a line of track on Twelfth
street, where an irrigation ditch
owned by private parties, had prior
right of way. The street railway
company filled this ditch up without
consent of it's owners, and the FARM
ers who owned the ditch protested
On Sunday, when the courts were
not open the street railway company
| began constructing a. new ditch at the
side Of their track thus destroying the
use of that half of the street. The
commissioners, with a full force Of
police back of them, went AT ONCE
/ to the scene, placed the street rail-
way officials under arrest, and filled
UP the ditch. That ended the trou-
BILE. and the street railway company,
without showing any further fight,
proceeded to construct a proper Gov
cred tile conduit large enough to
carry the water of the irrigation COM
pany underground thus leaving the
street unobstructed. Contrast this
with conditions in Duluth, where The
/: street railway company's officials are