Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-14

being able TO recoup its great losses.
and IN the fact that the city could
protect itself against a recurrence Of
a similar disaster.
Tho old municipal organization -
the mayor ant his ward aldermen 81
broke down completely For years
annual expenditures had exceeded the
annual income, aud the deficit had
been made up by taxes and by issu
anee OF new hords The storm
brought matters to crisis. The |
Texas LEGISLATURE was called upon |
for help in solving the financial prob |
lens which hung about the citys |
neck like a milestone The city was
an acknowledged bankrupt and had
defaJlted In payment OF interest on
It's bonds The I legislature refused
to help the city unless they would
do away with the old organization.
The old council system was abolish
ed root and branch, and a new char
ter granted the city. entrustine the
government of the city's affairs TO
commission Of five men. three APP
pointed by the governor and two
elected by the people az large. To
make this constitutional II soon be-
came necessary for all the commits
sioners to he elected by the people at
larce. and the charter was so amend
ed
The present organization embraces
a board OF commissioners composed
OF five members "a mayor and four
commissioners All powers reside in
the commissioners, a majority vote
on asv subject being final. THUS,
ordinances are passed. all appropri-
ations made, all city officers elected
or appointed The mayor has yot"
as member Of the commission. but
no veto power The business admin
istration of the city Is diveded into
four departments-fina depart
ment waterworks. police and fire.
and streets and public property, and
n single commissioner is made re-
sponSihle for the administration OF
each department. He represents il
on the commission, outlines its poi-
J icv. and is the person to whom all
questions concerning its operations
are referred. The MAYOR is assigned
70 no particular department hut has
, general supervision over the affairs
! Of the city The mayor aud all the
commissioners must come 10 the
| board Of commissioners for author
, lity Action Is taken there hy ordi-
, nance. motion. or resolution, which
Is reduced TO writing and read be-
, fore being voted upon. and the vote
; is then recorded. The board as a
whole passes the annual budget
awards all contracts. and makes all
, appointments. even 10 the Judges OF
= the corporation court.
I The plan represents thorough
and complete generalization of all
. power legislative and executive, and
, definite location of official respon-
: slbility. II does net require the com
: 4. : ssioners to devote their entire time
and thus business men can be Undue
. ed to act as commissioners aud give
the city the benefit OF good bushes:
judgment They have subordinate.
10 attend 70 the routine work Of the
particular department. The mayoi
and the commissioners receive nom
, inal salaries The Galveston plaI
was success from the first, We az,
g clad to say
7 This success is evidenced by ld,
e spread of the system Thirty-tw'
states of the union have mad, prn
, vision one way or the other for iu
adoption. and over $50 cities have
r. adopted H. and are operatins under F.
Gentlemen. the commission plan o
, government IS pure business. 1l
: nothirg else. and Do must depend .o
It's success upon 'bc business Dr..
manner iu which Oh, officials are F.
ectcd, empowered and h,'1 rcspous.
lie. thank you