The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-05
FOR THE GOOD OF MISSOULA

There is a good deal of sidewalk campaigning against
William =. Houston in the canvass which viii end with the
city election next Monday. There is no argument in most
of the talk that is heard on the curbs. 1t consists largely
of the airing of personal grievances which, for one reason
or another, the curbstone politicians are ascribing to Mr..
Houston. Most of these campaigners admit that Houston
has made a good o~fficer-they cannot help it it they tell
the truth. But they have grievances-fancied and
imaginary-and they are against Houston tor purely per-
sonal motives. They do not take into consideration the
welfare Of the city.
The records show that the commission form of govern
ment has been a good thing for Missoula in every respect;
They show, too, that the efforts and the service of Bill
Houston, as commissioner, have contributed in no small
measure to the success which has attended the work of the
present administration. AS commissioner of public safety,
Mr.. Houston has not only reduced the expenses of his de-
partment to the minimum but he has given the city the
most efficient administration Missoula has ever known.
This is not merely a personal opinion-it is a matter of
official record.
Every citizen of Missoula should desire to see this citys
affairs administered effectively and economically: The
welfare of the city should be the first thought in the mind
of each voter. Approaching the election with this idea,
the voter can reach but one conclusion, that the best in
terests of the city demand the reelection of Bill Houston
to the position which he has filled with such conspicuous
credit to himself and with such splendid results for the city.
Take the item Of the cost of the police department and
the revenue which this departmnt has brought to the city,
The police system costs Missou]a, $4,000 a year. The
records of the police court show that the revenue in fines,
up to the first of March, had been $1,000. This means
that the police department has been more than selfsup-
porting. Is there any other police department in Mon
tana that can make such showing as this?
Compare the cost of the police department with its e-
pense under the old form Of city government. 1t is cost
ing less than it was then by $1,000. This is a saving to
the city which more than pays the salaries Of the three
commissioners. 1t covers the total Of these salaries and
leaves a balance of $4,000.
And all this has been accomplished without imparing the
efficiency of the police department in any way. Missoula
was never as orderly as now; there was never a stricter en-
forcement of laws and ordinances. Many offenses against
the law have been entirely eliminated. Many others have
been greatly abated. And it should be borne in mind
that this has been done while the department. is costing
less than half what it used to cost.
Such, in general terms, is the record Of Commissioner
Houston. He has served the city we'll. His record is a
record of efficiency and economy. The vote for Houston
Monday should be so strong that it will place Missoula en-
phatically upon record as in favor of clean government
the honest administration of affairs. And that is just
what a good vote for Houston will do.