Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-11-21
COMMISSION METHOD
Of CITY GOVERNMENT
Subject Was Discussed by Common.
wealth Club Monday Evening A.
ter Dinner at Harvey Hotel.
PAPER BY LEE o. LESTER, READ
Careful Analysis Of System, First
Used In City Of Galveston, Texas
Was Made by Members.

The Commonwealth Club met ful
lis REGULAR dinner aud discussion At
the Harvey Hotel Monday evening
The subject discussed was "Commis
sion Form of City Government Lee
.. Lester presented the paper of the
evening which was exhaustive und
most interesting. The discussion
which consumed several hours
brought out many new ideas ON the
subject.
WHY DEMlNG LEADS
The membership of the Common
wealth Club IL progressive and COS
mopolitan in character. At the din
ner sat members who claimed as their
birthplace, Colorado, Pennsylvania,
Kansas, New York, Michigan, Arkan.
,as, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, New
Mexico, England and Canada. 1t is
the Anglo American citizenship
which is making Deming the leader
among the southwestern communities
PAPER BY LEE q. LESTER
\ careful inquiry into the history
Of this farm of government in cities
reveals the fact that New Orleans
Is perhaps one of the first of the
larger cities i'll the nation to adopt it
This was in the year 1870. The gov
crnment of the municipality was vest
ed IN II mayor and seven administra-
tors; namely, one OF finance, one OF
commerce, one Of improvements, on,
of assessments, one Of public &C
counts aud one ut waterworks ant
public buildings. The officials in tn,
first place possessed administrative
and executive functions correspond
inc To their names, and each Of tn,
seven was accordingly ut the head OF
bureau or department created fol
him by statute as follows depart
mrnl of finance, which was the city
treasury, II department Of commerce
which had general superintendent
of all matters relating to markets
railroads, canals, weights and meas
urcs, the fire department and manu-
facturc; II department of assessment
with general superintcndence over nj
matters of taxation and license;
department of improvements, charg
ed with the construction, cleaning
aud repairing of streets, side walks
whuryes, bridges and drains; de
partment of police, having charge o
public order, houses of refuge an'
correction. and the Lighting of tn
city, department of public account
which composed all the duties o
auditor and controller; and finally
II department of waterworks ant
public buildings. with supervision o
wutcrworks, school houses, hospital
aud asylums.
This body also formed collectlvel!
n council with extensive legislatiV
nnwrr in local matters. Such couh
ell naturally possessed many valu
able qualities. It's members wer
elected on II general ticket and wer
not supposed to represent any io',
clique. In the exercise OF Their au
ministrative duties they became fa
miIiur with the need of their respec
,iy, depurrmcnt, what was desire
or had been done in the bureau
small aud compact body, It's meeting
were businesslike as those of ban
directorate. It's custom was 10 IL
-rmble in the mayors parlor, gehe'
uu> ON the DAY before the regnlu
geekly mectro rnd sitting III con
milter a. II whole 10 discuss with u
citizens who choose to attend sue
/, subjects of public interest as lnlS'
ur,ntinued ON page FOUR