Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-10-24


May II, 1910. Population 26,311. For
current administrative and depart
mental expenses since January 1st,
the previous administration had eX-
pended $3.50, 46S.09, or a rate per an
mum of $46S,5360O. During the re-
mainder of the year the commission
ers spent $167 7.435.O4 for the same pur-
poses, without curtailing work in any
way, or at a rate per annum of S262,-
10000. The old council spent $13,-
2S9.0O while repairing 80 city blocks;
the new council thoroughly repaired
166 blocks for $17,426.0O.
Bartlesville, Okla.-Plan in effect
October 81. 1910. Population, 6,1S1.
General Indebtedness greatly reduced
during the last eight months of the
fiscal year ending July 1, 1911. City
warrants now worth par and city de.
posits bear interest, which was un-
known under the former regime.
More street paving done and un-
der course of construction in the last
ten months than during the entire his
tory of the city. Party politics are
entirely eliminated and appointments
for the various heads of departments
are made on merit only" letter
from the Mayor, August 25, 1911.
Coffeyville, Kan.-Plan in effect
April Z, 1911. Population, 1857 In
the first five months of operation the
tax levy was reduced from 81 cents
to SO cents; the new levy including
several new items. The mayor writes
''I scSs,ed as mayor under the old
system. There is no one in the city
that would go back to it. In my
opinion the new system is far ahead
of the old"
Chattanooga, Tenn-Plan in effect
May 8, 1911. Population, 44.6O4. On
August Z. 1911. the mayor wrote: "The
financial credit of the city IS alread'
evidenced by the fact that our bonds
are selling at a better premium. All
useless offices have been abolished,
partisan politics shave been removed.
a Civil Service Board has been elect
ed and principles of non-partisan ad-
ministration of city affairs are being
applied in each department. Already
the appearance of the streets has
been improved. the necessity of en-
forcement of law is recognized and
the general tone of the community
has been lifted. There is not only
marked efficiency in public service.
but a marked interest in such service
at the hands of the taxpayer"
Cherryvale. Kan.-Plan in operation
May /. 1911. Population 4,304. A
letter from the mayor says "Our
floating debt was $4,000 and war
rants were selling at ninety-five cents
on the dollar, and the city running
behind $4,000 a year. After three
months under the commission form
our paper is at par; we have met all
expenses and have a nice balance in
our general fund. Our people are
we'll satisfied with our form of gov
ernment."
Hutchinson, Kan.-Plan in effect
1911. Population, 1884. The mayor
writes august. 191D: "Since last
spring the city has been on strictly
cash basis; more public improvements
now going on than ever before. Our
bonds are selling now at lower rate
of interest than ever before. Politics
are wholly eliminated from municipal
affairs. The whole people are well
pleased with the commission form Of
government"
Birmingham, Ala.-Plan in effect
April, 1911. In the first month under
the new plan the city borrowed $780,
900 at the lowest rate in it's history.
The commission cut down the annual
running expenses by $4,000 in the
first week.
whv Commission Plan Succeeds
There have been many explanations
offered for the undoubted relative
successes of the commission plan.
The abolition of the wards, for en-
ample is frequently quoted as ample
reason for the relative success of
the new plan. There are many cities
in the United States, however, in
which there are no wards, and they
have never attracted attention by the