The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-07-09
u. S. Census Bureau Shows
Advance of Cities Under
the Commission Rule.
PROVES VALUE OF SYSTEM
Careful Investigation of Cities Made
by Federal Bureau With the Aim of
Giving People Best Possible Informa-
ton as to Workings of New Plan.

Kenosha people, no matter whethel
for or against commission form of gov
eminent, will no doubt be interested
IN the census bulletin recently issued
entitled '9Cities Under Commission
Form of Government Under the
subhead ''Cost of Commission Govern
ment,o will be found the per capita
cost of municipal government for 1912
and the second figure the per capita net
debt Of course in all these figures
must be taken into consideration the
different systems of bookkeeping II
various cities, which may prevent Z
true comparison.
Under this subhead Wisconsin has
two cities under commission form hav
ing over 10000 population, viz: Osh
kosh and Superior. Oshkosh is given
a per capita expense of municipal gov
eminent of $9.49 and per capita of net
Indebtedness of $1432. Superior is
given 1926 and $23.11 respectively
There are sixty-nine cities out Of
one hundred and ninety-four in the
United States having an estimated pop
ulation of oveer 10000 inhabitants
each, which have already adopted a
commission form of government, hav.
ing discarded the former plan Of be.
ing governed by a mayor and council
This information is made public in the
annual report on financial statistics of
cities having an estimated population
of over 10000, which will be issued
soon by Director William j. Harris, Of
the bureau Of the census, department
of commerce. This report covers the
Of the calendar year 1912,
or the fiscal year closing on dates
prior to February |, 1913. The bulla
tin was prepared under the supervision
of LIE Grand Powers, chief statistician
for finance and municipal statistics.
The sixty-nine cities which have
adopted or by legislative enactment,
have been placed under, the commission
form of government are as follows:
Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile and
California Berkeley, Oakland, Sac.
ramento, San Diego and Pasadena.
Colorado-Colorado Springs, Pueblo
and Denver.
District of Columbia Washington.
Illinois-Decatur and Springfield.
Iowa-Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and
Sioux City.
Kansas--Kansas City, Topeka and
Wichita.
acknowledgement, covington and
Lexington
Louisiana-New Orleans and shreve-
port.
Massachusetts, Haverhill, Lowell,
Lynn and Salem
Minnesota-Duluth and st. Paul
Missouri-Joplin.
Nebraska Omaha and Lincoln.
New Jersey-Atlantic City, Passaic,
Trenton and Jersey City.
Oklahoma-Muscogee and Oklahoma
City.
Oregon-Portland.
Pennsylvania Allentown, Altoona.
Chester, Erie, Harrisburg. Jamestown,
Lancaster, McKeesport New Castle,
Reading, Wilkes Barre, Williamsport
and York.
Tennessee 49, Chattanooga, Knoxville,
Nashville and Memphis.
Texas Austin, Dallas, Ell Paso, Fort
Worth, Galveston and Houston.
Utah-Salt Lake City.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and Tacoma.
West Virginia-Huntingto
Wisconsin--Oshkosh and Superior.
The cost per capita for the general
expenses of all the municipal depart
ments and also the per capita net
debt at the close of the year 1912. of
these sixty-nine cities which have
adopted the commission form Of GOV.
eminent, respectively, are shown in
the statement following. The term
net debit as employed in the re-
port is the funded and floating debt
sinking fund assets; and the term
general expenses, of the municipal
includes all costs of city
government, except interest on debt
and outlays for permanent improve
ments.
The first figure following the name
Of the city in the statement shows the
per capita cost of municipal govern
nent for 1912 and the second figure
the per capita net debt at the close
IF the year 1912.
Alabama.
......$ s.64-$3s. SIS
Mobile ............. 8.53- 81 81
Montgomery ........ 9.68- 65.35
California
Berkeley ..........$1s.3 $3.50 .o6
Oakland q. ............ 14.82- 1868
Sacramento ......... 1924 26.07
San Diego ............ 20.o7- $40