Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-13

president OF the Galveston Commercial
Association and prominent business
man: The commission plan OF city
government has been in operation
In Galveston approximately fourteen
years. This period has afforded ample
! opportunity for Il thorough test. and it
has proved such Il decided success that
! the community stands as Il unit in its
approval of the commission plan of
municipal control.
Il am sure that n canvass of the city
would not reveal half|a dozen qualified
! voters, who are familiar with the old
system of city government here and the
present plan who would give their con-
! sent to a change back to the old alder
| manic system.
The commission plan does away
! with ward divisions. 1t does away with
/ all selfish sectional questions and re-
! solves the management of the city into
| what is best for the city as a whole
, The commission plan is very simple. in
! fact, Its operations are understood by
) practically every man, woman and child
! In Galveston. The responsibility is both
| individual and Joint. 1t is also defined
ana fixed so that good work by COM
missioner. as we'll as poor work, Is
! quickly recognized by the people T
have studied city government very
| closely for many years, believing it to
! be one of the most important uucs-
, tons before the American people and
/ l unhesitatingly say that the commits
sion plan of city government in Gal
weston has proved consistent and un-
qualified success. I have never heard Of
city that adopted the commission plan
/ OF government and went back to the
old form. although since the plan was
first placed in effect in Galveston in 90l,
3i9 cities, embracing Il total Formulation
/ of S.295,96S. have adopted It,"
OF ORGANIZED LABOR
! John w. Young. president of the
| Galveston Labor Council and editor
! of the Galveston Labor Dispatch. a
weekly newspaper published in the in
terests of organized labor: THE labor
council recently received n letter from
, similar organization in one of the
largest cities in North Carolina. where
mere was some agitation for tho COM
mission form of government We
were asked how the labor element of
EaiVeston felt toward the commission
pan OF city government, and In re-
ply, our secretary stated that it had
met with the unqualified approval of
me labor organizations of Galveston.
personally, the simplicity OF the plan
appeals to me. and it has been a most
eHlcient plan, in my opinion"
John Sealy, president of Hutchings,
Sealy & Co. Bankers. of the Galveston
Company, the Galveston Wharf Com
pany and other big business enter
prises of South Texas: The commits
sion plan of city government saved
iaiVeston from bankruptcy in 1901
ana has been n success ever since"
charles e. Witherspoon druggist:
It's n good thing. and undoubtedly
superior TO the former method Of mu-
nicipal control in effect in Galveston"
SUCCESS OF SYSTEM
LIES IN IT'S SIMPLICITY"
|. H. kempner. president the Cal
weston Cotton EXCHANGE. president Of
the Texas Bank and Trust Companv
and other large business concerns Of
the city: THE success OF the commits
sion plan of government lies in it's
simplicity The responsibility for good
or bad work on the part of those in
control OF municipal affairs may be
paced instantly, and a result, the
| reliable men whom we have had in
once In Galveston since the plan was
placed In effect. have had the entire
commence OF the people"
Lewis Fisher, Mayor president OF
the city commission: II consider the
commission plan of city government
the best method of municipal control
yet devised. 1t is efficient, and yet so
simple that it can he understood by
every taxpayer" Judge Fisher has
held the office OF Mayor since
1909. He is one OF the ablest lawyers
In Galveston and was formerly county
attorney and later district Judge
W. L. Moody, Jr, president OF the
City National Bank: The commission
plan OF city government is all right
but ] think much of the progress in
municipal affairs since 1901 has been
due TO the successful business men
who were members of the city com
mission. rather than to the form OF
municipal control"
COVER nEyISU,n
ALONG PRACTICAL LINES
Fred w. Catterall, cashier of the
First National Bank: It's been n sue
cess from the start because II was de-
vised along practical business lines
The commission plan of city govern
ment in Galveston resembles the exec
utive department OF a successful busi-
ness enterprise more than anything
else"
Robert I. Cohen, dry. goods merchant:
The commission plan of city govern
ment has been success in Galveston
because it is divided up into depart
ments just like n well-managed mcr-
camille establishment, and the head OF
each department, represented by one
OF four commissioners. Is responsible
for the results attained In his division"
j. p. Alvey, general manager the
Texas Guarantee and Trust Company,
president of the South Texas State
Bank and other business enterprises:
"A better plan than the Galveston COM
mission form Of city government Is
yet to be devised"
l. Lovenberg, president of the Gal
weston board of school trustees, and
prominent business man: Under our
present form of municipal control. eff
ticiency and results are considered. in
stead of politics and influence; hence
it's success"
SAYS GALVESTON PLAN
HAS "MADE GOOD"
Maco Stewart, president OF the Stew
Title LIuarnntN CnnananY the Gal