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

never had dishonest Mayor. The city's
greatest trouble has been with it's
Board OF Aldermen, their political jug.
glery. their spcechmaking and their
caucuses.
Under the commission form OF gov
eminent. the charter requires that the
board shall meet in regular session at
least once every week. These meetings
take place every Thursday afternoon II,
$50 o'clock. The. sessions are con-
Quoted in dignified. businesslikc man
ner. and are free from wrangling. dis
putcs and confusion. The commissioners
sit around n directors table, the Mayor
presiding. The city attorney and the
heads OF the various departments are
required by the city charter TO attend
all meetings of the board But little
speechmaking is INDUCED in. and the
presence of idle spectators is an exccp-
ton rather than the rule Business is
transacted promptly, but without any
undue haste. All important matters are
conference. The city attorney has great
influence with the commissioners, and
his advice is freely sought.
IMPROVEMENT OVER OLD
COUNCILMANIC SYSTEM
TOO many cooks spoil the BROTH
Is an old saying. which can well be
applied to boz: d of twelve or sixteen
Aldermen. according to the tax-paying
cltiZens or Galveston, where il has been
clearly proved that four commissioners
with Mayor or president can trans
act the business of sixteen Aldermen
ana Mayor, and do it better and more
eNpeditiously and with greater har-
mony.
Under the commission plan the mis-
management of department is
promptly laid at the door of the neg
tect1ul commissioner. not only by the
public, but by the mayor-prcsident
ana the other members OF the board
rms knowledge of personal RESPONSE
oility and watchfulness causes each
commissioner to take personal in.
terest and to feel Il special pride in
me proper management of his depart
ment, realizing he must that the
merit as we'll as defects are easily
recognized by his associates and the
citrzens or Galveston generally.
Ihe commission form of government
was placed in effect in Galveston on
september is, 1901. ON January
i9oi' tho floating debt of the city was
S2oi,9T4.54. The city was bankrupt
IL had defaulted in the payment OF
interest on it's bonded Indebtedness.
scrip salable only at a big discount
was being issued to meet current
bills. Many Disguised taxpayers were
refusing to pay their taxes which
only tended to agEravatc matters.
fractional strife. jealousy and disscn-
sion prevailed in the city council
grave situation confronted the city.
DEEP WATER COMMITTEE
BEGAN REFORM WORK
Ihere Is In the city OF Galveston a
business organization known as the
galveston Deep Water Committee,
whose members have directly and in
olrectlE accomplished more for the
welfare of Galveston than the balance
or the unorganized citizenship COM
oihed. II was suggested that the first
step necessary to complete rchabili-
tation or Galveston. was a thorourb
reorganization OF the city government.
me Deep Water Committee. therefore.
decided that there was an imperatiye
necessity that the charter of the city
De completely oVcrhauled and appl-
cation should be made to the state
Legislature for a new charter alonp
broader and better lines
II. WaVerly Smith president of the
FIRST National Bank Of Galveston. n
lawyer by training, and who, for four
years prior to that time had held tho
ONCE OF city attorney, and who WINS
member Of the Deep Water Commit
tee' suggested the appointment of
committee from that organization to
thoroughly revise and rewrite the city
cnarter accordingly Il subcommittee
OF three from this organization was
appointed, consisting of Messrs Smith.
waiter Gresham, a lawyer and former
member Of Congress. and F. D. Minor
a lawyer OF high character and splen-
did ability. This subcommittee pro
cured copies of the charters govern
ing number of cities, including the
law governing the city of Washing
ton. D. c.. and of the so-called model
charter of Baltimore. Md.
PATTERNED AFTER MAKEUP
OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
The commission features of tho rew
charter were suggested and drawn nv
Mr. Smith, and the controlling idea was
the creation OF governing body which
Hh"uld conform, as near as possible to
the organization of a great business
corporation. providing the duties.
sna ply oenhlnS the responsibilities.
ana through the heads of the various
departments, concentrating both po,ver
ana responsibility. The passare of
tho commission charter bill throuoh
the State Legislature was accom-.
plshed only after long and bitter
hght. and became effective September
is. 1901, ninety days after its enact
ment.
the tota! floating debt of the CITY
was entirely paid off under tho admin
istration OF the first board of city com
m'ssioners elected Since the commits.
sion form OF government was estab.
iished In Galveston. all city EMPLOYEES
nave been paid promptly in cash and
me summer seasons passed through
without borrowing dollar. Extensive
improvements We're made in the CITY
waterworks system. sewer system and
other public enterprises. and without
bond issue or Il dollar of increased
taxation. The city now collects Interest
on bank balances from bonded deposi
tories collects special vehicle tax.
Which goes TO the street Improvement
fund, enforces sewer connections has
r1etered the city's water service. cbI
lects taxes promptly. has DESTROYED
public gambling and adopted an ordi-
nance diStrictinE bar-rooms out Of the