Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
CITY COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
No. f-FNEDERIC j. HAyKIS

GALVESTON. TEXAS, January 10
This Is the plac. where commission
government III tmcrca began, whore
II has been most severely tried. and
most triumphantly successful. Calves
ton changed ~: plan of government
In the midst OF death and ruin Her
misfortune drew The eyes Of the world.
and proved a sensational advertise
mcnt for tn. system she adopted 70
overcome It, In fact. it may be said
that the tidal wave which struck Gal
weston in 1900 swept commission gov
crnment all over the United States.
The storm Of last summer put 1t dra-
matically to the test
Commission government, is spread
Ing SO rapidly and steadily among
American cities that one can scarcely
keep pace VITA it's advance. There
were probably little over 400 cities
governed by commission in this coun-
try on January !. 1916. having n com
bincd population OF about 10000. 600
The success OF the experiment is even
more striking than It's spread. Only
seven OF the cities have ever held
elections to determine whether to 20
back TO the old form Of government,
and in only one of those has the COM
mission lost With n tenth or the ma
TONS population living under H. and
new cities making the change almost
every week, the commission IL rapidly
becoming the typical American method
OF municipal government for all but
the largest cities.
Commission government in this coun-
try IS not a theory put into practice.
but an outerow:h Of conditions. II
represents the triumph Of the hard
headed average citizen. who is deter
mined To have his alley paved his gar
bagc collected. his sidewalk repaired
in return for tho taxes that ne pays.
~ mr. In he al Ira, I've
old-time city hall politician. who re-
CARDS city government as an interest
ing amusement and an cas-" way TO
make money. lie Is passing like the
buffalo. the bad man aud other pic
turcsque American figures. because
there is no longer any room for him.
Needs Became Complicated.
The government or American cities
was patterned after that OF the United
States. IL worked very we'll while the
towns were small because the rapid
advance In property values made
comparatively snail tax levy sufficient
to moe, both municipal expenses and
tho needs or 4 large force OF city hall
pc-catcrs. But RS The cities grew. their
needs became 60 complicated and nu-
mcrous that these an liable but rather
incompetent gentlemen could not take
care Of them, although they did keep
right on increasing the taxes.
y typical example OF lhe -tlTlf
ward heeler government IN action took
place In "A certain American city which
has since adopted commission govern
ment. lust before election, the City
Council passed an order for a double
row of lights on every block in town
that contained more than SIX houses.
Each Of the aldermen made speeches
To his constituents telling them how
their streets would shine like the Great
White Way. thereby greatly 'ncreas-
Ing his popularity. Most OF these al
dermen were duly reelected on tho
strength OF the promised lights But
there aren't am such lights in that
city TO this day.
This made the citizens angry, and
they rose mp and elected a nc,v crop
OF Aldermen. These statesmen fought
shy of the street lamp question. but
promised the citizens enough paving
for town of twice the size. Once
more the citizens hardened 70 fine
promises. reelected the Aldermen, and
continued tc walk in the mud. Tie
City Hal! gang thought II would have
TO find something else TO talk about.
hut as II turned out this Was not nee
essary at all. The people hal bad
enough talk They rose up as q single
man and voted for commission govern
ment.
The principal reason why commits
sion government gets better results Is
bcrs of q City Council can promise
anything AS individuals and then blame
their colleagues if the results fail 10
mat erialize. Under the commission
plan each commissioner is held respon-
sihle for certain part of the city
works. II the commission votes for
street paving. and the streets are not
paved. then one commissioner is to
blame. and is pretty sure TO lose his
job The streets. however will prob
ably he paved if it is humanity possible.
With the eyes OF all his fellow citizens
upon him, almost any man Will do
his best.
Dimiuishes Party Politics.
The need TO get city administration
out of party politics is another one that
modern commission government fills.
1t has become increasingly apparent
for some years that party organizations
I'm cities merely subordinated city adj
| minis:rations to State or national party
interests while the actual business OF
running the city has nothing to do-iiith
| politics. In order to prevent tho State
| political boss from running the town,
| most Of the cities with commission
| government have prohibited party
| nominations Men run as Individuals,
! and party emblems are excluded.
Commission government brings a
| feeling of relief to the average citizen
| because he does not have to vote for
so many men, most of whom he never
| saw. Under the old system there arc
usually about thirty officials to ba
| elected. varying all the way from tho
city7>cle-ls to the Mayor. Tho busy
| votor becomes acquainted with most
| OF these by seeing their pictures on
| circulars, together with an injunction
to vote for Mr.. So.and.So, who belIeyes