Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13

in government for the people. or 4.
cripple and needs the money. Under
co'nmission government there are
usually only five men.
The stock argument against commit.
SION government is that II nuts TO-
much power in tho hands OF fey man
ms objection has been largely over
core. as notably in Des MoineH, by tho
recall. Palliative and referendum TIL.
recall mean: that IL certain numh,r
OF citizens sign a petition tho commits.
a'oner must stand special election
and other candidates may enter m.
h''d against him. IL he receive. .
plurality h" holds his job; IL not, h.
loses It, By the initiative and refer
ehdum the citizens may initiate law,
or compel tho co.nmisSton to refer
laws 10 & popular vote
The 500 commission government
cities are scattered all over tho United
States. Kansas leads with thirty-nye:
Illinois has thirty. and Pennsylvania
'"enty-nine. Maine has one and Mas
shchuset's seven. hut there are no
others In New England. Forty Of tho
torty-eight States contain commission
government cities.
Gnlvrston's Great Experience.
ot all OF these. Galveston has had
me most unusual experience. Before
the mood, It's municipal government
was about AZ bad rs possible TIL.
town was bankrupt. It's scrip was M
y discount, the City Council spent all
Its time squabblins and good citizena
were refusing in disgust 10 pay the,.
taxes. Then tho storm hit Il. destroy
Ing its city hall. It's nrc department.
Its water works. and the lives and
homes OF MANI of Its people. Out OF
necessity commission was appointed
10 ,aie charge OF this ruin. IN the
emergency. jealousy. hatred and selfish
ness were forgotten. The people not
only rebuilt their homes. but also con-
structcd sea wall. raised the land
the city stood on to the level OF It's
top. and built n causeway from their
island 10 the shore. Through their
commission they spent millions, and
every dollar OF ~ was we'll spent, while
every municipal service was put upon
a new basis OF efficiency. At Calves.
ton. fine community spirit was liter
ally born in one day OF awful dcstruc-
ton.
Last summer this spirit was put to
the test. The United States Weather
Bureau sent warning to Galveston that
another great storm Ike the one that
had destroyed It was about TO strike
The commission was equal to the erner-
gency. In n few hours II organized
battalion Of Heasengers on motorcyc!es
and gent them racing up and down the
island warning the country people 10
come behind the shelter OF the sea wall
Every FAMILY on the island was reached,
and all hut e!Rnty-one persons came
In behind the wall. All OF the eighty
one who failed to come were drowned.
Shining Example Of Government.
Rchind their mighty sea wall, the
people OF Galveston were safe. but the
causeway 10 tho mainland. which had
cost them r million dollars was swept
away like picket fence. Two ocean
going freight steamers swept over IL
without touching. and now lie strand
ed :, mile inland on the Texas prairie.
The water supply OF tho city was also
cut Oft, and for some days the commits
sion pcddled 1t in wagons. doling ont
a quart at a time. But Galveston Is
not discouraged. Pipes have been laid
across temporary trestle to the main
land, so that the water supply Is re-
newed. and plans are already complete
for rebuilding the causeway.
Galveston has enjoyed only ono piece
of financial good luck. She has been
exempted from state taxes rs mark
Of respect and sympathy from the rest
OF the people OF Texas. But the i'll
winds which have brought her so much
loss, have blown greater good. They
have awakened in Galveston. perhaps.
the finest civic shirt this country has
ever seem and they have made her a
shining example OF efficient municipal
government to all America and tine
world