The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-21
Commission Government for
Cities Proves the Best.
Topeka Among First to Adopt
the New Plan.
WASHINGTON, D. c., LEADER
Rule by Commission Started in
Year 1878.
Debts SmaIIer-Revenue Larg-
err Than in Council Cities.

washington. Feb. 21-Director sam
L. Rogers of the bureau Of the census.
department Of commerce, IS soon to
issue a set OF tables giving special
financial statistics for "A citieS-eight
having the council form OF govern
ment during the fiscal years 1913 and
1915. eight having the commission form
during those years and eight nav
ing the council form in 1913 and the
commission form in 1918 These tables
were prepared under the supervision
of Mr.. StariSe NJ. GroEan. chief statis1i-
clan for statistics OF cities
The eight cities having the council
form in each year are Indianapolis
Ind. Hartford. Conn: Youngstown,
Ohio: Troy. y Y: Peoria. Ill. Little
Rock. Ark, Davenport, Iowa. and
Charlotte. y G.. Their estimated
population IN 1918 ranged from $50
GOO for INDIANAPOLIS to Ss,S00 for
Charlotte. averaging 81 600.
The eight cities having the commits
sion form of government in each year
are Birmingham, Ala. Lowell Mass :;
salt Lake City, Utah. Des MONIES. La +;
Pueblo. Colo. Topeka. kan; Mont
gomery. Ala. and Austin Tex Their
estimated population in 1918 ranged
from 10000 for Birmingham to 33,2dQ
for Austin. averaging $1,000
Per Capita Expenditures.
The salient facts brought out by the
figures are:
governmental cOsts-eXpe nses OF gen
eral departments. expenses of public
service enterprises interest on in
debuedness. and OUTLAWS for permanent
improVeme nts-increased during the
twO-Vear period from S23.1O to S2S.SS
in the council cities taken as Il group
from S19-92 TO S22-2O in the commits
sion cities and from SI6.44 TO SlS-i6
IN the cities governed by council in the
earlier year and by commission In the
later.
The per capita expenditures for out
lays alone increased from IS 40 TO
S1U.S0 IN the council cities from S4-o0
10 $3.50 in the commission cities and
from S4.O7 to S5-21 in the cities which
changed from the council TO the com
mission form between the earlier and
later year. This class Of expenditures
fuctuates so greatly from year to year,
however. that "A two year comparison
covering a total of only - cities does
not provi lie "A sufficiently broad basis
Tor definite conclusions
The per capita payments Tor cur
rent expenses and iutcrest-that is.
for all governmental cost excPnt out
lays-increased from $3.50 to SlI.5S
in the group of council cities. from
SI5.32 10 s16.34 in the commission
group which changed from council TO
commission during the two year
period The increase in these expen-
dit1res was more than twice s great
in the council cities as in the commits
sion cities. and nearly twice as great
IN the council cities as in those gov
erued by council in the earlier year
ana by commission in the later.
Excess Over Revenues.
The council cities. taken as a group.
show a per capita excess of eNpendl-
lures over revenues amounting to 90
cents In the fiscal year 1913 and S4-65
in he fiscal year 1918. and in seven
Of the eight cities. taken individually,
the expenditures during the later year
We're IN excess of the receipts.
In the group of com mission cities
the per capita excess Of expenditures
over revenues increased during the
two-year period from 80 cents to 81. 81;
and in five of the eight cities. taken
Individually the expenditures during
the later year were in excess Of the
receipts.
Levies of property taxes (Which pro-
vide on an average, between One-half