New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-06-10
ENTERPRISE AND OBSERVER
Consolidated.
Official Journal iberia Parish and
City of New Iberia.
Subscription $3.50 per Annum.
THE COMMISSION GOVERN
MENT.


1berian advocated and in fac
launched successful campalg
III New iberia in favor Of the Con
mission Form Of Government TO
our little City as a cure for all o
its ills. In fact, while we our
selves were inclined to take issu
and fight for the old form O.
Government, friends of ours i'm
plored upon us to join in thu
movement that would forever
free lis, not only Of the old fac
tional entanglements that existed
at that time, but also in making
our little City teen with indus.
tries that would give employment
to many of our citizens. We
joined in the movement and the
Commission Form Of Government
was carried almost unanimously.
Now that we are operating UNI
der that Form Of Government,
and that very satisfactory, every
thing considered, we, like hum
dreds of others, can see no rea-
son to criticize either the system
in vogue, nor the personel Of the
gentlemen who comprise the
Board to the extent of having the
charter amended by the Legisla-
ture. because within a space of
less than four years there has
been a small decrease in the as
sessments. If the salaries are too
much now they were too much at
the time the Charter was created
giving us this form. The same
amount Of labor devolves upon
the employees Of the different de-
partments now that did at that
time, consequently if it is a mis-
take now, it was one four years
ago when this system was inaug-
urated.
The Commissioners are taken to
task for loading upon New Iberia
bonds to the amount of $4,000,
when $40, 900 of this amount was
used exclusively to liquidate ac-
crued Indebtedness of previous
administrations, and about $35 900
of this being expended in putting
in an electric fire alarm system,
and the erection Of a publication
plant and also in the extension
of water mains on many streets
in New liberia, that, at no time
previous, had either light or|
water. but had always been burd-
ened with taxes for improvements
thev had never enjoyed. 1t will
be remembered the Broussard ad-
ministration saddled a bonded in
debtedness upon our people of
$99, 600 which was not alluded to ]
bv our contemporary.
" Being interested in ascertainine |
the cost under both forms of gov
eminent. the Mayoralty system
and that now in vogue, we called
upon the Commissioner of FL
nance. and he furnished us a de-
tailed statement of all of the De-
partments as follows:
That Of Department of Public
Safety Mayor effects a saving /
per annum over the old system Of
Twenty Six Hundred Dollars.
Department Of Finances saw
ing amounts annually to Four
Hundred Dollars.
Tho Department of Public
Property according to Commits
sioner Suberbielle s figures is the
one department that shows an in.
creased cost over the former sys- |;
tenn Of Four Hundred and Fifty
Dollars. This is due solely to the
reason that Mr.. Villermin s salary
was previously fixed at $1,000 per
annum while now it is fived un-
der the charter at $500. During
the years that only Twelve Hun
dred Dollars was allowed, the
Plant always showed a deficit, |,
while last year alone under the
poor financial conditions of the
money market this Department;
Melted a revenue Of about $4,000
which we consider good showing.
For the benefit of those who are I,
not acquainted with conditions, Il
we now make q comparison be- Il
tween the cost of the Commission I
Government at Lafayette and that I
of our own little City which should 1
prove an eye opener from many I
standpoints: Il
Lafayette Police app. .$5,o4o.OO .
New Iberia appropriation 10000
Lafayette Board of Health |.
appropriation 800. 10000
New iberia ............ 10000
Lafayette clerical assist ID
!.