The sun., 1919-07-18
MONTREAL LIKES
COMMISSION RULE
Premier GOuin's Drastic Ac-
ton Is Being Justified
by Results.
CONFIDENCE rs RESTORED
Taxes Raised to Enable City to
Pay as It Goes, but Rate
Is Low.
BY Q s,sr corre,pond..s Of TEE srx

BY Q 6te6 Correspondents Of TEE srS.
MONTREAL, July 1.-THE city of Mon
treal is passing through q period Of new
experience In municipal government,
which II somewhat like that OF WASH
ington, d. G. Control Of Affairs. execu-
tive and administrative. II in the hands
OF commission of i've men appointed
by Premier Sir Lomer Gouin in 1918
for a period Of four years
The annual budget of the administra-
ton is submitted TO the City Council OF
twenty-one Aldermen elected by popu-
lar vote. The budget may be rejected
or reduced only by a two-thirds vote
Of the Board OF Aldermen or l6 out Of
II on the Council Authority over con-
trasts appointments and municipal civil
service rests with the commission.
Holding such control over the public
purse, the commissioners are able to
exercise a strong hand over Affairs and
they are making steady progress In the
direction OF restoring public and nnan-
cial confidence In the city.
In 1910 a board OF city commissioners
responsible to the City Council was ap-
pointed in an effort to inject better
politics into the government OF the city.
But the Aldermen were not prepared
for public finance which meant higher
taxes in order to keep a fair balance
between revenue and expenditure. The
tax rate had long been At one cent
on the dollar plus the school tax, and
the Council preferred TO pile up the
public debt rather than increase the tax
rate.
The borrowing power was at 10 to IL
per cent Of the assessed value OF real
property. The Council and It's COM
missioners went the limit The public
debt of Montreal at present Is $780,
100000. The assessed value Of real
property 10 500. 100000. The finances
OF this great wealthy city. tho head
quarters OF railway, financial and in
dustrial corporations in Canada, de-
manded attention. Something had to
be done. and OF decisive character.
Premier Gouin Takes Action.
It 10 sometimes difficult for the lesis-
lative assemblies Of Illinois and New
York to ind out just what the re-
formers Of Chicago and New York cities
really want. So II was in Montreal.
Sir Lomer tried In vain to learn what
INC peopie Oh tniS city WaHtcu. 1lc ue-
cided to appoint commission that
Government. selected his men with skill
that has been justified In action, and
set them at their task
The result has been gratifying. There
was strong opposition from the Alder
men. but the commission went ahead.
An end has come to borrowing: the
city must pay It's way year by year.
Taxes were increased from ten mills
to thirteen and a half mills on the dol
lar on real property, and the special
taxes, water. light and business taxes
also were made to yield more revenue.
For the year 1913 It 10 Just announced
that the total revenue was ls.6+3,Ss2
an increase Of five million over 1917,
out OF which tho city treasurer was able
to pay interest charges on the public
debt and put 100000 to the Dinkins
fund.
The commissioners will endeavor. as
soon as the money market permits. 10
make extended loans and put the city's
affairs on an easier basis. An item APP
pears In the report Of 3S5,3S1.s55 under
disbursements. But II represents tenn
porary loans and renewals. There was
a balance Of s2os.96s in the city treasury
at the start of the new year.
Formerly all public improvements
were charged against the general city
account. The commission has adopted
the special assessment system, long In
use in American and most Canadian
cities. In future street Improvements
will be paid for by the property front
ing on the street being improved, and
the public debt cut down by higher taxes
annually.
Even now the tax rate Is low in
Montreal Including school tax the rate
In 1880 mills But half q million an
nuaily Is paid into the city by the street
railway In percentage of earnings A
business tax OF per cent. on the rental
value of property nets million year
Water rates also are on percentage
basis and pay 6 per cent on the rental
value of property. Thus 4 house thai
rents for 500 q month viii pay 80 water
tax regardless OF the number Of tapt
or the amount Of water used. Tho reve.
nue. from this for 1913 was about a mil
lion and q half. Railways, factories
laundries, breweries are on meter rate
Banks pay $500 annually and 500 fol-
each branch within the city limits. In
surance companies pay s20o each, but
hre insurance companies pay also / pei
cent. on premiums on Montreal bust
ness. In return the city maintains tn
salvage corps. Licenses and privilege!
are rebpOusipio Tor large buHno'
The unjust general property tax oil
movab les does not operate In MoneEaal
Lands. buildings and anything attaches
to or fixed on any property Is taxable
/ not otherwise. storekeeper or busl
ness man paying $4,000 IN rent annual!
Is taxed S175. but there 10 no tax OF
the stock carried on the shelves.
NJ. Ernest Il Decary IL chairman o
the commission. Formerly he practise,
law. Like Premier Gouin, he Is clea
cut, reasonable. easy TO approach. blu
masterful In method and persistent Il
action. His associates are Charles Mar
| ell, NJ. p. r. A. Ross and Alphonse Yer
Vile, II. p. The chairman Is paid $40.
900 year and his associates $1,000
I The NTH member was city treasurer. blu
has resigned. II was not found to b.
advisable to have tho treasurer at tn
same time a commissioner. A successo
may not be appointed.
The police and hremen as well a
other city employees are under contro
OF the commission. There are only 90
/ policemen, but Montreal Is a quiet
peace loving city. There are $50 fire
men. Both forces are efficient Their
was two day strike last year, but tn
Chief Commissioner exercised swift au
| thority and soon was asked for terms
No union OF sympathetic strike oan b
recognized. Thousands Of troops returl
! from overseas via Montreal. They ar
! Hospitality cared for. all in a quiet way
1 With the settlement of the Vickers ship