CALGARY-A STUDY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1110, 25 April 1911, Page 4

CALGARY-A STUDY.

IN CITY CONTROL. COUNCIL NOT CHIEF RULERS. (By TcJccraplwSDecial Correspondent.) Christohuioh, April 24. A good deal of criticism has greeted somo remarks of the Mayor with regard to replacing tho Mayor and City Council by commissioners, as has been done in various parts of America. As described, however, by a writer in "Tho Press," who recently ■ inspected tho system in operation in Canada, it seems to have a good deal to commend it. Tho town of Calgary, with some forty or fifty thousand inhabitants, is one of the places where- the system is in operation.

"Under the rule of a Mayor and aldermen, the government of the city," says tho writer, "was decidedly inefficient, and it is hinted thnt it'was not above suspicion or corruption. Tho result was that, in 1009, just as tho city was on the eve of constructing ail electric tramway and other important undertakings, a new departure was made. Tho government by a Mayor and .council was retained, but the executive power was placed .in the hands of tho Mayor and two other commissioners, each of whom is paid a salary to devote his whole time to tho work.

"These gentlemen are supposed to run the business affairs of tho city on commercial lines, and each of them takes a department. One commissioner, who was trained as a mechanical engineer, has under his control the electric light,. tramways, and waterworks. Another commissioner looks after tho streets, their cleaning, and maintenance, and other cognate works. The Mayor, who,was formerly., in the employment of .the .Canadian- Pacific Railway, and..ivlio' (like.all tho officers of that company)' is a keen, capable man of business, looks after the city reserves, fire brigade, police, and so forth. They all act together, however, and present a joint report. "They have tho power of appointing and dismissing practically all tho municipal officers, and one of their first acts was to clear out several of the old officers with .whoso work, for various reasons, they were dissatisfied.' .They draw up the estimates for the .year, decide what works shall be. undertaken -and what rates .shair.be struck. Their report is laid before the council, and has to be carried into'effect, unless it is. rejected by.a-two-thirds majority of tho council—a bare majority is not'sufficient.'. This plan, while giving tho commissioners full power,, yet retains sufficient con-, trol in the hands, of.the council (as representing the ratepayers) to prevent any very extravagant.or otherwise undesirable scheme from.being carried into effect. So far the plan seems to havo worked admirablv. ' .

"The electric light and the tramways are a great success. The latter, installed in July, 1909, made a net profit of £2000 in the first six months, and the commissioner estimated that this year they would yield £5000 in aid of the general rates. The streets arc well lighted with arc lights, and tungsten lamps, and the electric lighting, department in 1909 yielded a net profit of over £1000. There is an • admirable water supply, drainage , 'system', and lire prevention force;; I 'There Vre' 130/ miles of streets, and 47 mile's'of gfano'jithicl'sidcwalks, besides six miles of boulevards, and both Welingtoh and Christchurch might easily take lessons from Calgary in street maintenance. A city hall, to cost £40.000, is Hearing completion. Calgary also has four parks, with an : area of 232 acres, with band concerts ■ and special attractions in tho summer. '■■ '

"Tho whole town bears every appearance of being progressive and well governed,! aild' there is n0 , .-doubt that, a good deal of the credit is due to the commissioners. The Mayor received only 2500 dollars, and the other : commissioners only-2000'dollars. , 'oach*',pbr annum. The-Mayor is elected by a plebiscite of the people, as with tis; but tho other commissioners may he appointed by a two-thirds majority of the council, and, should any candidate fail to-, receive this.majority,, .tho'.iismies^afe,submitted to.a 'the.' municipal voters. They' hold office for' tlireo. years." . : .~ ,-; ■.■.:„, ...-,..-"