The Portland daily press., 1897-01-15
The New City Charter.
10 the Editor Of the Press:
"

affairs of the city are concerned, the
true interests of the citizens will be BEST
served by having them conducted upon
purely business principles. This means
that work requiring special Knowieoge
or fitness should be intrusted to persons
possessing these quail hcations and that,
within certain reasonable limits, they
should he given large, discretion as TO
means and methods, and held to strict
accountability for results. Corporations
organized solely for business purposes
uniformly pursue this policy, because
If is more likely to lead to success, while
the opposite policy almost inevitably
leads to failure and ruin. In the man
agement of their private affairs the
American people have always shown a
keen appreciation and a thorough un-
derstanding of business principles, and
the genius of the people is, perhaps,
nowhere better seen than in the success
with which they have established and
carried on railroads, steam boat lines,
water and gas works, electric light and
power plants and huge manufactures of
all kinds.
Now the business carried on by a
munich pality, in its multiplicity Of de-
tails, and in the variety of the kinds OF
service required, is in no degree less than
that of these other corporations; and
there exists in city department the
same necessity for special fitness in the
persons intrusted with special duties,
that exists in large factory or machine
shop. But in the case of business coTpor
ations the stockholders, acting through
their Boards OF directors, insist that the
persons employed In special positions
snail as first and most important con-
sideration be specially fitted to perform
the duties required. Il is a matter of
business to obtain the best service posi-
BILE for the salary offered. Is this same
business principle followed IN filling
positions under our city government
Let us see. Nearly all city officials are
now elected in joint convention of the
city council. A certain person is sug-
gested us candidate for city office.
IL he happens to ssess special fitness for
The office in question, il is always q
strong argument to Se used in his behalf,
put it certainly is not always decisive,
and it is not always the argument which
appeals with most force to the members
of the electin2 body. Alderman A votes
for the candidate because they both hap
pen to live in the same ward, while AL
German 8 votes against him, because he
was first seen and asked for his vote by
some one else who wants the place.
Councilman O votes for this candidate
because they used to go to school togeth-
er, and the candidate is a good fellow,
while Councilman ID votes against him
because the candidate favored Council
man DIS opponent In the ward caucus.
IF then it hapnaUa That DriVat6 cOrUOr-
ations are better served than municipali-
ties, one reason therefor is doubtless to
be found in the fact that different prin-
Ciples prevail as to tho methods in which
positions are filled. Let US be frank in
this matter. however, and admit that
there are other reasons also. such as the
fact that private corporations often pay
larger salaries, and thet good officials,
once in Office are not i'll SO much danger
of being turned out. AS to these points
it may be that the practice of private
companies may be initiated to advantage,
but that is matter quite outside the
present discussion. The question here
Is, can we not provide that these pTinci-
pies for choosing officials, which are so
successfully applied elsewhere, and which
are so reasonable IN themselves. should
be more generally followed in the choice
of city officials?
The chief objection to eleoting hy the
city council is that there is m absence of
direct responsibility for an improper
choice, and this fact will be found to be
the underlying cause Of most other OBJ
tections which can be urged against the
present practice. The natural remedy Is
to finu some one who shall be response
Bile, and the best modern thought and
experience is that that person is the
mayor.
The new charter is drafted, in a meas
ure, in accordance with this idea. 1t
provides for departments OF police, tie,
public works ana cemeteries, the heads
Of which are to be appointed by the may
or without confirmation. He is also to
appoint, subject to confirmation, mem
hers of five different boards and all other
officers for which no other method ls
provided.
1t may be- suggested that it would be
Just rs well not to require confirmation
In any case. 1t tends to divide and,
therefore, weaken responsibility. In
cnse of an unfit appointment the mayor
may be aole to say that he appointed the
only man the aldermen were willing 80
confirm, while the aldermen may reply
that they would gladly have confirmed a
better man, could the, mayor have been
prevailed upon 10 nominate one.
There will still be left, however,
large number of offices to be filled ny
election by the aldermen. Section ~ OF
She new charter provides that they shall
elect the "City Clerk, City Treasurer,
City Auditor, City Messenger. and such
other officers as are required to be elected
by the ordinances Of said city or by the
laws Of the state not inconsistent with
ghe prov isions of this act. also Board or
three Assessors and an Assistant As
SCISSOR for each wald. Other officers not
above enumerated, but included in She
general clause of officers required to be
elected By the ordinances, are City SO.
licitor, City Physician. Inspector OF
Buildings, Superintendent Of Public
School buildings, Harhor Master, City
Liquor Agent, Truant Officer, several
inspectors and number of minor offl-
Gals. This makes considerable number
OF places to be filed by the council, and
it is hard to see why most Of them
should net lie left to the appointing
power IS others more important are. The
City Clerk, being also the clerk of the
Board Of Aldermen, shonld properly be
elected by that board. As all appropria-
tons of money must be voted by the al
dermen, it is proper that the auditor.
who keeps the books showing how the
epDropriations are expended should also