The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-11-20
The Municipal Executive.

This municipal executive OF the pro
posed electric lighting plan, in his owt
; night Is hampered by his political helper,
: who assisted him in attaining his political
prominence and musi IN consequence be
given soft chairs in a salaricd position
This uses up his available funds which
otherwise could be put TO good advantage
II he knew how.
This fact so APPLY cxemplifed in local
history not yet ancient applies not only
10 the municipal servant but 10 the mas.
ter, irrespective OF their qualifications a.
municipalities and officials We do not
find them proving that the better the
man the better the work done, because
the best class OF business men are only
| willing TO give a reasonable amount OF
their time TO public matters and il is i'm.
| possible TO secure this same class of men
TO give the time and assume the response.
| bilities Of this intricate business, which
must OF necessity then fall into the hands
OF salaried officials
Professional business men also feel that
they cannot give the time necessary TO
master the infinite details OF such a large
commercial undertaking, with the result
that these grave responsibilities are left
to men encouraged to enter local politics
for different purposes. The local boards
frequently are composed OF our best and
most influential citizens and business
men, but do they not say that they have
not the time TO give from, nor the in.
clination to give up, their own business |
in favor OF the details and responsible |
tiles OF the city's business.
Patriotism VS.. Duty.
A limited amount of true patriotism
exists in all of US, but at the same time
we owe a duty to our own which forbids
our excluding personal interests for the
interests of the general public. The fact
that there Is at present a measurable
degree of policy in the management of
affairs does not mean that it
will always remain so. Can we as bust
ness men even in our best judgment
eliminate all prejudices in every decision,
in those which might in a way
personally benefit ourselves and are we
not under these conditions always liable
TO investigation and later publicity. 1t
would be unjust to question the policies
Of any members of our municipal boards,
but, that admitted, it does not follow that
they are able to take up successfully, un.
iertakings with which they have abso-
utely no experience and which offer ex-
remely complicated problems to those who
have made 1t life study.
The Fiscal Period-Elections
As a result frequent changes take place, t
which is very bad for any industrial un. t
because it constantly puts men 5
without experience of this particular in '
lustry in charge of this work For fear /
# running the risk of losing their seats I
officials are unable to estab. t
ish a permanent policy while on the S
ther hand members of private concern 7
aving a lifelong association in the bust c
less of the company can create advisable b
olicies and change of directorate does c
lot interfere with its cohesion or its gen $
raj tendency. With all due respect, let "
S compare. If the personale OF firm il
'ere changed as often as that of munic- Il
pal body, what business could be con- e
GOULD YOU
BRING YOURSELF TO CREATE SA-
CAL HANGERON?
EXPECT OUR BEST BUSINESS NJ
The MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHTIN
CONCEIVE OF A POLITICAL PROF
SPECIALIST MANAGING A HUNDRED
DEPARTMENT?
ASK OUR ALREADY OVERWORKEl
RUN THIS ORGANIZATION, BESIDES I
AND THE PRESENT CITY DEPARTING,
IMAGINE THE TINE THEY WOULI
NEW DUTlESi
WITHHOLD YOUR CRITICISM OF I
MISAPPROPRIATE Nt
STAND MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
WATCH THIS SPACE NEXT WEEK