New-York tribune., 1909-05-09
ggAT'THE NEXT
MAYOR MUST Do
nrSE4RCH BUREAU OUT
LINES BIG PROGRAMME.
r,forge City Credit, Buy Shre1odIy,
Cgt Do7cn Waste and Plan
"GreateSt City"

"GreateSt City.
.s,lsring that discussion OF What New York's
=. uavor Must Do is infinitely more important
Sc -. the question as to the kind of a man he
- he the Bureau of Municipal Research
So fts ideas on the subject in pamphlet
.,,sd tomorrow The publication IS termed "a
.-obensive outline Of definite things to be done
y .ta next administration
A., ssaling with the next Mayor the bureau says
:. The search for the right man will be more
,,essflll il the four million people whom this
=, * elected TO serve have fixed in their minds
- inevitable obligations and equally inevitable
o-,rnities which will confront them and their
~ Navor during the years 1910 to 1914" The
bureau says:
various minimum requirements have already
zen suggested: He must be an honest man, or a
business man OF 4 49,. OI iedi I iie; f;
.Ssse seven requirements naturally criticises the
-1ired point OF view OF the other six; the lawyer
- nof have organizing capacity or may dislike
details me % iijT ,.'I NAV ,,l,orinate heath
i-LaoI housing, traction or police problems 10 city
80 s~e losses or speedways. ''sIif-baCk' may
e59port head impervious to new ideas; six feet
20 administrative responsibility.
Then the bureau adds that the man must, above
all things, be versatile and capable or graSpins
nroberns Of various kinds.
There follows = list Of twenty-three things that
me next Mayor must do. in the opinion OF those
who prepared the pamphlet They are:
\ MANY SIDED MAN.
o. Get squarely under and stay under the load
Of credit or dlscredIt for work done and 70"
benefits or injuries received by the community
during the four years Of MS leadership as execu-
I'VE aPpointive and legislative oTncer-
~ Al point 80 efficient inefficient heads Of de-
partrnents 10 direct 5000 employees and 10 spend
@Sui S Prescrib the standard Of qualifications FOR
sis employees ana 1ftlcials 10 be named oy depart,
ment heads FOR exempt positions drawing $Sv1"v
- Define the work TO be done for positions which
1 PIamot discipline or encourage laxness and
5emoralization among $3.50 employees on FaEroH
q = FST8birsb definite point of view. sense of
sobsbiIirv and interest IN work of departmental
employes OF officials which depend in large meas
ure upon the character, reputation ana business
methods Of the Mayors own Office .,
"a Make the Mayors office headquarters i eilhtI
for the ctys business operations OF Tor political
Iersonal or social pull M,
81 Conduct in = businesslike or qnonslnesSltAT NE
manner meetings OF the Board OF Eslmate' 70. 70.
whose action he, as principal member cannot siii'
~ Pireonfnle railroad or secure open. fair
treatment for measures referred by the Board OF
Estimate and AppoTtonnent TO subcommittee Sc
i6 PTotect neglect or jeopardize the citys credit
TIGHT REIN on DEPARTMENTS.
g1l Determine whether Investigations by the com
rssoners OF accounts shall be thorough OF suPe P2I
fcial, partial or impartial pfoaLSa5iEe % " io
yDgtner their reports shall be publsned OF pigeon
holed. and whether their findings shaA be acted
m Exert an important influence upon scope, eff
cheney and cost Of public education through ma ms
sDnoI7t11e1t OF school commissioners, control over
spproIJriations power 10 investigate and power 10
1afo or initiate legislation.
;S, Determine the character Of consideration given
bv officials and the public 10 the annual budget that
74l Determine the effcacy or futility of tax
Fayers' hearings On public matters the tone anu
result OF which depend very largely upon Wlat
lie Navor already knows and his ability and de-
siTe 10 bring out what taxpayers know
which each city department does the public busi-
~ Dee-nire WHEELER the departmental heads
currently by guesswork and favoritism or upon
u Affect The content. distribution aad cost Of
city advertising that last year totalled M SIVe'y9 ~ -
by the Mayors representative al Albany TO bills
particularly affecting New York City. Many Xlci2@Gs @
unwise bills will never reach the MAYOR Ior l 5ls
or approval if al the facts available are ade-
viii fail
SHOULD WATCH LEGISLATION
c9 Veto or approve bills affecting New York
CITY after passage by the Legislature. The facts
viii largely determine later action by Legislature
and Governor. ,-.,o
Of ctr rsFisirates and justices Of Special Sessions
and by inquiry into their methods and resolts;
courts
tZD Determine the character of evidence neces-
sary before his approval viii be given 70 authorlZa
tions Of corporate stock passed upon by the BoaLu
Of Estimate and AppOrtionnent. which during Vie
C22) Determine by demanding evidence as TO val
uaton, independent appraisals. alternafive Sl.e
and city's need whether the city shall be mu4cIeu
or protected when purchasing real estate -
f23) Expedite or Obstrlct the reorganization OF
The clty's business methods. already SO Tar l az
vsnced By the present administration that pas
sive attitude the part OF the next Mayor VIII Dc
impossible.
The programme that the bureau maps out for the
next Mayor Il divides into four parts. as follows;
~ mediate restoration Of the city's credit
f9 Immediate correction of conditions that oe-
nand relief.
C3l Related next steps which the community is
prepared 20 demand and support -
- Opportunities that win appeal TO public i'm
sg1nation and conviction.
Under No head the bureau gives as the first
requisite the accurate determination Of what the
city owes Il suggests that If the Court OF Appeals
should confirm General Tracy's opinion that the
limit upon the city's indebtedness does not refer
70 contract liabilities legislation should be prompt
ly enacted that will bring within the debt limit all
that the city IN excess Of funds available Tor
payment no matter whether bonds have been issued
or not The mischarging OF current expenses TO
corporate stock when not specifically authorized
by existing vicious laws, should be regarded as
ground for immediate removal Of individuals re-
Eponsible for such charges.
Great stress is laid the necessity Of revising
the method CT paying city bills and the organization
of e bureau for the advantageous purchase OF sup
plies impairment Of the city's trading credit
the bureau says, does greater damage than
the impairment Of its power 20 procure money
when needed at favorable rates" 1t adds:
The results OF these methods have been TO force
the city pay higher prices wholesale lots than
Tie loss TO the CITY on this account has been est
mated al from 10000 10 S000.0O per year. Ado
. this the loss 20 the city due TO the sane
maintenance, and the tribute 10 Dad ihanate