Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-16
"ATLANTA'S FORM
OF GOVERNMENT
IS ANTIQUATED'
so DECLARES PRESIDENT ELIOT
OF HARVARD, IN ADDRESS TO
MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CHAR
TER REVISION COMMITTEES.

During tive first day OF his visit TO At
latina Saturday President Charles W.
Eliot. Of Harvard University, made two
public utterances that are OF widespread
and immediate interest. DIR. Eliot is
given TO saying notable things. things
that have definite value. His vigorous
mind and ripened experience produce that
sort Thought Saturday in his ad-
dress TO the Tech students he declared
that the tariff. for which an extra ses-
sion of congress will soon convene, is an
unfortunate encumbrsnce for any nation.
An hour later he told the city council and
the charter revision committee of Atlanta
taht the commission form Of government
is a highly practical and commendable
system
Ideas derive their value largely from
the man who expresses them. Even such
a thTeadbare subject as the tariff takes on
a uvlier color when a thinker OF DR..
Eliot's care and fncisiveness discusses IT;
and when from the abundance of his sci
entific observation he talks about mu-
nicipal government by commission every
body leans forward 10 hear.
Dr.. Eliot approves this form of munic-
ipal government
His Testimony
I have simply testified" he said at
the conclusion Of his talk before the coun-
Gil and the committee at the luncheon
they gave him in the Kimbau house, I
have simply testified as to what facts
have gathered during a visit to Texas.
from what l know of Des MOines and
OF the efforts now in progress 10 revise
the charter OF Boston
This. too. was precisely what he did
He declared frankly that government by
zgzvTN hrUW a
its nine years Of test have justified it
so far and that in wise, progressive ex-
perimentation lies the success Of gov
eminent in general
The fundamental idea OF commission
government" he said. lis to give the
people OF a city a business administra-
lion, TO make municipal government more
effective for the people as a whole, 70
expend the money they pay as taxes in
a way that viii give them better streets,
better public service in every partieu-
lar
An Anticipated System
The system Of having two boards, those
Of aldermen and cOuncilmen, such as
Atlanta now has. he described as an an
tiauated one BY disseminating response
bility among so many representatives,
he said you weaken efficiency When the
MANAGEMENT Of a city's affairs is turned
over 70 three or four or I'VE men, they
feel that they must make good or go out.
Thus il becomes TO their own interest to
see that the various positions OF the city
are filed by capable men, men who will
do credit 10 their administration. When
the employment of a city engineer is
under consideration. he continued. ii is
to their interest to see that the best
engineer to be had is given the place, for
il that engineer doesn't perform his du-
ties well. they will be held directly re-
sponsible by the people
s.AGafn.f' he continued. "a commission
-orm OF government induces the best cit
zens OF a community to accept offices
they feel that when they are given
some scope. they can be Of real service
whereas when they are hampered by
numerous boards and committees and
must bend their own ideas to these, they
feel that after all there is little chance
for them to direct affairs as they think
they should be"
DR.. Eliot dweIt upon the thought that
government by commission enables voters
at large. 1.-The general suffrage, as ne
expressed it. TO exercise their choice more
intelligently.
Voters Disadvantage
One Of the great disadvantages Of the
voter in most cities" he said. lis the
Icng Ballot that is handed him Frequent
In he will not know more than three or
four or half a dozen OF the candidates
named on the ballot Only a few OF the
candidates are voted upon inteligently
BY the majority of voters But where
only a few officials are to be chosen the
voter can know rather precisely what
he Is doing
III Is q notable fact that the political
machines. both Democratic and Re-
publican. invariably oppose any change
such as government by commission con-
terminates largely so. I think. because
this form of government clears up the
noIiticaI atmosphere for the mass of the
people and fixes official responsibility IN
a definite way.
which IS famous for having originated
the modern form OF government by COM
mission
he also mentioned Houston and other
Texas cities
IN those cities" he said. II found
that public opinion was all but unani-
nously in favor OF the new system. II
has proved a great saving 10 the city
treasury and has not increased the tax
rate n has resulted in the building OF
new schools. the laying Of many miles
OF new sidewalks and I'm a general perfec-
ton Of public service"
Inefficiency a Great iii
..one Of the ins OF our present DAY
municipal government" he said. is que
more TO ineficiency than TO dishonesty
or. as we say. graft. The great diIn-
Guilty is 20 find really competent men VINO
feel that there Is much use IN them
s1arin9 their time to take definite
pzrt IN the city's administration But
when you have a form Of government
that win offer competent men real OPP
portuufty. they will be found available.