Putnam patriot., 1909-10-01
Municipal Government by Commission iu
 Connecticut.

Manchester has set the pace in this State for Municipal Reform, following in the wake Of those South Western and Western States which have adopted the plan of government by commits sion. The new form of government was adopted year age, long enough 10 give fair idea of it's possibilities and its results in practice. Like every other place where government by com- mission has been adopted, the general expression of the citizens of Manches- ter, is one of hearty satisfaction, with the assurance that, as thesystem Is bet ter understood and it's simplicity of operation is fully carried out still great CT qualification at 1t benifieent results will be realized.
 A reporter of the Bristol Press, who visited Manchester to investigate the working of the new plan of ofgovernment, was told by leader of the new idea, who Is a business man Of large exper- fence, just why it was brought about, and said: " Our plan was to secure a simple form of government without complicated machinery but with sufli- cient power to conduct the affairs of the town in modern way. We want ed to run the town on business basis as we would our own individual enter prises. We believed we could do this with the least friction and expense by adopting the commission plan to our needs. This we did and secured spe- eial charter. The government has been in operation one year. Despite the fact that it was new and took some time to become familiar with 1t, and made to run smoothly, we have for the first time in some years balance on the right side of the ledger, ehe accounts showing saving of sli, TOO. But that is only part Of the advantages. The figures make no account of the gain in efficiency of the several departments, especially the roads and charities or poor.
 "Tnder this plan we have only one government, and it's powers are suffi- cient to run town like Plainsille or Manchester or the city of Hartford-in a word. il Is the practical application of business principles to town govern ment.n
 The Manchester Herald, in speaking of the report in the Bristol Press, says:
 "lt sees much of an objectionable character in the old-fashioned aud un- business-like combination Of city or borough government and town govern ment. To be more specific, 1t finds fault with the so called dual form of govern ment which prevails To a large extent in Connecticut among towns which have grown to such a size as to make it desirable to incorporate the most pop ulous portion into city or borough. Where this Is done, two forms Of gov ernment are usually carried on in the same town. There is the oid.tashioned town government with it's selectmen and other officers and town tax is levied. The city government with it's common council, various municipal commissions or boards, and other sala- ried officials, must also be maintained, or, in the case of a borough, such as Bristol, board of wardens and bur gesses, and various other officers. A city or borough tax must likewise be levied to meet the expenses of these forms of government. The result Is that the resident and taxpayer of the incorporated district is compelled to pay double taxes 10 support both forms ..C {xxtgss a t~ forced to endure many other hardships as result of the unwieldy combina- tion.e
 We are not urging the adoption Of the Manchester plan of municipal gov ernment to be adopted by Putnam, or any other form of government by com mission. Our aim is to present to our readers movement begun five or six years ago to have she affairs of city managed on strict business principles and in the simplest form possible to secure good administration. And also to whom any special service is assign ed he shall be held strictly responsible for the way he accompIishes that ser vice.
 In a dozen States, or more, begin ming in Mississippi, scores of cities and towns have adopted the plan of gov ernment, under various modications-- while maintaining the principle-not one of the entire number has given the system up, or even expressed dissatis- faction with the principle. On the other hand, not one of the entire num- ber which have adopted the system of government by commission, but what have secured better government ad- ministration, and produce the evidence that it Is much more economical, in addition to being . much better form than the old system.
 Take, as an instance, in proof Of this assertion, the case of our nearby sister town of Manchester, from which we learn that the new system has not only given satisfaction, but . saving of ell r TOO has been effected in the first year Of its testing.
 Docs no, reason and common sense agree in declaring that, if such are the results Of government by commission il should be adopted at once by every city and town.
 Some may ask: "Why are not more towns interested in such an important matter7" Simply because, as in the case of most al other public reforms, people know but little aboat II, and wait for leading men to move in the