Putnam patriot., 1910-07-01
Norwich tries Government by Commission

We are requested by "citizenh to print the explanation given by Mayor Thayef, Of Norwich, at meeting of the Common Council of that city, last | week Wednesday evening" in regard to I Government by Commission. In com. l pliance with his request We do 50, al-
 though we have already given Tn sub
 stance the same explanation on several 1 occasions. The following Is the expla- nation by Mayor Thayer:
 "rhe SO called commission plan of city government, growing in favor and being adopted under differing forms | throughout,the country, Is really noth- | ing more than the application of com. mon se ise to the business affairs or municipal corporations, In conifadis=
 tinctiop to the old Idea Of government
 through parliamentary body. Election to city office does not create
 q rnlef--it places the elected in the po-
 stion of mere servant chosen to admin ister or direct the business of the elec- tors, who, under the law, constitute the city of Norwich, and stand related to that business similarly as stockhoid. CTS of a commercial corporation stand to It's business. We may fairly consi- der the methods of the latter If We in- lend 10 answer the demand, recently
 expressed al the polls, for an efficient | administration.
 In the eiialt to earn dividends for their stockholdct, these corporations
 seek to minimize the expense account | and eliminate waste or utilize Ihe lat
 ter by conversion into bi.ploducls, The husinesS ef the municipal eorpa. ration Is mol lo sec how few of the good
 things of life those constituting ma- nioipaiity can get along with, but hos
 lihefally they may share in the good l things for the sum they are willing to pay, The very purpose oi people, in
 organizing a municipality, k 10 gath | benefits not to he had without such or ganlkaiian, the. municipal corporation, | like the business corporation, should
 therefore minimize she expense factor | and all waste--tor the stockholders re-
 eeive their dividends in the form of I things instead of the cash, and the more they get in the shape ot peoiec-
 ton of life, health, property good roads,
 cation, for The fixed sum which they
 are willing te expend annually, the 1 gre ater their dividend. And In these days the city is not mere spendef of
 money, as formerly, il is 'in business togain profits for the reduction ef such | fixed sum.
 | il is clear that the more extensive
 the business of the city becomss the greater the need of system and order in
 its management.
 l One noticeable feature of the impro-
 sed methods tn the administration of
 large affairs Is the concentration of the
 active and real direction upon few
 men, and in the commercial corpora.
 tions, and this has been accomplished
 through an executive committee chosen
 by the directors.
 heexecatiye committee hlving been
 found practical method of scconomis-
 ing time and effort in the management
 of commercial enterprises, it is reason
 able to suppose thai the administration
 of the affairs of thts community, now
 Involving the expenditure, in one form
 or another, of nearly half million dol
 lars annually, may gain like adSAnta'
 ges by the adoption of the same me. thcd.
 Through the executive committee VI shall find ourselvcs practically undel the commission plan limited to soms isktsnt by the psovisions of the charter