The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-04-12
MEETING HELD
YESTERDAY BY
THE COMMITTEE
COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERN
MENT FOR THIS CITY WAS
DISCUSSED.
:Staunton. Va, Plan Is to Be investi-
gatec.-General Manager of That
City to Be Invited to Deliver an Ad-
dress in Brunswick.

The special committee appointed
at recent meeting of city council to
look into the adoption of the commits
sion form of government for Bruins
wick held an interesting meeting at
the. city hall yesterday afternoon. At
this meeting the committee formally
organized and work of investigating
the various forms of government was
started.
Hon. E. H. Mason, president of the
National Bank of Brunswick. and for
mer mayor and alderman, was elected
chairman of tie committee, while Al
derman J. H. Hopkins was elected
secretary. These present at the
meeting were, representing the city,
Mayor Butts, Aldermen Hopkins, Leo
and Calnan, and from the business
men, E. H. Mason, Millard Reese and
A. V. Wood. The latter gentleman,
as is well known, has made a study
of the commission form of govern
ment and he is familiar with the yeri.
GUS forms now in use in cities which
have relegated the mayor and alder
men to the more progressive form of
government. Mr.. Wood made a long
talk to the members OF the commit
tee, giving them an idea of how yari-
GUS cities were now being operated
He called special attention to
Staunton, Va, which is now operated
entirely by a general manager, and
which is proving very satisfactory
and profitable. Tfais Virginia city has
its mayor and aldermen. who have
full power over the general manager,
but to that one official falls the re-
sponsibility for all work in the CITY,.
In other words, each year or two
years, as the case may be, the mayor
and council select a general manager.
He takes full charge OF every depart
ment of the city and operates it. ac-
counting only to the higher officials.
Staunton is thought to he the only
city in the country using this plar
and it has more than proved salts
factory.
At the meeting yesterday afternoon.
several of those present made short
talks, after which it was decided to
ask council to make an appropriation
to defray the expenses of a visit to
the city by Charles E. Ashburn, who
is now general manager of Staunton.
The committee believes that visit to
the city by Mr.. Ashburn would prove
of great advantage to the committee
in arriving at some decision. He will
be requested to visit Brunswick, In
case council makes the appropriation,
and will deliver an address, giving
his idea Of the Staunton plan.
Of course the local committee has
not decided yet whether it favors the
commission or general manager plan,
or whether it is in favor of any
change at all, but it is the consensus
of opinion that the members do favor
a change and they want to make
thorough investigation into all of the
new forms of government before rem
dering any report whatever to council
on the matter.
In this connection it is noted with
interest that many southern cities are
now turning to the commission form
of government. Only yesterday two
of the leading cities of Alabama, Bir-
mingham and Mobile, went under the
management of a commission. Tam
pa. Fla, is seriously considering a
change, as is Macon and Columbus
and other cities in this state.
The local committee which has the
matter in charge will petition council
for an appropriation to defray the
expenses of Mr. Ashturn at the next
regular meeting, and he will then be
invited to visit the city. The COM
mittee will not likely meet again un-
til his visit here.