Evening journal., 1912-05-29
Proposed Charter Com
pIex and Too Expensive

To the Editor Of THE EVENING
JOURNAL.
Sir: Every one knows that the
simpler a machine. the better it is,
and the less liable to disorder. The
proposed charter goes to the extreme
Of complexity. It will carry the city
not forward with the spirit of the day,
but backward to form of govern
ment already demonstrated to be
costly and ineffective in accomplishing
civic good.
Notice the general organization. To
see it in its relation TO the times,
compare it to these forms toward
which cities are moving. The Des
Moines form of city government has
Just FIVE elected officials, who are at
the head of the various departments.
They are directly responsible to the
people. The result is that taxes are
being lowered, and splendid results
are coming in the way of honesty and
public improvements. The proposed
charter creates a Council of nine, and
a Mayor. making ten persons. Then
these ten persons select FIVE others
to manage city affairs. These FIVE are
called the Board of Administration.
with them all responsibility is placed.
This board. having responsibility, is
not responsible to citizens, but to the
Mayor and Council Thus the res
possibility is twice removed from the
people In addition 10 these fifteen
officers. a General Superintendent Is
appointed by the Board of Admins
tration, thus thrice removing the citi-
zens' authority And besides this
/ General Manager, a Controller Is APP
pointed by the Mayor and Council
making seventeen general officials in
the place of De Moines FIVE officials
directly responsible to the people. The
proposed charter would be greatly i'm
proved by abolishing the entire City
Council, General Manager and Con.
troller, and electing directly capable
men, Why pay seventeen persons fol
what five can do. and do better2 The
form Of city government toward which
is cities are moving is simple and un-
derstandable II is just like the gov
! ernment of a bank. or other business
concern. A board of directors with
J president Is like a board of city com
missioners with chairman fo
D Mayor. II was once thought that thi
q best form OF city government woull
y be to have officials far removed from
2 the people. but INSCRIPTIONS men hav
s taken advantage of this form Of cit,
p control. and turned it to personal ad
e vantage. II is being over and owe
+ demonstrated that when the respon
r sible persons are known and i'm
L mediately subject to account. the hes
4 government is bad. Here is wherein III
j. Referendum has had such good results
n II an officer does not regard the wishe
r of the citizens, his name may be pu
q on the ballot at the next election
When officers realize that they ma
q be called to account at any time, the
n respect the will of the citizens, an
# strive to do commcndable works
n Instead of having seventeen genera
- office holders to manage the city's al
fairs, at an unknown expense, IN
costs can be cut down to five person
-. directly responsible to the peopl
% But seventeen officers is by no near
the limit that the charter contemplate
Power is given to create any numbt
OF officers and to Ak the salaries. Pas
20 z, q. A new charter was desired
secure an economical and business
~ like administration i'm the city, bl
=. there Is absolutely no evidence Of bus
e ness principles in the charter Wit
~ salaries unfixed. and the number
offices unlimited, no one can calci
J.. late the costs.
s Respectfully.
George Henry Dole
Wilmington, Delaware, May 20, 1872