The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-05
TO THE PUBLIC.
Mayor Jennings Discusses Cnl,mi.-
sion Government.

Sometime in the fall Of 1911. a
committee, of which l was chairman
was appointed. by the Chamber Of
Commerce to look into the matter Of
4 commission form Of government for
the City of Sumter. and consult with
ou: delegation in the legislature. This
committee met, and unanimously
agreed upon the commission form Of
government. under the manager sys-
tenn and recommended to the delega-
ton that they pass an act embody-
ing this feature. The delegation had
the act passed. embodying this fea-
| ture and also made provision for
the people to vote for either the man
ager or department system. The ques-
tiOns therefore. for the voters 10 de-
termine are. first. shall the city adopt
the commission form of government? :?
Second, If so. shall it adopt the man.
ager or the department system? Nat
urally. the voters will want TO know
the difference between the two sys-
terms. will now, try to explain.
| If the manager system is adopted
then a Mayor will be elected in the
month of August at a salary Of three
hundred dollars per annum (the same
amount the Mayor is paid under the
present system. and two councilmen
VIII be elected at salary OF two hun
dred dollars each. making total Of
seven hundred dollars in salaries for
all.
If the department system is adopt
ed, then a mayor will be elected at
salary Of twelve hundred dollars per
annum. and two councilmen at sal
airy of one thousand dollars each,
| making a total Of thirty-two hundred
! dollars in salaries for the three.
The difference in salaries between
the two systems will amount to
twenty-five hunred dollars. l believe
that the council could easily employ
a good manager for this sum. And
the city would not be out any more
| tOr salaries with the manager system,
| than it would be with the department
| system. Therefore. up to this point
the two systems are equal as to cost
The next question then is, from which
| system will the city likely derive the
most benefit. Under our present sys-
| tenn. there is no one to see that the
various employees of the city properly
perform their duties. The council is
| elected without pay. and OF course. it
| cannot be expected that they will
| neglect their lersonai business and
| look after these matters as they
| should be looked after. | do not deem
that 1t needs any argument to convince
the voters that the commission form
of government will be far prefera Bile
to the present system. Therefore, l
will not further discuss this phase Of
the question, but will briefly outline
what advantages the manager sys-
tenn has over the department system
! Under the manager system, there will
be employed a competent man who will
give his entire time in looking after
every phase of the city's business
| a. hat oil fhn ,1. ,,f
the city earn their salaries. He will
| be responsible to city council and be
subject to removal at any time. and
therefore. his position will depend up
on his efficiency and attention to his
duties. This being true. it will! GER
tally bring forth his best services. The
employees of the city knowing that
| their daily services are being con-
stantly watched by the manager and
realizing that their position will de-
pend upon their efficiency and at
tention To duty. will bring forth their
best efforts. DO you not think that
under Il system of this kind. the city
Will get great deal more for its
! money? BcCauSe, under the depart
mcnt system. there will he no one to
: daily and constantly watch the en-
ployc"S and see that they earn their
money 1t may hc argued. that un-
der the department system. the May
or and Councilmcn are required to
HAY" 50 many office hours each day.
Assuming that they would keep these
hours. would that hc of amy particular
advantage | think not. Bccausc il
iS not office hours that We need. but
We need the services of competent
man. not only To see that the en-
ploycos perform their duties, hut to