Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-08

Plan OIL JOnn Purr0y Mltcnel, Tor In
vestigating Problems, Soon to
Be Considered.
The District Commissioners today
stated that they have not as yet had
an opportunity to go fully into the de-
tails of the John Purroy Mitchell plan
for a systematic survey of the District
of Columbia, including every phase OF
municipal control and government. but
that the matter is to be taken up at the
earliest possible moment.
At the conference held at the White
House yesterday between Presldent
Wilson and the District Commissioners
the President suggested that the Com
missioners make a careful study OF the
Mitchell plan, which was suggested at
a conference at the White House
March rs last between President Will
son and Mr.. Mitchell, who was president
Of the board of aldermen of New York
city, and Henry Bruere of the munich
pal research bureau of New York.
The survey plan contemplates a
of the District government. including
school management, administration of
the police and fire departments, handling
of street Improvement funds, systematic
extension of streets. inspection of foods
and, in fact all the activities of muni-
cipal government and administration, in
Guiding a consideration of the vice
problem
At the original conference between
President Wilson and Messrs. Mitchell and
Bruere the statement was made that
municipalities waste from ID to % per
cent of their annual revenues in ill-con-
sfdered Improvement work or by reason of
poor administrative methods. A prominent
feature of the Mitchell survey plan is to
institute careful examination of meth
DDS of expenditure, so as to locate bad
methods and to correct them, with the
view to securing one dollars worth for
every dollar expended: in other words, to
raise the present limit of efficiency to
such a point that it will closely approx
mate 100 per cent instead of, say, IS per
cent.
Outline of Mitchell Plan.
The brief for the plan of John Purroy
Mitchell left with the President is as fol-
lows:
America has heretofore been conducted
Il
in accordance with improvised or tradi-
tional rules of thumb. One result of this
condition is that there is wasted in the
operation of American cities from 10 to
% per cent of available funds. Another
result Is that there is no special body of
technic developed for the performance of
municipal functions. Germany has been
because conditions governing the opera
tons OF German cities have enabled ad-
minstrators to work out and transmit a
method of government.
In American city government method
has been matter of opportunism Re-
cent improvement in municipal methods
In American cities has resulted chiefly
from taking over into the municipal
field practices worked out in private
enterprise. But only in very limited
degree are the practices Of private
business applicable to municipal or
other government activities. Thus, in
such cities as New York and Philadel-.
phia there Is beginning experimental.
t1on by efficiency engineers and others
In the technic OF public business
There are now in the United States
no more conspicuous Social phenomena
than in the rise of the new standards
Ior city government. Throughout the
united States cities are striving for
and citizens are demanding efficiency.
Confronted with the problem of how
to obtain 1t. American communities are
discovering that efficient government
Is more than desires of citizens and
good intentions of officials AS one in
dfcation of the spreading demand for
help In applying them, requests sub
m1tted to the New York bureau OF
municipal research may be recited
Demand for Expert Service.
"over the country civic clubs, bust
ness mems organizations city officials
and private citizens are continually
asking for expert services and informa-
ton of expert ways. Since January ]
citizens OF Portland. Ore; Denver. Mil.
waukee. Atlanta, Indianapolis. Spring.
field. Mass, and Waterbury, Conn, hay,
provided funds to obtain the services OF
the bureau in recognising the methods
of their government.
There Is no city in the United States
whose organization. program and method.
may be pointed to as a model admins
tration for others to copy. For many
of the activities OF government no mode
practices have anywhere been worked GU
in the United States. There is a demane
for practical examples of method, anc
results are shown by the fact that IL
In part or in the entirety. New York
recently modernized accounting system.
In view of the spreading demand fol
efficient government, 1t is proposed tina,
the President and Congress undertake t.
make the government Of WASHINGTON
serve as a model for every American cit,
In scope Of activity, organization ant
method OF operation. 1t is as fmportan
to the people of the United States tha
the government help localities in workin.
out unsolved administrative problems Of
public cooperation as it is that 1t aiG
commerce or agriculture. The conspicu
Gus position Of Washington will make
practical demonstrations In that city OF
especial value in influencing local gov
ernments throughout the country. Tn,
vast technical resources of the fedora
government should provide for the devel
opment OF administrative practice il
Washington expert service without tn,
reach OF most American communities.
I'm particular, 1t Is proposed that In tn,
District OF Columbia a plan Of organiza
ton and methods Of operation susceptible,
OF definite prescription and PRONUNCIATION
be formulated and Installed in respect Of
such activities as the following: Cit,
planning. public works. supervision o.
housing and building. financial methods
health activities. administration of pub
lie charities, systems of correction, schoo
administration. administration of police
fire department administration, super
vision OF weights and measures, organiza
tons Of food supply. including q marke
system and civil service.
Departments Of Activity.