Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-19
poino and Pretending.


York to give business administration
of the city's affairs, without regard 10
politics, and that, in so far as J nave
the ability and the power, propose to
do."-John Purroy Mitchell, mayor
elect of New York city.
Mayor-eleet Mitchell is asking ques-
lions of would-be occupants or nom
competitive exempt" positions His
nurpose is to fill all places with men
best fitted for the jobs, regardless OF
politics. In the past. political use oil
s'exempt" positions in the city has
er,nnled the civil service. That Is
true of state and nation. With May
or-elect Mitchell every man must
come recommended by responsible
men or firms and, first, show results
secured in similar positions, re-
suits secured in other positions, ex-
perience In similar positions" expe-
rience in other positions" training
for similar positions" general htness
for position" general education,
character and reputation. person
atty, age and physical fitness. Eaeh
one of these is given requirement
percentage the total reaching NV
There are other questions and require
nents. and these positions are "ex-
enpt, from the civil service.
If such system could be carried
out by city, county, state and nation
and men always elected to executive
office without any strings Of friends
attached to them. our government
would be a world model. II john
Purroy Mitchell can carry out his ideal
he will have accomplished much. al
most as much as Theodore Roosevelt
accomplished as police commissioner
of New York city, when he put mean
ing into the excise laws. But, ike
Roosevelt, Mitchell must be sneered
at and earn the hatred of the saloon
notifies and its ramihcations into ev-
cry affair OF the great CITY.
Roosevelt, when he ordered the sa-
Icons closed according to law for
four hours, between l A. NJ. and .
A. NJ, became the butt of all gioes
and sneers, and an army of thousands
of police paid no heed to his orders,
openly defed him. 1t could not be
done" The saloon interests laughed
.,lld jeered. did he expect to make
little old New York country vii
lager" The United States army was
the only factor. they said, that could
close the saloons of New York-as they
now say of proposed national prohi-
bition.
Young Mr.. Roosevelt set forth to
pace the streets of New York after
/ A. NJ. every morning. When he
met a patrolman on a beat where sa-
looms were not closed, he took the Of
ficer's name and number and laconic-
ally ordered him to report at Mr..
Roosevelt's Office next day.
The army was not needed. The men
higher up" in the police department
were aghast. The politicians ana
thugs were frantic One after another
they came down on their knees to the
grim man of courage and law-but the
saloons were closed. And neither the
army nor even the local military we're
called out. The only element to sub
due was grating, thieving thugs
placed in the police force by the sa-
loon political system, and show them
that there was virtue in the law and
that decency had some rights.
Mayor Mitchell may be able to give
New York city clean, business ad-
courage, character and physical pow
er to dominate the situation.
Down in Pennsylvania, "a cities have
been working under the commission
government plan for two weeks. Our
interest is excited by the experiment.
Are they going to rely wholly on the
PLAN or on SCIENTIFIC BUSINESS
METHODS?
Changing the label does not change
the medicine. Commission government
is not cure-all for municipal ills,
but 1t can be used to cure them if
applied in the right way.
The real trouble with municipal
government has been that officials
have lacked information on how best
TO conduct the work of their depart
ments.
The new commissions have great
power. The plan they must admins
ter is very general Is it not true that
expert assistance would be helpful?
How many departments can you
think of that have been efficiently
managed? How are your city supplies
bought? How are your records kept?