The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-13
By the National Municipal
League Delegates.
BETTER THAN COMMISSION
1t Already Is in Operation in
Several Towns.
One Hired Man Does All Work
of Administration.

Toronto. Nov. 13.-The city manager
plan Of the municipal government was
explained and heartily endorsed at the
18th annual meeting Of the National
Municipal league today by the special
committee appointed at the Richmond
meeting to study the program of COM
mission government and it's develop
ments. Commission government at
present rules more than seven million
persons in 800 cities and towns.
The supporters of the plan are d.
vided as to whether commissioners
should. be elected for specific posts. as
in Linn. Mass. or on a general ticket
with power to divide the departments
among themselves after election az In
Galveston and Des Moines. The COM
mittee reported that neither solution
was as sound as that offered by the
plan of electing commission purely
representative and legislative in func-
ton. permitting the members to give
only part time to municipal work and
receive nominal salaries or none and
leaving the chief executive work to a
city manager hired by the commission
from any where in the country and
holding office at its pleasure. This
manager appoints and controls the re-
adequate civil service provisions.
City Manager Plan.
The first city manager plan was
embodied in a charter prepared for
the city Of Lockport, N. Y, in 1911.
The proposition however failed to get
the approval of the state legislature.
The plan was first adopted by the leg
islature Of South Carolina for the city
Of Sumter and went into effect there
on the first of the present year. Since
then 1t has been adopted by Hickory
Mt ~ no q r
Springfield, Ohio, La Grande. Ore.
Phoenix and Morris, Mimi.
The advantages of the plan were
pointed out by the committee as fol-
lows:
'It creates a single-handed admin
istrative establishment instead of the
five separate administrative establish
ments seen in the Des Moines plan.
This administrative unity makes for
harmony among municipal depart
ments since all are subject to a COM
mon head.
''The city manager plan permits ex-
pertness in administration at the
point where it Is most valuable
namely. at the head.
1T permits comparative perman-
ence in the Office Of the chief execu-
tive.
ut permits the chief executives tt
migrate from city to city. inasmuci
as the city manager is not to be neces
sarily a resident of the city at thu
time Of his appointment.
Single-Headed Administration.
"While giving a single-headed ad
ministration, 1t abolishes the one maj
power seen in the old mayor-and
council plan. The city need not suf
fer from the personal whfms. o.
prejudices of the manager since he i
subject to instant correction or eve1
discharge by the commission. Like
wise, in the commission, each mem
ber's individual whims or prejudice
are safely submerged and averaged II
the combined judgment of the who'll
commission since no member exert
any authority In the municipal gov
of the commission.
'It abandons all attempts to choos'
administrators by popular election.
"It provides basis for better dfsci
pline and harmony, inasmuch as tn
| city manager cannot safely be at odd
| with the commission.
"It is better adapted for large cite
than the Des Mofnes plan.
I'm very small cities. by providin
the services of one well paid manage
instead of five or three paid commits
| sioners it makes possible economy i
salaries and overhead expenses.
| 1T creates positions membership i
the commission) which should be at
tractive to first class citizens