The Donaldsonville chief., 1913-03-22


been in operation here, the system
has worked smoothly and with a de-
gree of satisfaction that has been, to
say the least Of it, comforting.
A feature Of the new government
which I have had frequent occasion
recently to observe and to approve,
is the remarkable facility and ex-
petition with which under it's: opera
tions the business of the city is han
died. I know of nothing within my
experience to compare with it in this
respect
A G. Kicks, Commissioner of Fl
nance: From my obserya-
tion and study in this limited time,
/ can conscientiously say that / feel
the new system is going to result in
satisfaction to the people and be
largely advantageous to the best in
terests of the city and the advance
ment of its Well-being as whole.
There is apparently a great ad-
vantage in the concentration of the
managerial forces of the municipal
machinery, through the greater facil-
ity with which the multiplicity of
matters can be handled by one re-
sponsible head to each department
with the advice, cooperation and ap-
proval of the four others, each rep
resenting the entire community at
large, instead of having to submit
every question to council composed
of a large number, each of whom rep.
resents d ward or locality interest,
which must necessarily bias them in
their efforts toward the betterment
of their constituents. even to the ne
glect, if not detriment, of the other,
sections and interests.
In my own department, that Of
public finance. | find already that
this concentration of ideas Is result
ing in the evolving Of methods and
policies feel sure will in time en-
able the citysfto meet it's obligations
as they become due, instead of hay
ing their payment delayed from
month to month, and accommodating
even a greater. legacy of Indebtedness
as time passes, believe the finan-
cial, as well as the general affairs of
a city, like every private financial or
commercial enterprise, should be run
on practical business lines, with re-
sponsible an6sseapable head, under
whose direction and advice a eompe-
tent corps Of operatives carry out
ti.e details, 6 llse who will he
responsible for the results. Intrusted
with this kind of responsibility a
conscientious and capable man should
and would have pride in making a
success of his stewardship that could
not fail to be applauded by the peo-
pie who have. intrusted him with the
handling and management of their
affairs. -
Harold w. Newman, Commissioner
of Public Safety: :. As far
as I have gone am encouraged in
the belief that much in the direction
of an improved public service can be
effected by concentration Of authority
and with it the placing of responsible
ity.''
Edward E. Lafaye, Commissioner
of Public Property: I believe
from my observation and experi-
ence thus far, which, of course,
has as yet been very limited, that
the operation Of the commission form
of government will be far more salts
factory to the public in general than
the former system operative here, be-
cause of the fact that it concentrates
| legislative authority within a few
| number of individuals, and places di-
rectly on each the responsibility for
his actions.
1T affords the citizens interested in
| legislative matters an opportunity to
discuss in person with that single in
dividual who is to report on said mat
| ter, and whose recommendations are,
as a rule, adopted. By reason of this
operation, the passage of necessary
Legislation is undoubtedly expedited.
81 believe also that the commission
charter, in adding, as it does, the ex-
ecutiVe branch of the government to
for corrections in the general man
agement of the city's affairs which
in a comparatively short time will
rebound to efficiency and economy
and to the general good of the
municipality
w. B. Thompson, Commissioner OF
Public Utilities. There
can be no question as to the sound
ness of the theory upon which the
merit Of the commission system OF
| government is claimed. The concen-
tration of authority and responsible.
Iity in five individuals elected at large
and in compact organization com
posed of these five, in theory. prom
ises inevitably the minimum of waste
and the best results from govern
/ ment. y The merit of the
commission form over the other
(eouncilmanic goyernment) lies in
this: That given capable and honest
officials it is possible to obtain vast
" better results under the former
| system than under the latter"
| Miss Enid Ewing, a bright young
/ coed of the state University mass