The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-15
CITY MANAGER PLAN.

and a half years ago by the Nationa
Municipal League, which is now IN ses
sion at Toronto, has indorsed the "city
manager plan' Of government. The
committee favors the election OF q
commission purely representative and
legislative in function, permitting the
members to give only part Of their
time TO municipal work and TO receive
nominal salaries or none, and leave the
chief executive work to manager
hired by tho commission from any
where in the country and holding Of
fee at its pleasure. This manager would
control the remaining city employees
under civil service provisions
It has been interesting to watch the
fluctuations Of opinion in this country
with reference to governing our cities.
Fifteen or twenty years ago 1t was
customary 70 elect a mayor, most of the
city officials, and city council, or two
legislative bodies. such as a board OF
supervisors and a board OF aldermen,
Under this plan boodling and graft be-
came n more or less exact science, and
il was the fashion among economists,
muck -rakers and students of municipal
affairs to blame the sins of the officials
upon the system. These critics pointed
with regret to the quiet, orderly, ef-
fcient and honest municipal government
that prevailed throughout England and
Western Europe. 1t is true that from
time to time there were faint rumors
of graft in England, France and other
countries, but muck-rakers were not en-
couragcd across the water, and we were
not able to determine whether the repu-
tation gained by European cities was
due 10 concealment or efficiency, or
both. However that may be, it seemed
to be generally agreed that our system
of government in cities was to blame
For time it was urged that practi-
cally all power should be eentered in
mayor; that he should appoint and con.
troll all the other chief officials, and
that be should be dictator whose word
would be law in the management Of all
city affairs. While this plan was un-
republican in form and wholly un-Amer-
lean in spirit, it had many advocates
among the wise and also among the
foolish, because they believed that a
mayor who was honest and capable and
possessed power to dismiss grating of
6eials at moment IS notice would be
able 10 give the inhabitants of cities
government as serviceable and as eco
nomical as was the management Of
great commercial enterprises under the
absolute control of single head. The
theory appeared to be based on solid
arguments but the practice proved dis
appointing.
From the autocratic method experts
then shifted their approval to the com
mission form of government. Some sug-
gested that the commissioners be Sc
leeted for specific departments and
some that a general ticket should be
elected, the commissioners TO divide the
departments among themselves when
they took Office. For ten years or more
this plan has been tested with varying
results. Within recent years the re-
call has been made a constituent part
Of the commission form Of government,
but the experts are not yet satisfied.
II is now proposed to combine the
sutoerstic and the commission forms Of
government. The committee Of the
municipal league would have us elect
a commission empowered TO choose
city manager. With reference to the
commission he would be simply hired
man; with reference 10 the other serv.
ants Of tho city he would be com
msnder-in-chief. He could be employed
by the city commission from any part
Of the country on the sole ground of
his fitness and knowledge OF municipal
affairs
4 little thought will show that this
system, even though it be the most per
feet yet devised by experts. would have