The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-11
BUSINESS METHODS FOR CITIES.

form Of city government. the form that
will yield the best practical aud husi-
ness results. must be form which Will
invest some one individual with tho
supreme executive control. as business
manager or superintendent. We are
confirmed in this belief, not only on
the general proposition involved. this
being that one individual, supreme in
authority and control is found to be the
best method of managing enormous
business interests Of all kinds. but be-
cause of incffeciivenoss in other meth
DDS We see instances of the benefits
OF single control in the huge railroad
mercantile. and mining enterprises of
the country. AS applied locally, we
have seen the benefit Of the Hartman
control in railroads; we see the benefit
in the Z. c. NJ. 1 of the undisputed
control OF one manager; we see in great
mining enterprises. not only the advan.
tage, but the positive necessity, Of hav-
ing one individual in control and man.
agement, responsible to the stockhold.
ers only for what he does, Just as
municipal manager would be responsible
TO the citizens of city.
A large number of these private or
| corporate enterprises are of very much
greater Importance and wider ramifica-
tions than is the business of city like
this. and tho benefits Of having a sim
gle manager in control would be lust
as great in city affairs as they are in
other business affairs; for after all, the
public affairs OF city are receivable
into business conditions, straight, clear,
| and undisputed. 1t is the business OF
handling the revenues of the city, Of
disbursing them TO the best advantage
for the general interest, and of so econ
omizing as to serve the taxpayers in
terests in the best possible manner. All
these points are precisely the same as
those involved in the management Of a
great business in railroads, in mer-
chandising, in mining. or in any other
huge enterprise. Divided counsel in
these great enterprises would be intol~
erable. 1t would be intolerable in city
affairs if the taxpayers of the city took
the same keen, lively, and personal In.
tcrest in the management Of their mu-
nicipal affairs and the expenditure Of
the public money that the stockholders
do in the management Of their great
enterprises where they have single
manager or superintendent at the head
of the affairs Of such concern.
We are reminded especially Just now
of the necessity of a single manage
ment in Salt Lake City, on seeing the
contests between the different depart
ments of the city government to get as
much money to spend as possible in
these different departments. 1t is the
most natural thing in the world that
this should be so, for every commission
or wants to make a showing as favor
able as possible for his department and
for himself He wants TO show that he
is doing something. and that his depart
ment is important and deserving Of the
support and approval of the people. We
commend this feeling in every one Of
the commissioners, and we note that it
is lively feeling, and that each one of
the commissioners strives to the extent
of his ability to get the utmost appor-
tionmcnt possible of public money for
use in his department AS long as men
are constituted the way they are, and
as long as public approval is a matter
of concern. as it naturally is, we shall
see precisely this condition; every COM
missioner will want to do the utmost
that he can, and TO mako the best show
ing of ability. of enterprise and Of ac-
complishment that is possible.
But that very feeling, which is in
itself commendable, that very desire.
that is so laudablc. TO gain public ap-
proval by good and conspicuous public
service, may be, and just now is, ham
pering the general public interests.
There are certain things that ought to
be done right now in this city, that il
is difficult to do because the general
revenues Of the city are divided into
fragmentary parts, and where the need
is greatest the sum OF money that can
be had 10 do the work that is needed is
not aVaIlabie, because OF the very com
mendable efforts in other departments
10 get money to make showing of
good service for themselves and for the
departmental work which is under their
control.
There is great need, for instance, of
an emergency supply Of water for i'm
mediate needs in case of any great or
conspicuous calls. The insurance situa-
tion is such that until this emergency
supply Of water, Immediately available
at need, is provided, insurance rates are
not likely to be lowered The provid-
ing Of an emergency supply of water
is something that could be done easily
if the whole resources OF the city we're
available for that purpose, and other
work put over for the present. But un-
der the division as made of rnnn;c;nol