The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-29
DR., DENNIS FIGHTS
MUNICIPAL BUREAU
Earlham Professor Believes
MayOr-Elect Robbins
Is Efficient.
OPPOSES NEW PLANS
Urges Opponents Not to
Hamper New Executive
Head of City.
OPPOSES NEW PLANS

Dr. David w Dennis, member OF
the Earlham college faculty and one
of the city's most public spirited citi-
Zens, issued a statement today urging
that the new city administration not
be hampered in the governmental re-
forms it has promised. He expresses
the opinion that Mayor-elect Robbins
is competent to perform the tasks
imposed upon him and will be able to
make good"
DR.. Dennis statement is apparently
in opposition to plan for the creation
of municipal bureau in charge of an
expert, which project is being serious
ly considered by a number of the city s
most Influential citizens, and which
has received the Endorsement of
Mayor-elect Robbins after he person
ally inspected the work of the Dayton
municipal bureau.
Such bureaus do not conflict with
the work of city officials but merely
serve to render expert advice and ser
vices to them, consequently making
them valuable agencies in placing the
administration of city affairs on an eff
ficiency basis. This fact was what ap-
pealed to Mr.. Robbins and City At
torney Bond and led to their advo-
cacy of the plan,
Statement of Dennis.
DR.. Dennis statement follows:
We are having much talk now
about the efficiency commission, but
this commission would do just exactly
what the new mayor said he would do
If we elected him. We elected him;
and if Mr. Robbins had been at the
Commercial Club banquet he would
have certainly found out, if he didn't
know it before, that we did not elect
him because he was a Progressive,
but because he promised us an honest,
competent, business administration of
the city's affairs. He has said that he
is going to appoint the best men he
can find to every place under him. He
probably meant by best men" the
ones who could do and would do the
work they were appointed to do we'll
and economically.
Asks Explanation.
Is not this what the commission
would do if we hired one for $1,000
or any other sum?
And what evidence, until after he
was tried, would we have that chair
man of a commission would do this
better than the mayor would?
The mayor says he is going to give
his entire time to the business of the
city; that he is going to see that the
men who haul or garbage work ten
hours a day for ten hours pay. May
be he will do this. We would not
want the chairman of our commission
to do more thant this.
Give Him Good Chance.
MIR. Robbins has gone over in de-
tail all along the line and promised
that very efficiency and economy
which we want. We have but to give
him the chance to do it.
1T was one competent, honest man
that built the Panama canal for mil
lions of dollars less than the esti-
mated cost without Il whisper of graft
in it. commission OF seven men
was tried and they could not do it. It
pas reduced to three, and they could
not When Roosevelt wanted to stop
the leaks in the public service he
appointed commission after commits
sion to look into every department
of teh government and find out where
savings would be effected. These
commissions consisted OF his own sub
ordinates. and they acted without pay
Patriotic men they were, who did il
for the good of their country, If the
mayors subOrdinateS are the kind OF
men | think they Will be, they will as
sst him in every way to make the
city government the best ever. II
he needs experts. as he probably will
he can find them, if he wants to. cheap
er than we can Every great business
is run by one man. chosen for the pur
pose by its directors. who make hin
responsible, We have one mayor tc
have charge of our business who has
made us fair promises. all we coulC
ask; now let's give him chance;
stand by him, help him all We can, ant
make him chiefly responsible for re
suits"