Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-11-19
THE RUNNING OF A CITY.

The RUNNING Or n CITY.
The following is an article prepared
upon request for the Chicago Tribune
by Henry M. Waite of Dayton, Ohio:
Dayton, conservative and factional-
ly governed for many years, has adopt
ed the most advanced charter ever pre-
scented to an American city. Govern
ment by deficit is the best reason for
the change in administration, annual
expenditures in excess Of revenues,
inadequate control over employees, ex-
cessiye cost Of city supplies and opera
tions, failure of contracts for service
TO conform to specifications, and I'M
readiness of city officers to undertake
active leadership for the welfare of
the community Dayton had had
government sterile of all but the most
commonplace benefits, due in some
measure to official incompetence, but
in a larger way to long neglect of
their duty on the part Of its citizens.
In May, 1913, the people, by an over
whelming majority, nominated fifteen
candidates for a New Charter Com
mission, and in September the City
Manager Plan, under new charter,
was adopted The Commission organ
lied soon after election and as its first
step, selected the City Manager, who in
turn named the Directors of the sew
era departments in the city as gov
erned by the charter, these appoint
ments being confirmed by the Com
mission The City Manager Admin
istration began its official task January
!, 1913. The people are mauifesting
an almost unbelievable amount Of in
terest in the affairs Of their city gov
eminent and apparently are entirely
satisfied with the results shown thus
far.
The business form Of government is
proving much less expensive because
the Manager is empowed and has
chosen men for their efficiency only.
This allows business methods to be
established and savings made by re-
ducing forces; and business methods
substituted in the purchase of ma
terials; and in the consolidation of the
government into five departments, Ser.
vice, Safety Welfare, Finance and
Law
The organization of the Department
of Finance in particular has been per
fected and is rs thorough, as eff.
cient and as up-to-date as the best &C.
counting system in any private man.
ufacting corporation. In keeping with
this advance in the Finance Depart
ment, all other departments are being
organized There is, everywhere in
the city service, that spirit of co.
operation and earnest desire to serve
the people which was not universally
evident in the past
Before a city is ready to consider
the question of a change in govern
meut, the citizen should be given an
, opportunity to know many Of the facts
concerning their own city, which can
be accomplished only through an etIi-
cient organization Of municipal ex-
perts. l refer to such an organization
as the Bureau Of Municipal Research
which operated in Dayton for a year
before any effort at a charter-reyision
campaign was even considered.
This Bureau made detailed in
vestigation and surveys Of AN city
departments, thereby furnishing ma
terial which served as a basis upon
which to build the new charter. also
material necessary for publicity pur-
poses during the charter campaign.
The charter commissions are thor
oughly imbued with the idea that in
! efficient government is due 70 badness
of methods rather than badness Of
men; and as remedia IS have pro-
mulgated a purchasing department.
the granting of franchises, public inn
provements and other subjects. Only
the five departments mentioned are