Arizona republican., 1914-05-08
Believes City Affairs Are Already Being Shaped So Phoenix Will Be Pros porous Business Institu- tion
MANY HARD
 PROBLEMS AHEAD
The Fire Department, the City Hall, the Town Ditch, Parks and Garbage IncineratOr Need Imme- diate Attention

One month ago this morning, w. A. Parish stepped into the city hall building and began doing things. The night before the new city commission had named him the first city man. ager of Phoenix and gave into his keeping practically everything that had to do with the administration of the city's affairs. Mayor. Young and the commissioners promised to help him by passing necessary ordinances and adopting resolutions, but they let it be known that, this much done, he would be expected to do the rest and to produce results
 It wasn't egotism that constrained Manager Parish to say one month ago today that he could do it.
 When l went out with a transit on my back to begin the work of con- structing the Roosevelt road" said he on April 8, T was told that I could have a 6 per cent. grade and no more. There were mountains in front of me and Roosevelt beyond. It was y- But the road is built and most peo- pie say it is a good one.
 T haven't got as much leeway in this city manager business as 1 had in the Roosevelt road proposition. The commission, and more partic- ularly the people of Phoenix, haven't allowed me a 6 per cent. grade- It's got to come pretty near being on the level, and I'm going to make 1t or quit" That was a month ago. The public is pretty familiar with the best part of those things that have transpired since Parish walked into the city hall at o'clock in the morning of April 8, waited an hour for everybody con nected with the establishment to ap- pear, and then announced that the working hours at the city hall would be, for everybody but himself. from 8 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the afternoon. It was a shock to some who had been accustomed to an extra hour in bed. Parish didn't specify his own hours. They have | of every twenty-four, Sundays in- cluded
 Tt is a difficult proposition" said Manager Parish last evening, ito re- view the work of the past month. There is more or less of chaotic condition right now, but l am striving to bring cosmos, and I know 1t Is coming.
 "The city of Phoenix is confronted by some big problems. The first is how to place her affairs upon a strictly business basis. When be- came manager, I found a frightful lack of ordination. little co-opera- ton and less system. Many depart ments were being conducted as though they were separate and distinct en- terprises. There was no systematic method of accomplishing anything.
 The wonder is that it was possible to make any kind of showing. ln- ! stead of one department being an aid to another each seemed to be
 pulling against the other. 1 do not mean that there was this spirit be- i tween the heads of the departments ! or between the employees, but the i manner in which the business Of each 1 was being conducted seemed to wors 1 to that end.
 .I am striving to consolidate rather than segregate It is really only ont gigantic business enterprise WILT
 many branches. With single execu' tive over all and one man responsipi' for every other man. the affairs ol the city are gradually being brough Kinder one system, one plan.
 For instance, there is the matter
 of the purchasing of supplies for thu i city. Heretofore. each departmen
 bought when it required somethine
 That is still done to a great extent
 tContinued on Page Three.)