The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-10
COMPARISON OF TWO CITIES
SHOWS MANY THINGS
BETTER HERE.
Practically Everything Secured In
the Ohio City Under New Gov
eminent, 10 Here.

tcl dNdhtneu IN TINS city, IN the lay
ton form OF government. otherwise
known as the General Manager
City Government" certain persons
have made comparisons. including
the city officials to see II, under the
Dayton government. that city is
prohting more than Wheeling. So
far as comparisons 60. this city has
everything, II not more and better,
than the Ohio city. and shows n bet
ter record ON the financial side.
Below will be found a comparison.
made by the mayor and members of
the Board OF Control. showing where
there are any differences, etc. The
comparison follows:
About two weeks ago. Mr.. Waite. gen
eral manager OF the city of Dayton.
came to this city through invitation. TO
tell US what general manager city gov
eminent had done for that city.
FIRST OF all. let Il be understood that
We have no quarrel with Mr. Waite. and
We certainly are not surprised that he
pis-hm.nta som r,isr os 800 IN MS accom-
going TO show him the courtesy. to
grant that all he said was free from
prove or reflect the efficiency OF MI
adrninistersf With such a system-aii
power concentrated In one-it IL evil
dent efficiency must vary with the
varying degrees OF capabIiity and in
tegrtty OF general managers appointed
20 time. Manifestiy. therefore. such a
system must ebb and flow between good
and bad. Just a. the directors hit or
miss In their selection OF the man who
rules.
1t would be . most palpable absurd
ity 10 claim n general manager OF q
city Is sure TO bring about the highest
only como when the ideal man is se-
lected. Can these city directors make
no mistaken Do the directors OF pri-
Nate business make no mistakes IN Sc
Letting a general manager7 They GER
tainly do. and frequently, notwith-
standing they have their good hard
managed: whereas the city directors
have no more actually and directly in
vested than the humbiest citizen. When
man makes the government PARTLY had:
but when power Is concentrated in one.
one bad man makes the government
MAKO Compar1son-
However. this Is not what We started
out to do. We only intended 20 make
a brief comparison OF Wheeling today
under the system in operation. and that
OF Dayton under the general manager
speech.
| of IS cents on the hundred dollars.
This Is considerably less than Dayton.
In Dayton, staff conferences are held
each week with heads OF departments
partments meet the board OF control
each morning and discuss conditions.
heads OF different Department. al the
| same time issuing acquisitions for sup
plies. explaining fully the necessity OF
/ such supplies, the board making rus-
chases OF such supplies under competi-
tive bidding. In Dayton they did NOT
borrow money last year for operating
debtedness. Wheeling last year did not
borrow n dollar 10 pay current OF oper-
ating expenses. and paid off outstand-
| ing orders amounting TO 33i.s99.i9.
in Dayton street car service has
/ been improved The street car service
in Wheeling has been improved 500 per
cent in ten years. and substantially ths
started in Dayton City lots and pri-
vate property in Wheeling have been
sSsned SOSr to Do Park and PIAys50T md
! highway to success
| In Dayton measures are being taken
SarSsse, In WhesIinS Earbax. ' eoiie CT
surpassed by any city IN the United
ono. week instead q sprinkiins ses as
previously. In Wheeling streets in bus
mess district are flushed twice a week,
unsanitary sprinkiinE years ago. In
| Dayton the health department has done
good work. In wheeling the health de-
partment has done better work. as per
Better water System.
"sIn Dayton they are setting 20 WORK
I 20 improve a much dilapidRted and In
| adequate water system. In Wheeling
| the water system has been improved
the last few years 20 an extent that the
! city r. not out Of water n minute in the
J sss days Of the year. but like Dayton
has no filtration system as yet. As 20
: invite comparison with Dayton as "a
actual. practical results in fire fighting.
A. to efficiency OF our police depart
| ment we have simply 90 point 10 the
fact that crooks and thieves regard
! Wheeling as the least inviting field Of
any city IN the country. Dayton not eN-
| cepted.
In Dayton monthly financial state
| mcnt r. published. In Wheeling the
city auditor audits tho city books
monthly and tho board Of control rem
/ derr a monthly statement showing z
, amount appropriated for each depart
| ment the amount expended. balances.
/ and also contractuai liability Day
| toms bonded indebtedness f. oveT
| 81. 900. 900. WheelinE's bonded indebt-
edne.s o. only a little over 81 900. 900.
/ WheeiinR's financial status e. 81 the
/ highest order a. evidence by her bonds
| ranking among the most deEirf 80 u1u-
nicipai bonds on the bond market.
/ I'm view 81 the above cOnnpari son.
does ~ appear that Wheeling should
! feel particularly ashamed 81 herseS or
! that there is burning necessity for
revolution IN our system o. municipal