The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-02-06
Detail OF MANAGER
idea IN MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT

The manager plan of government
is attracting wide attention through
out the country. 1t will be tried in
a number of cities within the next two
or three years. People are keeping
themselves informed of the progress
and development OF the idea. They
must keep in mind that no perfect
system OF municipal government has
been devised and every system must
have behind it a we'll defined public
sentiment if it is to succeed. 1t is
freely acknowledged that municipal
government at present is cumbersome,
costly and inefficient. Such being the
case any method that promises better
ment is deserving of consideration.
In recent issue The Tribune call
ed attention to city-manager idea as
1t has taken form at Dayton, Ohio. So
many people are interested in the idea
that we herewith give the plan in
greater detail than in our previous is
sue.
Dayton has FIVE commissioners who
constitute the legislative body of the
municipality. They are elected from
and by the entire subject without re-
gard to wards or other boundaries
lAAA elN SlDySNl W lCNdll. UC COIu-
mission has given the city manager
authority to employ and discharge any
employee of any department of the
city. He may also investigate any de-
partment of the city, having power to
subpoena witnesses and examine them
under oath. The city manager has
full charge of the affairs of the city
and he alone is held responsible for
conditions. There is no way by which
he can escape blame for mistakes of
any kind
There is a centralized buying of all
city supplies; rigid adherence to a care
iully prepared and detailed budget;
continuous audit of city accounts; use
of modern mechanical appliances for
STRENGTHENING and in other depart
mentS; and a welfare department to
be i'll charge OF the divisions of health,
parks, Fairgrounds, and correctional
institutions, with particular attention
paid to housing conditions, social-bet-
terment work, and the scientific appli-
cation of public relief
The Dayton plan is supposed to be
a perfect machine to carry out the pri
ciple of responsive and efficient gov
eminent of the people. All the time
the voters will have control of their
business and will be made to feel that
it is their business to care for it. If
they don't like anything the manager
is doing, their remedy will be through
the commission, whose acts are con-
stantly in the open.
The office Of city manager is held
by Henry M. Waite, for two years
city engineer of Cincinnati, and the
salary is $12,5OO a year. The Dayton
papers say Mr.. Waite is one of the
most capable men that could have
been chosen. The managers depart
ment heads were picked for their spec
ial fitness for the jobs.
Dayton is a city of $4,000 peo-
pie. 1t is the largest city in the coun-
try that has adopted the idea. Other
towns and cities which have city man.
ayers with powers and responsible
ties similar to those of the city of Day
ton are: Abiline, Kansas; Sumpter
South Carolina Hickory and Morgan
town, North Carolina; La Grande
Oregon; Phoenix, Arizona; Morris,
Mimi; Amarillo and Terrell, Texas
Cadillac and Manistee, Michigan.