Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-02-27
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TALK
NUMBER 2
By L H. /
EFFICIENCY

Oh1uiooh0 AOAdAs
That the people may obtain from this charter all the
rights, benefits and blessings, it is fitting and proper that
some thought should come into the possession of the people
how they can use it to the best advantage, to bring to them
selves the benefits of this instrument.
It is a well known fact that id many of the arts and
sciences every day new methods are being adopted, new tools
invented, new nstruments being devised, and made use of to
relieve suffering, and promote the general welfare; III fact lift
humanity to a higher and nobler plane of living.
What would be thought of a mechanic or a surgeon who
having put into his hand a new tool, should so misuse itas to
make it abortive, not only would the craft with which he was
identified cry out against the perversion but merited censure
would fall upon him or them that would hold back the onward
march.
It is true that a new tool in the hand of the skilled work
man will produce better results than in that Of a novice and
acting on that suggestion I here speak to the merit of one
phase of the matter of municipal government viz: efficiency,
how best can we work to get the results from this tool of
government.
1t has been we'll said that Eternal Vigilance is the Price
of Liberty" so in municipal government, we find that con.
slant care and watchfu1ness are the foundations upon which
rest the outcome Of our home government. Eternal vigilance
being translated means militant citizenship, that people
must Of necessity famiiarize themselves with the workings of
their government, must spend their nights and days If needs
be to follow up those whom they have entrusted to do their
work. What would you think of a business man, after hiring
his help, never looked after them, or kept IN touch with what
they were doing-but one result could come from such a
state of affairs, that's bankruptcy; under this tool of govern
ment the people themselves are charged with doing, suggest
ing or passing ~uponwhat they want done thru the initiative,
referendum and recall; heretofore citizens have felt that when
thew elected a person their work was done, SO it was under the
old form OF borough government, BUTT is changed now, and we
must be on duty else those charged with doing the work will
do it In their own sweet way without that consideration of
T alrinfefests which should be the governing thought in the
matter; the employees will run the government if they don't
have supervision in a manner that will keep them in office
and the taxpayer out of pocketrecklessnes and extravaganza
will prevail to such heights that finally in sheer desperation
the stakeholder in the municipal corporation maddened at the
waste, rises in righteous indignation and casts out the money
changers; this they do systematically, when as a matter of fact
if they kept constantly in touch with their own affairs every
dav or everv month, such results could not come.
Just as the successful business man seeks to keep in
touch with his business, so must the municipal stockholders
realize now that he must in order that he will obtain an ef6c-
lent service in the management of his municipal affairs; waste
must be eliminated and it can only be done in the manner in
dictated; it does not require a diploma from a college or a high
school course to qualify you to become an interested partisan
in your home government; the same rules you apply in your
business or which are applied in any successful business, if
applied to the solution of the problems confronting you in
your own home government will as efectually produce good
results in that line as in another one.
Who would think of hiring a man to work for a wage
solely on the grounds that he was a good fellow" or that he
had 'done you a favor or that he might do you a favor"
How long could any business be conducted successfully along
those lines; why its the height of absurdity, its ridiculous for
men to talk that way, say nothing of acting that way.
That's boys play-men should solve problems in munich
pal government in a different mannerI know several firms
and business men who have men in their employ for whom
they personally bear no love, but they hire them for their
skill and ability to produce results, and they do, that's the
business test that must be applied to those who desire to serve
the municipality and when that test is applied, then you OBJ
tain the skilled workman, you get efficient help, you get div
idends in lower taxes; you ask how are we to tell or Judge
whether the applicant for the position will measure up to the
standard of efficiency, / answer in the same way and manner
that the business man employs, he does not always happen
to be successful the first time he goes to market, but he keeps