Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-15
|,v NJ. Waite, $4,000 Head,
Works Under General Superyi-
sion Of the Five Commissioners
Intrusted With City's Affairs.
|, Chooses His Own Department
Heads-Fitness the Only Con-
sideration-Says He Does Not
Know Their Political Views.

DAYTON. March 1.-THE success
Henry NJ. Waite, City Manager,
\, aroused all sorts of interest in
Esyton's experiment.
Waite has been boss of Dayton
rce the first Of the year-a legally
Instituted, responsible, removable
ess, with directing and controlling
oFer, and drawing a salary of $12,-
si0 year.
Under their new charter the peo-
i OF Dayton do not elect their boss
5recty The people, at a short bal
b election, choose a commission OF
5Fs and the man getting the highest
oe for membership in the commits
lon wins the title of Mayor, and a
'nlary Of $500 a year, as compared
1 th the $1,000 of his four associates.
The commission acts as the legislative
/ Ndy and ii elects the City Manager
mi fixes his salary. He then be-
smes the executive, the appointer Of
minor officials-the boss.
Took Office January I.
Waite began work January 1. His
irst task was to pick FIVE department
heads whom he had the power to APP
POINT. subject to the commissions ap-
Woyal.
The five departments are those OF
Service streets, waterworks, sewers,
public utilities; Safety-police, fire
apartment. building inspection,
Teights and measures; LaW-the
City Counselor, Finance-account-
hg purchasing, treasury; and Wei
corrections, recreation
PARKS, Fairgrounds, hospitals.
There was no politics in my APP
said Waite. Naturally,
hot being acquainted In Dayton, /
needed suggestions, and the commits
don gave me lists Of men whom they
bought qualified for three of the po-
ations, and went over the lists with
them, and made my selections as soon
! could.
Pastor Is Director.
"The position of Director of We'll
are is the one which relates to what
5 called the human side of city gov
inment, as distinguished from its
trict business side. For this place !
AIMED the Rev D. Frank Garland, a
lutheran clergyman. who resigned his
hurch work to accept the director
Aip.
"As Director of Law one of the
sfters of the Dayton charter was
amed one of our foremost lawyers,
Tho sacrificed his business interests
order to accept the place.
AS Director of Finance | named a
Dung man who had been connected
nth several business institutions in
layton, and who was a member of a
nm of public accountants.
All Men Trained.
We have trained men in each line
work. That means merely that we
ave put business principles into eff
ct in our city government. The
lfee requisites for tenure of office in
ayton to-day are efficiency, economy
ID loyalty.
Every day the directors and the
" manager have a meeting, lasting
iually for an hour.
NO form of government is of much
hue unless the citizens take an in
rest in its workings. The biggest
ing | can hope TO do for Dayton
Us year IS to get the people inter
ted, When that is done our prob
ms will be solved. In everything
do for the city we want the citi-
ms back of us, and in this way we
'pe 10 show them that they have the
llity to govern themselves and to-
axe profitable job of it,
To Marry Soon.
Waite, who is not yet As. is q ma
'e Of Ohio and a. son OF the late
hef Justice Waite, of the United
ates Supreme Court. He is to be
irried in four weeks to Miss Mary
own, Of Lexington, Ky.