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

DAYTON, March 1.-THE success
of Henry M. Waite, City Manager,
has aroused all sorts of interest in
Dayton's experiment
Waite has been boss of Dayton
since the first of the year-a legally
constituted, responsible, removable
boss. with directing and controlling
power, and drawing a salary of $12,-
500 a year.
Under their new charter the peo-
ple of Dayton do not elect their boss
directly. The people, at a short bal
lot election, choose a commission of
FIVE and the man getting the highest
vote for membership in the commits
sion wins the title of Mayor, and a
salary of 81 800 a year, as compared
with the $1,000 of his four associates.
The commission acts as the legislative
body, and it elects the City Manager
and fixes his salary. He then be-
comes the executive. the appointer of
minor off1cials-the boss.
Took Office January I.
Waite began work January /. His
first task was to pick five department
heads whom he had the power to APP
point subject to the commissions APP
prevail.
The five departments are those of
Service-streets, waterworks. sewers.
public utilities; Safety-police, fire
department, building inspection,
weights and measures; Law-the
Citv Counselor, Finance-account-
ing, purchasing, treasury; and We'll
fare-charities, corrections. recreation
parks, Fairgrounds, hospitals.
There was no politics in my APP
pointments," said Waite. Naturally
not being acquainted In Dayton,
needed suggestions, and the commits
sion gave me lists of men whom they
thought qualified for three of the po-
sitions, and l went over the lists with
them. and made my selections as soon
as | could
Pastor Is Director.
The position of Director of Wei
fare is the one which relates to what
is called the human side of city gov
eminent as distinguished from its
strict business side. For this place
named the Rev. D. Frank Garland,
Lutheran clergyman, who resigned MS
church work to accept the dlreetor-
ship.
AS Director of Law one Of the
drafters of the Dayton charter was
named, one of our foremost lawyers
who sacrificed his business interests
ii. order to accept the place.
las Director of Finance | named
Young man who had been connected
with several business institutions In
Dayton, and who was member OF
firm of public accountants.
All Men Trained.
we have trained men in each line
of work That means merely that we
have put business principles into Ell
feet in our city government. me
three requisites for tenure of office In
Dayton to-day are efficiency, economy
and loyalty.
Every day the directors and the
city manager have meeting, lasting
usually for an hour.
mo form of government is of much
value unless the citizens take an In
terest in its workings. The biggest
thing | can hope to do for Dayton
this year is to get the people inter-
ested. When that is done our prob
lens will be solved. In everything
we do for the city we want the cltl-
zens back of us, and in this way we
hope to show them that they have the
ability to govern themselves and 10
make profitable job of it"
To Marry Soon.
Waite, who is not yet As, is ma
tive of Ohio and son of the late
Chief Justice Waite, of the United
States Supreme Court. He Is to be
married in four weeks to Miss Mary
Brown, of Lexington Ky.