Arizona republican., 1915-03-16
The Browning Fiasco

The removal the attempted removal of City Manager Parish by the commission yesterday appropriate. It Inc consistent crowning farce, Uhs judgment of the commission, that the city manager is ncompetent) of all the proceedings before the commission instituted by several former employees of the city who had been discharged by the manager for the good of the servlce. After the entertainment of these charges and after the ridiculous character of the trial The Republican had doubt, and believe majority of the people of Phoenix surmised what the denouement would be. We should have been much sur prsed yesterday if the verdict of the commission had different.
 The previous unfrendy attitude of at least three members of the commission toward the city manager was d matter of common knowledge. It Was also a matter common knowledge that the unfrendiness of majority of the members of the commission grew of the city managers re- sentiment of their attempted interference with his duties, plainly prescribed by the charter and his disregard the desire of the members of the com mission for the appointment of certain persons to positions and the retention of certain persons in positions, in spite of the charter provisions that such employees were to be appointed discharged as the judgment the city manager alone might dictate.
 Il ihg there would have been charges hearing ana no attempted removal. We do not think the voters of Phoenix want city manager who is weak and yielding and who would consent to perver- sion of the purpose of the charter
 This attitude of the commission toward the manager afforded an opportunity to ward politicians. all of whom have been arrayed against the city manager in this controversy. It is said also that hatu xv1nr, and the city treasury, the city manager had stood
 As to the comparative merits and qualifications of City Manager Parish and Robert A. Craig who has been named by the commission city mana ger we have nothing to say beyond this, that 10th are well qualified The Republican has no special interest in either of these gentlemen piuch bigger question than the identity Of the per son holding the office of city manager involved 1t is the form substance of the city marager system to which The Republican is committed and in which it has full faith, believing that it is the only system so far devised, which guarantees free dom from partisan politics. waste and inefticency in municipal affairs. There is involved also the right the commission to set aside the provisions o1 the charter by assuming duties with which neither the charter the people who elected them trusted them
 Knowing that this would be the end of the proceedings far the commission could be concerned The Republican has been impatient for the commission to arrive at it as quickly as poss- lle in order that matter might the sooner be brought to {; decision before q proper tribunal before tribunal of the people; ill order that we might know whether Phoenix is unprepared for such reform in municipal government as has been found beneficial in advanced communities whether we afflicted with congenita. weakness that must leave prey to partisansnp, small prejudice, nefficency and possibly corrup tion.