The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-26
HOW THE CITY MANAGER PLAN
WAS HANDICAPPED.
1hree Com snts ON the Uusatisfao.
tory kspesencc OF sumter, n. c.,
With the Commls, g. u Manager Plan
Under Defective Charter.

To the Editor OF The American City:
Replying to your inquiry regarding
sumter's city manager. take pleas
nre In giving yot the following infor-
nation.
Sumter has had no city manager
since November 1, 1914, when Major
w. y. Robertson. our last city man
ager. resigned. He went to Green
Vile. 8. c.. from Sumter as manag-
Ing secretary OF the Greenville
Chamber of Commerce.
Just why Major Robertson resign
ed Ia not positively known. A great
many people. the writer included, be-
heve that he quit because he felt
that the ONCE OF city manager In Sum-
ter was not accomplishing what it
cost. and that ne was handicapped in
different ways. chief among them be-
ing the lack OF money In the city
treasury with which to do anything
that required the services OF a city
manager at $4,000 a year.
IL was given out to the newspape
last November that there WOULD be no
city manager elected to succeed Maj
or Robertson before the spring Of
1915. as there were no important pub
lie improvements to be made before
April. 1916. The city had no money
with which TO do anything until the
aoutting property taxation plan Of
paving our streets could be decided by
the voters of South Carolina under a
costitutioal amendment. and. until af-
ter the voters of Sumter could vote TO
settle tho question of increasing Sum-
ter's bonded Indebtedness fifteen per
cent for street improvements This
election for the voters OF Sumter has
never heeu held. The Chamber Of
Commerce has instructed the writer
as managing secretary. to circulate n
petition to be signed by a majority OF
the freeholders. authorizing the hold
Ing OF this special election.
Il know OF nothing that was accom-
plished under the commission-manag-
or government In Sumter that really
demonstrates the superiority of this
form Of municipal government to the
old form, OF city government. Mr.. NJ.
M. Worthington our first city manag-
err had published a very lengthy ar
ucie setting forth some wonderful
achievements Of hts administration: {:
but why the City Council should have
allowed such a wonder at s2.40O a
year to 90 and replace him with an
other man at $4,000 year Is hard to
understand f's' -.
The citizens OF Sumter with whom
i have talked-and heard a great
many express themselyes--seem to
wonder what-a city with no money to
accomplish anything but necessary re-
pair work and ordinary municipal
necessities. wanted with a high priced
city manager. anyhow.
Major Robertson and Mr.. Worth
ington were very clever men. 1 feel
satisfied that either OF them. with
money TO do things with. could have
accomplished n great deal. But while
Sumter Mas had city manager or
two. don't consider that Sumter ever
really had the city manager system"
I'm fact.
What mean is this: am convinc-
ed that Major Robertson and Mr..
Worthington didn't feel that they had
any real authority or control over
anybody or anything. The mayor and
the other two commissioners never
gave the city managers adequate au-
thority to do things on their own
Initiative. They didn't have proper
control over the subordinates or de-
partments. The city manager did
what one or more commissioners told
him To do.
The form OF government. by any
name. is a matter OF considerable i'm
portanco, OF course: but. after all. the
'"'" 'hihs ~ getting the right kind
OF men at the head-the mayor and
eounciimen. mean. rather like the
idea OF cutting down the city council
to. say. five men. Sumter has a mav-
OF and two councilmen. / don't fancy
three men.
III two OF the three have a great
deal OF private business OF their own,
they are likely to let the city's bust
ness wait and suffer. out of five men
you can always count on a sufficient
number of men to have a quorum
and to interest themselves In the city's
affairs. Three men are too much in
clined TO run the city along telephone
and curb lines TO suit me.