The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-26

as an individual, and l am confident
that his opinion meets with the dis
approval of most Of the members of
the Chamber 70 Commerce. Locally.
where Mr.. Reardon is we'll known.
his expressions are correctly guaged,
and l wish that your readers had the
benefit Of the light of Mr.. Reardon S
local busines reputation in considering
his letter.
1t is true that Sumter has had no
official city manager since Major
RobertsOn's resignation in November,
1914. Major Robertson resigned, as
stated in his letter to you, because the
city had no funds with which to
make permanent improvements at
that time, and, without funds, the SER
vices OF high priced executive in this
connection were not required. Major
Robertson felt this, and rendered his
resignation. Shortly afterwards, how
ever, City Council employed Mr.. L. E.
White, man Of large experience in
street construction and repairs, to
look after work on the city streets,
and to attend, in general, to details of
the work of the various city depart
ments, which might require his atten-
ton, at a smaller salary than Major
Robertson received. His services as
city manager in fact, though not in
name. have been all that the circum-
stances required, and have demon
strated the efficiency of the principle
of our plan Of municipal government.
AS to City Council and its operation,
its advantages over the old method
should be apparent even to Mr.. Rear
don. We find that with three men in
charge of the city's affairs, not only is
the responsibility centralized, and the
people of the city able to put their
finger, through the ballot box, on any
weak spot in their government, but
the mayor and councilmen themselves
feel that the matter is "up to them"
and give more and better attention
to the city's affairs than was the case
with large council and divided au-
thority. Furthermore, it is a fact in
contra a-distinction to Mr.. 'Reardon's
theory. that council of three men,
pers is a more plant body than one
OF eight or nine; they are able to hold
their meetings with more convenience,
business is more quickly dispatched,
and there Is less friction than with a
larger body.
With regard to the meetings of
City Council, which are held on the
second and fourth Tuesdays Of every
month, / have found that they are
very regularly attended, and that the
proceedings Of council are made pub
lie the day after each meeting in
our (aily newspaper. During the
tim that I have been a member of
council since the inauguration Of the
e,
the regular meetings of council have
been postponed, for good cause, only
very few times, and at every other
meeting night during the period of
three years, meetings have been reg
ularliy held. I wish to further state
that any citizen has the right, and it
Is often exercised, of coming before
council and making any request Of it
that he sees fit, either by petition or
in person. In support of these facts,
I refer Mr.. Reardon or any other per-
son interested, to the records of the
city.
AS to what the Commissions City
Manager form Of government has ac-
complished in Sumter besides the ex-
pediting Of all forms of business,
and the greater facility in the man.
agement of the various city depart
ments, / mention the following mat
ters:
The operation of the City Water
Works was altered by changing the
power used from steam to electricity
after an investigation commenced and
carried through by City Council, at an
annual saving to the city Of from ST.
500 to $2,5O0. enough to pay the city
managers salary having been saved
on this one item alone.
Liberty Street in the city of Sumter
was, for a portion of it's length
through the business center of the
city, paved with vitrified brick, at a
cost of $4,000 out of the city's ordi-
nary current funds. Never before in
our city either before or since dis
pensary times here, has any such sum
been expended in permanent improve
ments on the public streets without
incurring bonded indebtedness for