Arizona republican., 1915-03-26
The face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces Of men. John Burroughs.
The Amendments to the Charter

weeks the voters of Phoenix will decide whether not the charter should be amended. some of the proposed amendments with which We shall deal later intended to remove defects which experience has disclosed, but the four or live prin- cipal amendments intended to reverse entirely the purpose the charter. If the voters intend to adopt those amendments they had far better repeal the whole and back to the old city council system The old system cost good many thou sand dollars less annually and in every respect just as efficient as a government would be under the charter it is proposed to amend it.
 It is intended rob the city manager of his authority, make him 5000 errand boy, waiter on tic pleasure of the commission We will sub nit and think that voters will agree with us, that calling an official a commissioner instead of a councilman does not ma.e him more efficient and more capable telling 5000 city manager what he should do should do. We think it will be agreed that the commissioners we now have arc not quite up to the mark of laying work for 5000 
 The manager system depends for its value, first upon the ability and integrity of the ana. next upon his freedom of action. If he cannot have the latter the city is the chief sufferer from the handicap The cry 'one-man power which the proponents of these amendments make is addressed
 
 that the power is un- American
 It is a fact that every successful private busi- ness in this country is the result of the ore-man power. exercised with the consent of all who are interested in the success of the enterprise If the business was conducted under the joint direction of all who were interested, under the joint direc ton of board which should attempt to concern itself with all the details, the employment and dis charge and clerks it would fall far short of
 But, say the proponents of the amendments, the commission should have power to discharge 'he man ager if he should go wrong. Such power always exists But the commission should not have the power to discharge the manager when he has not gone wrong when majority of the commission is merely pqued at him because he would not employ favorites of the commission would not discharge competent employees to make places for incompetent favorites. If the manager himself is incompetent. if he is dishonest, if for any his presence is not for the good of the service, there always way to get rid of him promptly and justly.
 It is presumed that when, in the first instance, the commission employs the it has made no mistake in so vital matter If so. it is very likely to make minor blunders. The failure Of the city manager therefore is indictment of the judgment of the commission But even then the afford way to repair the mistake Of the commission, in it's selection of d manager
 To who may be in doubt regarding this proposed amendment shear the city manager of his power would say that they will find upoE inquiry that every ward politician of dshonorable partisan memory is in favor of the amendment and is working it. Every political hanger-on wants the power of the city manager curtaed. Every incompetent who wants job desires this bar to his employment removed He would rather taKe his chances with d powerful commission whose mem- bers might be grateful for political services and not particular as to the ability of the employe to the money But what of that? It is the money of the taxpayers.