Arizona republican., 1915-03-12
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
THE CHARTER
To the Editor of The Republican,

1 To the Editor of The Republican, i Sir:
 The recent investigation of certain acts and conduct of the city manager has most clearly and palpably disclosed the fact that the city charter is decld- i edly defective in not properly prescrib- 1 ing defining, limiting ana restricting 1 the duties and powers of the city man. ager. That the citizens of Phoenix contemplated granting to one man the absolute and unrestricted power and 1 control of the various departments of | the city government, as recently eXer- cised by the city manager, is beyond reasonable belief.
 The arbitrary power of appointment and dismissal of the chiefs of such de- l partments as fire and police at the be- 1 hest of some clique or merely to satisfy a personal spite or to make place for a political favorite, is utterly subversive of proper organization, discipline or eff l ficiency in those departments.
 That such power is vested in the city . manager is true. That such power may be exercised from the motives specified, l of many interested and intelligent citi- Zens it has been so exercised, is true. i As a remedy, it may be suggested 1 that, if the office of city manager is to be continued, the power of appointment i to positions in the various departments. i be subject to approval of the mayor and board of commissioners. That in stead of the arbitrary dismissal of members of departments, charges should be preferred, the party so charg- ed duly notified, and the mayor and board of commissioners, after investi- gation and hearing, render decision. In some other cities with commission form of government no high salaried man. 1 ager is necessary. The duties and de- tails of the various departments such as fire. police, streets and sewers, parks and public buildings, lights and water, etc. are divided among the commis- sioners and their successors are elect ed with particular reference to their efficiency and capability in the depart ment to whose mana agement they sue ceed. Appointments and dismissals are | subject to approval of the board. Inn portant matters such as purchase and sale of city property and buildings. pur- chase of supplies, etc. are acted upon | by the entire board.
 An honest city manager or managing commissioner having the best interest of the city at heart and a due respect for the opinions and approval of his fellow citizens. would much prefer to have his actions endorsed and approved by the board. than to alone subject himself to possible unfair comment and criticism.
 The proceedings of the recent inves- tigation have been justly characterised as farcical and this characterization is eminently correct and appropriate and nowhere is the farce more apparent than in calling as witnesses. in support of the city manager, members of the fire and police departments, whose tenure of office or employment is, di- rectly or indirectly. entirely dependent upon the will of the city manager
 The above is submitted from an en. tirely. impersonal standpoint so far a. the parties to the present investigation are concerned, and wholly with de sire to see a well balanced, harmonious and efficient administration of city af- fairs
 Very respectfully,
 C. C. MCKINNEY.
 221 w. Jefferson St