Arizona republican., 1915-04-04
C0UNTRY'S EYE
 0N THIS TOWN
 NEXT TUESDAY
City Manager of Dayton Wires of Results of the Commission-Manager Sys- tenn There in the Last Fifteen Months


 Manager H. M. Waite of Dayton, Ohio, has been received by The Re publican. Mr. Waite describes the successful operation of the commits sion manager form of government in that city. The Dayton charter ;n all its details is not like that of Phoe- nix, but the differences are not such as to account for any differences of results in the operation of the two charters. Both look to the essential thing. The Dayton charter provides for the recall of the city manager while that of Phoenix leaves to the cause.
 MT. Waite's telegram follows: Dayton. Ohio. April 2, 1915. To The Arizona Republican, Phoenix. Arizona.
 The commission manager plan of city government was conceived and inaugurated with the idea of oparat- ing municipality upon the same business basis which is followed by all private corporations and industrial enterprises. This idea has been car rled out to the letter during the fif- teen months Dayton has operated under the city manager plan. Par tiSan politics are absolutely ,lim- mated. All appointments are mace on basis of merit and regardless of the political faith of all appointees
  elected at large without ward lines. This has stopped log rolling for dis 1 trict favors
 The head of each department: Law. welfare, service, safety and finance | IS chosen solely on the fitness of the appolntee for that particular depart ment based on past experience and achievements. The legal business of | the city is in the hands of the best known law firm. handling the same as it would handle the business of any other of it's clients, except on a definite annual appropriation | The welfare director is chosen be- cause of a thorough study of social conditions here and abroad and prac- tcal work in community betterment. l While an active service director was an engineer experienced on the New York water supply system and other big engineering projects. The finance | director is an expert certified public accountant
 In this short time there have been made surveys of social conditions. police and fire methods. sewage dis posal and water works supply and distribution, garbage reduction, parks and playgrounds development. We have the most scientific budget in the country. It regulates our finances. making possible an accurate daily balance and assuring against the city's operating on a deficit Pur- chases for all departments and div- sions in the government are made l by city purchasing agent buying in 1 large quantities or on yearly price agreements, saving the city 33,0O0 this year. The infant death rate has been reduced fifty per cent as q re | suit of effective efforts by visiting nurses and district physicians Tn cn educational campaign conducted by l the present intense interest of the citizenship in municipal affairs con tinues that long will this government 1 continue to be a success
 H. M. WAITE
 That the turmoil which has arisen in Phoenix over it's form of govern ment has attracted widespread at tention is shown by the following letter to The Republican from the secretary of the National Short Bal lot Organization. which is deeply in terested in the commission manager form of government as well as in many other social and economic re- forms:
 New York, March 29, 1915. The Arizona Republican,
 Phoenix. Ariz.
 Gentlemen:
 | Will you favor us with CODY nt your editorial of March 16 entitled "The Browning Fiasco? The Phoe- nix situation. as you picture it in that editorial, seems to be quite an ideal situation and creditable to the commission manager plan of govern ment in that it has devleoped a con spicuous clash between political commission and the expert manager There have been clashes under Cthe, charters many a time, but it has not usually been easy to make the clast so conspicuous and dramatic as ts command the attention of the people of the town. The story constitutes an important contribution to the his- tory of the commission manager government movement. We saw the editorial on a bor. rowed clipping and hence wish a COD, for our own use.
 Thanking you in advance for yorl courtesy, we are,
 Yours very truly. R. S. CHILDS.