The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-13

tegrity. The citys business has been honestly administered There has been no taint of graft or corruption. Neither the public utility corporations nor any other corporation or individual. SO far as is known, have wielded undue or improper influence with any member of the commission. The heads of the city departments appear in the main to have been loyal and efficient
 Do not these facts, universally ad- mitted, constitute cause for congratu- lation on our change from the alder manic government?
 Much Discomfort Is Felt
 But admitting all this 1t might as well be recognized that there IS much dissatisfaction and discontent with our city government as now conducted There are not a few of our citizens who think that the members of the commission are too solicitous of thelr own political welfare. There are those who think that some members of the commission devote more of their time and thought to the effort to ascertain what will please the people rather than to what is best for the people. There are those who think that while the members of the commission are anlia ole and honorable and upright gentlemen that they lack the drive and punch and business efficiency which we are accus. toned to expect in the heads of our private corporations. I doubt myself speaking frankly, whether there Is the enthusiasm over the efficiency of the commission, and the confident reliance in its future achievements. which was the dream of those who worked and fought for commission government "1n all fairness to the members of the commission, due consideration should be given to the fact that the | cS Stop of Rirpir, h hos asked ito make bricks without straw i; to conduct an up-to-date city govern ment with totally inadequate revenues We are never going to have a city or state government with which we will be satisfied and of which we can be proud until we are prepared to pay for the privilege.
 But whatever may be the defects in the government of Birmingham, and the shortcomings of our present admin istration. how Is the condition going to be improved by the addition of two commissioners and the reduction of the salaries of all the commission D CTS {? In ordinary business affairs, the only sufficient reason for employing another man Is that the existing force Is in- adequate for the amount of work to be done. Is anybody willing to say that the work to be done by the present city commission is more than three men can tdke care or Are the pres ent commissioners overworked7 | at least. do not believe so.
 Work Is Divided
 "The work of the city government of Birmingham Is divided into depart ments. Those departments must neces- sarily be under the immediate direo- ton of specialists. Our engineering de- partment. for example, Is under the im- mediate direction of MT. Julian Ken drick, an engineer of the highest char acter and of recognized skill and abil- ity. Our fire department, our police department, the conduct of our schools and the other work of the city, must be directed by specialists selected be- cause of their special fitness. It can not be contemplated that the people of Birmingham will select commission CTS who will act as the heads of the various city departments, displs ing men specially fitted for the work
 "I believe in the capacity of the voters of Birmingham to select the men who should have general charge of the city's affairs, I do not believe that the voters of. Birmingham or of any other large city wish to select, or are capable of selecting. the kind of spo- ciallsts who must be In immediate charge of departmental affairs. If the five commissioners are simply to exer- else the general supervision now cx- ercised by the three, what benefit Is 70 be gained? Is there reason to expect more harmony? If two of our com missioners at times have conducted the city's business with little regard for the third. wouldn't three under the new arrangement do the same thing ? Montgomery had five commissioners and I understand has changed back to three. I haven't any doubt, and I don't believe that any other thoughtful man in Birmingham has. that three capable Efown-iaij55 men should he entirely suf- ficient for the work of conducting our city government Are we going to do with our commissioners what we have done sometimes in the cases of our To- cal judges. Where we had an fnccm- potent one. instead of firing him, ere ate another judgship?
 Secure More Efficient Men q believe if the members of our city government are not efficient that we should endeavor to secure more eff cient members, without regard to any personal consideration. just as We would in the case of a private corpora ton. I believe it would be a serious mistake to reduce the salaries of the members of the commission. as pro- posed in the pending bill If mem Der of the city commission does his work faithfully and efficiently, he will be cheap at s7000 a year. The sort of man who ought to be a city comiriis- sioner can make s700O year in pri- vate employment. A town confronted with the financial problems which con- front this town should endeavor to get better men to handle its affairs. not cheaper men. I wish to further suggest that, if experience is any guide, If this legislature increases the number of commissioners the next leg
 slature will increase their salaries. Five men constitute the board of rev enue of this county. Their salaries were increased by the legislature of which I was a member; they were in- creased again by the present leglsla- ture. I believe three men could do their work, and that it would be trre economy to have three instead of five and to pay them adequate compensa ton. The office holder Is always in at tendance on the legislature seeking an increase in his compensation
 General Manager Plan
 There are some strong arguments in favor of what Is known as the gen eral manager plan, which Is In opera ton fin Dayton. Under this plan the commission would consist of. say. three or five members. who would draw com- paratively small salaries, would not be expected to give their entire time 70 the cftys affairs, but only to axer- else that sort of supervision exercised by directors of private corporations, and who would elect a general man ager in whom would be vested the concentrated power and responsibility of administration. plan which would work out in such crisis as that which confronted Dayton might not work out under every day routine conditions.