Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-11-27

t origin Of the city manager rilr- r. Cal
Seston Is known as the place OF oiigin OF
be commission plan. But 1t must be re-
nembered that il was StauntCn that first
pphed Tho idea "a 4 manager feature for
Tres aud may therefore properly claim ~
ave originated the city manager move
lent. II j. possible to distinguish between
he Stanton plan and the Sumter plan
\ calling the first the general manager
inn and The second The commission man
ger plan. which would sufficiently Indicate
Ne principal point Of difference. A. We
ave already seen that the commission
lea with the manager idea j. n better
ombinutiun than the old mayor and cuun-
il with Y manager feature We shall here
fter speak VII tile commission munger
Ian to designate what j. generally called
he city manager plan. and TO exclude from
mr. consideration the Staunton plan and
a. followers.
Explaining Commission Manager.
1.-The commission manager plan D. 4 form
+ government which combines the ideas OF
3 small representative body. elected at
arge on 4 non partisan ballot. possessing
u ultimate legal power of the city. and
ubject to certain Important cheeks III thc
andS Ut the electorate. with concentration
f administrative power into a single in
ividual chosen by the representative body
ecau-e NJ expert professional qualitica-
ions. Such Y plan II KY seen adopts ny,
aluablc features NJ commission govern
acnt and remedies the two fundamental
Effects of that form. Such in bold outline
, the commission manager plan Of city
government.
ierit Rule is urged.
1T j. necessary to point ont that ii con
'ectlon with the city manager plan there
hould he adopted various improved gov
rnmcntal devices which have been too
ong neglected iu aIl city governments ir
hi~ country whatever their form. mayor
ud council or commission. TIL fact they
ecomc specially important in connection
18th the commission manager form as II
trr~~c- above all rl-r efficiency in admin
-%tration. The two most important uf these
n hut universally neglected feature urc
he adoption III proper civil service merit
ules and regulations for the aGmiri.tra-
iye personnel ot the city. and provisions
for the proper management ot thc citv'
finances.
''In the commission manager plan thu
commission chooses and di-mi~-e> the
manager. and he selects. controls. and re-
moves the rest of the administrative force
of the city. To do this effectively hc must
have large powers. hut t1 give him un-
limited powers would ~ to put III hi- hands
without check the enormous patronage of
the city. The temptation 20 abuse the
power of patronage ha~ been one of the
most irresistible nf temftttiun- IN poll
tirilr~ WI this country ana THE resulting
evils have been among the worst az the
many that have afflicted oar city govern
mcnt-. t. guard aalr~t the rrrpetaation
and even cyagrcration of these evils ir
the new form WV. government it i- ah-u-
lutely necessary that civil service merit
rules govern the whole matter of an
continents aud removals and %admini~tra-
tive control hc r,eulatcd hy law. and aA-
mini-trrcd hv an independent authority
Managing Finances.
"Uf equal Importance for the attain
mcnt 81 maximum efficiency in the admin
iStration of the business affairs Of the
citv are proper provisions for the man
aecment of thc finances. Accurate. in-
telIigihle reports and accounts. and y
scientific budget procedure are i~udi,pen,-
able 10 proper management. The charter
Of q city should require that the manager
have proper systems of accounting and rr-
porting installed and enforced and that
the budget making should w scientific and
subjected to the light of publicity at every
stage. Such provisions will make 1T pos
-ihlc for the manager to insure the greatest
efficiency and M thc same time safeguard
the public interest where II ~ most vitnll,
affected. namely. i'll the treatment of the
citv's revenues and expenditures.
Choosing the Man.
"Of the utmost Importance in connection
with the application of this plan MI gov
rrnncnt H. the character III man Who i
chosen for the place of city manager. The
proper man for "a important a place il ono
who has not merely executive ability of
the highest sort and technical training IN