Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-24
Good City Government

n TLANTA. like Richmond. is waking UP to
the need Of more economical and ef-
hcient city government. Mayor Woodward
has addressed special message to the City
Council, urging that committees be named to
draft two alternative charters, and that these
be submitted to the people for their choice
Apparently, the Council-like Councils in
other cities---is not disposed to do ANYTHING
1t is satisfied with form of government that
provides It's members and their friends with
comfortable Jobs and some reasonable oppor-
tunity to profit by advance information of
where public improvements probably will be
made However, the press and tho thinking
elements OF tho population OF the Georgia
city take another view OF the matter The
Atlanta Constitution declares that reform is
Imperative lin the face of the demand in
fact OF the absolute necessity, if AtIanta's
government is to be economically and Of
hcicntly administered" says the Constitution
Councfl cannot afford TO continue in it's at
utude OF careless Indifference"
Ultimately, OF course. Atlanta will obtain
the reforms that are demanded Just as Rich
mond will obtain those that are demanded
mere The discouraEing thing is that reform
must be so long delayed. In every CITY an
element-and frequently n controlling ele-
ment-insists on regarding the community
as absolutely different from every other
The commission plan may be all right for
Dayton, or Springfield, or Galveston. or Des
OF this political conservatism. but it would
never do for us. We are peculiar people.
Let some other town make the experiment"
What they neglect to observe or, at any
rate, to consider is that the experiment al
ready has been made. and that its success
has been demonstrated. Reports from COM
misson-governed cities present an unbroken
view Of decreased taxation improved public
service, enlarged expenditures for improve
nents and radical economics In operation and
maintenance Over 800 American cities arc
now under commission government Forty
OF these have improved their plan by the
incorporation Of tho commission nanag
feature, which Is really only an adaptation 10
American conditions OF tho method Of Euro
pean municipalities.
There is danger, as the opponents OF reform
nave pointed out In the concentration OF
power in tho city manager, or In any other
executive officer II tho choice should fall
on some individual at once forcefuI am
bitlous and INSCRIPTIONS, whom tho commits
sion should provo incapable Of restraining.
the city might suffer. Tho answer to this
objection Ia twofold: In tho first place there
cannot be high efficiency without centralized
authority and responsibility, and, in the sec
ond, the experience OF American cities has
shown that tho dangers that inhere in cen
tralizatfon not only can BIO averted but ar
tually are averted. 1.-THE elected commits
SION, says II. s. Gilbertson executive secre-
tary OF the National Short Ballot Organiza-
ton, has been keenly aware that the peoplo
are looking TO it to render a good account
10 Keep expenses down and vet take care of
needed improvements. 1t is a big order, and
inc commissioners arc in no mood to nick
out for their executive agent ono whose CHIEF
claim on the position is his pull with thc
poys And Mr.. Ciilbertson proceeds Tn
point out that, "in order to keep clear OF
any such entanglements and to secure the
aDiest men possible, Dayton, Springfield.
Cadillac, Sandusky, Niagara Falls New
burgh and other cities have deliberately gone
out OF the city and selected tho most capable
men available" 1t was matter OF business
IN other words, and business men applied
business principles In every case they have
obtained commensurate results
Tho biologist OF tho Maine agrcultura,
experiment station has been experimenting
with roostcrs that arc rum-soaked He finds
mat the more soaked they arc, tho moro
iusuly DO they crow. Thorc is a good deal
OF the human in rooster
What tho Music Festival Means