Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-03-01
THE CITY MANAGER PLAN.

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletfn:
I Sir-The city of an undeveloped
public opinion. That city is Honolulu.
II all thinking people of Honolulu
could but listen to wrangle after
yfrangle in our city administrative
board. with no show of advance along
lines that make for betterment Of city
conditions. 1t is foregone conclusion
that thev would think it high time for
g decided radical move. Other cities
of the mainland, similarly situated,
have kicked over the traces" and
made the plunge. The commission
form of government has been adopted
by over four hundred American cities
and they are making a successful ad-
ministratton of what previously seem.
ed a chaotic muddle. The commission
fern has been Improved upon by
the commission-manager plan, which
creates an administration under sin
gle head office, which feature alone
makes for harmony all along the line.
Former United States Civil Service
Commissioner Foulke. an authority on
present day city government plans,
has the following to say regarding the
merits OF city manager and commits.
sion form OF government for cities:
'1t Is evident that the preference OF
one system over the other Is largely o
question of adaptabilify OF the particu
lar form to the habits. the prejudices
and political conditions of the city to
which 1t is applied. IL the manager
system we're to be applied at once to
cities where notions of political In.
trigue nave been deeply ingrained into
the habits OF the community and can
not be eradicated the consequences
are likely to be injurious.
But where the city has outgrown
this low form of political life, where
the community has come to regard city
administration as being, in the main,
business administrations, either the
commission or manager plan is an ad-
vance step toward good government"
1t is up to Honolulu to commune
with itself. as it were.. and ascertain
which of the two above quoted para.
graphs is applicable to her condition
70 anybody who deyotes moments
thought to city government outside OF
general condemnation OF the super.
visors and their alleged shortcomings,
there appear many favorable features
in the new forms OF city government
that have been adopted by large
number of American cities. Some OF
these features are the short ballot,
that makes for an intelligent vote.
eliminates the politician and his ma
chine. two Of the greatest reforms of
modern elections.
The initiative, referendum and re.
call, conditions that must be accepted
With the popular form of city govern
ment, have tendency to make those
elected to pos.tinns OF public trust
more responsive to public opinion.
At the present time ihe city OF San
Diego, Cal. is the Mecca for all eyes
OF cities that contemplate a change in
the form of city government The
city manager of this thriving Southern
California city has q plan to central
ize. so far as possible, the executive
functions of the municipal govern
mont. He figures that by so doing he.
can make an annual saving of over
100000. He makes no secret of de-
ductions arrived at. He states that he
finds, as can be found in many cities
OF the United States, much duplication
ct work. the unharmonizing condition
Of the overlapping of authority, much
unnecessary and wasteful help.
many of the offices clerk-ridden and
other features that make for q mill
stone about city's neck.
Hes goes further with his investiga.
tons, even unto the most sacred Of
city Institutions the payroll. This,
he states, can be greatly reduced with
out impairing In the least the eff.
cheney Of the city's administration, and
makes the bold assertion that it viii
strengthen it rather than otherwise.
The outcome of that city managers
plans will be watched with much in
terest, for while municipal economy
has 1t hackers and well Wishers, it also
has an army of enemies that will fight
1t to the last trench.
ECONOMY.