The sun., 1916-01-09

surprising statements concern
ing city government. The p esident
OF the New York Department OF Taxes
elected to head the National Municipal
League and he was being asked what
plans he had laid out in connection
with his new job. Then 1t was that
the typhoon broke loose whirlcd and
swirled into the crannies of municipal
problems and hurtlcd this utterance
a. 1t whistled along:
Il think the management of city
should be considered a distinct profess
sion and taught as such. 1t should
not be deemed the side work OF busi-
ness man. Nor should il he taken up
as the sacrifice OF business man to
public duty. II should be made a
special study. 80 that a man may be
fitted for II the same as he is fitted
for the law or for medicine as a life
pursuit.
NO man can learn to run a city
over night. That's why some of the
shifts Of administration in our city
have merely brought us up against a
stone wall. We supposed when we
ousted rogues and put honest men in
their places that Improvement would
almost automatically follow. But the
most honest intent in the world will
not effect an improvement IL skill in
municipal management he lacking.
think New York should he ged
by n professional city manager"
1t takes about fifteen minutes for
Mr.. Purdy to wax eloquent. Some
people suppose he cannot he eloquent
because he is an encyclopedia reposi-
tory Of everything that spells tax.
This nccessitates dealing in facts.
facts and facts so dry that Dckenss
Mr.. Grldgrind sounds like scnti-
mentalist in comparison with New
York's Tax Board head Hut Mr.
I'urdy can cnthusc grippingly and
convircingly. lie Gcsticulates freely
and III periods where gestures count
most He has a scholarly face with u
crown of gray hair that seems made to
orde" for the striking facial picture
ne presents. His expression is scrl-
ous, in fact mcanchollc. until now and
then at points of special emphasis he
breaks into n smilc of acceniuation
that radiatcs md fingers a second and
then van:shcs before n new tax fact.
DO not take my comment on the
shortcomings of unframed municipal
managers Ss u criticism Of any New
York city administrai In particu-
lar" he went on. when a city head
gives the municipality as good gov
ernment as can he given under exist
ing conditions he is entitled to full
praise. He cuts the city garment ac-
mcnt according to the municipal cloth
on hand. First the system must be
changed so as To permit professional
city mana cement"
"Your idea is then. Mr. Purdy.
to have the city managed just the
same as "A good business man would
manage his BUSINESS"
Not at all That notion sounds
good as an u'terance. but there is :.
flaw i'm il. For instance. II good bu'!-
ness man runs his business to sit
himself. That il, he runs it accord
ineto what he thinks ia best for his
individual interest. lie runs II, as 1t
were. very selhshly. He counts II good
business to run it selfshy. Two busi-
ness men will not run their two bus!-
nesses alike. although both will run
tnem IN way 10 orihs 'he vest re-
suits to themselves.
NOW IL IL lar o'HerehI III 'ne clS"
OF the business cohnuc' oi ci'E' INC
professional MANAGER cannot run IN
municipality to suit his own ideas or
20 hn cit 10 ,
What Is pesl lor 'he city lie hf'iS'
manage strl''lS IN accordance WIFI
MS ihstruc''oNs' lie ihahaeeS as ne -
ihstructeu W h'"'IdSe' anu '"ese w
s'ruc''o'is are ''e outcome VI "r'a',se-
mchts 10 puI pupHc Poic! mo
lou see the Proiessioi'a, Hii'i"ic.
OF Guy Hnsh' Hot thii'h II Eoo''
huhicipaI business 10 Keep 'he MeIo
poi,a" MUSEUM vi Hr' opch e.e's uu;
!" the WEEK. Tree W 'Iic P"p''e' IL
Hisht pehe'e II oe.,er business 10 i'
serve one or TWO DAYS on wnI'h .he
pubic Hius' PaS 'o eh'er' n"' ,"e
Tree use OF the museum on every ia?
Vi ''e WEN may nav "''', 4"
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