Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-02-11
WHAT THE SAY OF CHANGES
IN CITY GOVERNMENT
Ideas Expressed Seem 70 Favor Man
agerial Form Under Proper Re
strictions---Old Charter With the
Necessary Changes VIII DO.

The discussion Of proposed changes
in Durant's form OF city government
appears to have been revived, and for
the most part those parties interest
ing themselves in the proposed
change appear in majority to favor
the managerial form Of government.
In talk this week with a promin-
ent business man, the writer listened
to the following statement: My fear
Is that if the people were to vote q
charter and agree upon the city man
ager plan, that some local man would
secure the Job, who is Of doubtful ca
pacity, and such a condition would
bring us little or no relief. For my
part. / would oppose the whole thing
unless I were assured that NO MAN
WHO LIVES IN DURANT WOULD
BE GIVEN THE MANAGEMENT OF
THE CITY. According to my idea,
II the city would prosper under the
managerial form Of government, the
city should go as far from home. as
possible and secune the services Of a
man who has been trained along the
lines of municipal management--pay
him $4,000 a year If necescary-we
can well afford to pay the right man
that sum, and we can III afford to
pay just any maa $500 a ytar. An
absolute stranger, competent and
4, trained In every way, who does not
not know or care rap for any of US
here, would give the city a fair, un-
biased, unprejudiced administration
OF affairs, and we would all be treat
ed with equal candor. fairness and
honesty. whereas ANY DURANT
MAN, regardless of how honorable
he may be, could not help but be in
fluenced by personal prejudices and
by his regard or lack OF regard for
those with whom he comes in con-
tact"
Another man, merchant, one Of
the old-timers, expressed himself
thus to the writer: For the past
eight or nine years we have steadily
been going from bad to worse, and
our tax rate has been soaring higher
and higher each year-while the ben
fits that the taxpeyer has received
have diminished in about the same
proportion that the tax rate has in
creased. 1 say, without fear Of con-
tradiction, that, taken as whole,
we have not had in six years a coun-
lcil that has been in the majority eth
er competent to handle city affairs,
or that hsa shown thorough unpreju-
diced interest to accomplish anything
on an impartial basis. Personal feel
lings, petty politics, and bull-headed-
mess have characterized every act o;
Ievery council for years. The dispo-
sition seems to have been spend the
money. get rid of it,. give the work
ling man all the work you can't
viii help us get votes at the next
election n'-and the taxpeyer, the bus.
mess man, the man with large inter
ests, has had to sit silently by and
pay for all this outrage"
A prominent property owner Is
doubtful whether a change would
benefit or not. These are his words
IA change in the plan of govern
Inent, under restrictions, will help
The theory of commission govern
ment is more practical than the al
dermanic form. 1t is unreasonable
to believe that board of eight al
dermen, attempting to attend to al
city business at meeting Of tw,
hours once a month could possibly d.
. lanything half way right. II the cit,
had board of aldermen who wer
all cold d-blooded, hardheaded, far-see
ling business men. we would not b
In ahe shape we are in. On the 9th
Ter hand. under the commission form
of government, If competent boar
Of commissioners devotins their tim
/ to city affairs could be secured, ther
would be quick improvement, an
liz a city manager were employed, an
the right man secured, the improve
Ement would be still quicker. How
ever, IL a board of commissioner
were made up as councils have beeI
we would probably go along as &
present, spending all our money an
/ lgetting nothing for it, f.
A prominent attorney opposes an
change in the plan Of city govern
I ment until we shall have tried Ol
every manner of government that "
are permitted to try under the Law
Quoting him: 'eThe statutes giN
City councils the right to employ
\ city manager to have full charge
! the city's business. l think th'
would be much better for a try-o'
than disrupting the old fabric of Il
present form of government withol
knowing what we are doing. / vi
} oppose any change in the form
government, but strongly favor Il
n employing by the council of comp
4 tent manager, when we could try Il
A plan out in the cheapest way.
I strongly favor the idea of going
far as possible and getting the be
man for the money, man trained
W 1.-The administration of city business,