The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-06
Garland Explains New City
Government Scheme.
He Tells Chamber of Commerce
of Success in Dayton, o.
RUN CITY LIKE A BANK
Manager Is Retained as Long as
He Makes Good.
Porter Insists That Dayton Has
Nothing on Topeka.

d. Frank Garland. former minister,
and mead of the welfare department
of the city of Dayton, Ohio, explained
to more than zoo business men at the
Chamber of Commerce this noon the
city manager plan of city government
In operation at Dayton. Fully 100
more business men attended the meet
ing than were expected
The speaker described the city man
ager plan as similar to the plan gov
erning the operation of banks He
stated that the citizens held the same
position in municipality as the stock
holders do in a bank These stock
holders elect directors, who, in turn,
elect cashier who is directly respon-
sible to them for the success of the
bank.
Under the city manager plan, the
so-called stockholders comprise a COM
mission serving without salary, all men
of ability in the various departments
which they represent in the city gov
ernment. In Dayton. he declared, the
various departments on the city COM
mission are men of ability recognized
thrueut the city and all are men serv-
ing without pay, men who could not
afford to accept such a position for
the salary it would pay.
Commissioners Have Vote.
The services of the five commissions
ers expire on alternating years and
thus shorten the ballot. These COM
missioners outline and vote on the
general policy of city government
They appoint a city manager. a man
from anywhere who has proper quail
fications for the position and pay him
large salary, one equal almost to the
combined salaries of the city commits
sioners.
Inc city manager makes his own
appointments of all department heads
nrfr.a
appointments. which are checked UP
70 the city manager for approval. But
the commission has nothing to do
with the personnel of the appointees.
fhey either hire or fire the city man
ager upon the results of his work
Full publicity. civil service. initia-
i've, referendum and recall, city
budget system and city planning are
all features of the city manager plan
as outlined by the Dayton man
manager knows he will remain
IN offIce as long as he makes good
ana not for just two or three terms"
said Garland. Therefore he plans for
improvements of lasting qualities. For
instance, after our manager was Sc
.ected he planned change in the
water system that will take care of a
city of 250,000.''
Nothing on Topeka.
= That government has nothing on
ours" said Commissioner Porter fol-
lowing the address, excepting possi-
bly IN the appointments of department
heads, which the commission does not
confirm as is done in this city
City commissioners and mayors
can remain in office as long as they
behave themselves and satisfy the
people right here in Topeka There IS
no limit on our terms of Office"
commissioners Porter and Wasson
and employees in their departments. to-
gether with Fire Chief Joseph Hanlon
were the only city officials seen at
the meeting. All were invited.
Garland spoke of visions of the fu-
ture, injected Biblical phrases in his
address. and spoke of new Jerusalem
which could be builded in this world
which contained all the materials
used in the building of the mythical
Bible city.
Provide for Children.
The speaker also pleaded for a city
OF the future which provides for the
children He stated that 33 per cent
of the population of Topeka is chill
dren. He spoke of the unequal distri-
button of wealth, declaring that 2 per
cent of the population of the United
States own so per cent of the 200 bill
lion dollars. the total wealth of the
country. The rapid increase in the
size of cities the need for city plan
ming. the wastefulness of municipal
government in cities and all other ills
of American cities were described by
the man from Dayton.