South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-31

through the care that is taken OF
them at the city farm they are led
10 see that we are their friends" In
this connection. Mr.. Waite mention
ed the fact the city police and fire
department was kept in the state
of highest efficiency by using a
strict efficiency record promotion or
retirement, depending upon the rec
OrdS that each man makes. The de
partments seem 10 like this system.
To further increase the efficiency of
the departments special training
courses are offered in each. and
several police officials are sent an
nually to the police training school
in New York.
Mr.. Waite then went on TO show
some of the ways that the city of
Dayton has saved money under the
new plan He mentioned the
fact that through the business meth
DDS. the gas rate, which for part
Of the city was so cents, had been
made a general rate of "a cents.
In one instance he said the city
employees did at a cost 10 the city
of So. 500 a job of work on which the
lowest bid had been $4,000. The
cost of street oiling had been cut
from $3.50 a square yard TO S1.95.
The cost Of repairing concrete from
$1.65 a square yard TO So cents.
The city waterworks department
which had been having an annual
deficit under the old administration
was now paying over 100000 prof
its every year Even the garbage
reducing plant is making over SEQ
600 a year proht, the speaker said.
The purchasing system saves thou
sands Of dollars annually.
People Want Returns.
The people are generally willing
10 pay any amount of taxes when
they realize that they are getting
returns" said Mr.. Waite i'm speak
ing of the readiness with which a
tax increase Of 81 on the thousand
had been voted i'm Dayton. NO city. ."
he said will ever be governed bet
ter than il deserves or desires. No
form of city government will be
really efficient if the people do not
take an interest in its operations.
I'm this connection, Mr.. Waite eN-
planned how the people were kept
interested in the city affairs in Day
ton and kicks were anticipated by a
unique scheme. We frequently have
the office employees go 10 the tele-
phone and call up persons al ran
dom TO see If they have any com
plant TO make about anything.
When they have no complaints We
frequently suggest some
Mr.. Waite modestly attributed his
success in handling the affairs of
Dayton 10 the experience he had
gained in big corporation business
before he entered the city manage
ment game He said that he was
only attempting TO apply the prin-
ciples of business which he had
learned there TO the task of running
a city.
Nearly 800 Present.
The meeting. Tuesday night was
a very representative one, all citi-
zens of the city, women included.
being invited TO attend II was held
under the auspices OF the Chamber
of Commerce and there were pres
ent nearly 500 men and women. in
Guiding many of the leading bust
ness and professional men of the
city. IL followed a luncheon tender
ed Mr.. Waite at the oliver hotel
al noon which was attended 10y
about 800 citizens. The bringing of
Mr.. Waite to the city at this time,
together with the fact that the local
Chamber Of Commerce through its
legislative committee urged the pas
sage by the present Legislature of a
bill making il possible for cities of
the state TO adopt the commission
form of government If the citizens
of the cities SO vote. lend added
significance TO the movement start
ed Tuesday night and shows that
there is decided sentiment al
least among the business men of
the city. i'm favor Of commission on
-r.r.