The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-07
DIR. ZONES ON MANAGER PLAN


----
r. ALFRED Fones in an interesting statement which
- appears this page advocates the city manager plan
with that earnestness and sincerity which entities his
fair and generous consideration.
Nevertheless the city plan the creation of the
City Hall machine which is scarcely Republican admnstra
ton but rather nonarisan political machine operated for
profit
same men, drew both charters but not the same COM
mttee The committee which drew the commission plan char
ter raised by order from the reemen represented
the freemen.
The committee which drew the city manager plan charter
raised by the City Hall machine through appointment
the mayor.
The commission plan charter which the peoples commit
tee wrote endorsed by the people, by vote Of about
to one
The city manager plan charter derives its authority from
the General Assembly from which obtained by part
Of political machnethe part in Bridgeportof the other
part, the part in Hartford.
OF the Bridgeport part of this machine it is sufficient to
that the head Of it is distinguished lobbyist OF the other
part the Hartford the head Of it was another distinguish
The men who drew charter the same, COM
mees that drew the charter different in source and
purpose as two committees can be- charters two
committees drew as wide apart the poles.
The first committee had democratic origin in the people
1t drew democratic charter.
The O9fH ro1mtee had ogarchic origin in the City
Hall machine. 4 It wrote autocratic charter
The commission plan charter-the peoples charter-lodg
power executive authority in
e members Of which discharged by people
But the executive power in the city chartefhe
auocrae charters largely in city who is not
chosen by the people who will not necessarily be citizen of
Bridgeport He cannot be recalled.
said and by who aided in drawing the city
ager plan charter it expected elect under it
will choose for the first city manager the
who is now the boss.
facts that to be beyond dispute The people
Bridgeport voted two to against the city plan
They voted seven to- one for the commission PLAN 49,
The City Hall machine threw overheard the charterkthe
people had voted FOR and obtained from their machine
Hartford authorization for the charter the people
voted down.
This charter has been duly perfected
Those who propose confer the power Of upon
the who already most Of the power in City Hall
proposed Mr. King for the first city
This city hall believes it manage the cleo
ton as To keep itself its untitled head in power
only to discuss. the wisdom of putting Mr..
King in Is city manager
Gentlemen more faith than evidence say that it is
batter to have boss office than out of office
Russia didn't think 1t prefers its Romanos out Of
power Dr. believes ervently that it would be better it
! the Kaiser private citizen 81
little experience and less evidence to prove that
boss is reformed by getting election There are few
amples miraculous conversion The number Of the uncon
verted are legion
II average office did, after election what
he erveny promised to do before election city government
wouldn't need reform
Men are warranted in believing that it makes bad boss
worse to elect him power that it often spoils good
boss, to give him power.
The path from democracy autocracy long path Lib
erty is cast down. by little The city plan is
fair step that system of by which the
become Of Hereasig Importance and the of diminishing
consequences ei ta Iaa
The Farmer prefers to agree with gentleman conscen
hous Dr. Fones but cannot because for
once he is very, very much the wrong SIDE ~