New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-04
Henry Bruere Submits Draft
of Administrative Re
organization
6oard of Directors
Would Have Power
Executive, Relieved OF De-
tails, to Guide
Policies

,Le MAYOR, drafted by HeHiE ii"N 'N'
corner CITY Chamberlain. 1t outlines
The necessity for administrative reor-
canization under the stimulus oil inc
war. .:.
The plan calls for reconstruction
of the general framework OF the Guy
government, in order that greater
emphasis may be kept on adminiS'I"-
tive leadership and supervision. IL pro-
vides for a Mayor, as chief public rep
rosentative and Trainer of policies VINO
sbau be relieved Of detailed admins
trative responsibility, board OF direc-
tors and a city manager
The report refers to the devastation
Of the great war in Europe and the I'M
nroved organization of the governments
of the warning nations, which 'he
,roserre of war needs has compelled
The whole Bruere plan is IN Keeping
with Mayor Mitchel's hard but Tor 'he
most part unsuccessful fight for nome
rulep legislation at Albany. The plan
would call for much charter revision
sneakinc of it in relation to present
war conditions, Mr.. Bruere says:
"Encland's governmental machinery
has been rescued from red tape. Russia
is setting out toward efficient demoe-
racv. America may rediscover her soul
in the effort which the war VIII I'M
pose upon her.
Should BE More Effective
"Nev York in recent years has led
~ Ar,or;ca in destroying the old
nessimism regarding civic lncompe-
tencv. For the last several years, WIN
better understanding Of the problem
Of administering New York Cltys Dusl-
ness. il has become increasingly cIeai
that more effective administrative OF
canization is required if the now popu-
iarlv denied wider usefulness OF Ihe
c;t,. Government is to be attained
Nr Bruere declares chat home rule
b,s been only temporarily postponed
through the shelving of constitutional
reyision. His report outlines two plans
for reorganizing the municipal govern
ment. The first plan, while centrallZihs
much Of the administrative response
bilitv of the government under the
BOARD Of Estimate. TO be discharged
through the Office of CITY manager
does not greatly disturb the present or
CARNATIONS Of the city departments;
The second plan is more radical ana
involves a substantial change IN inc
duties Of the five borough presidents,
rs we'll as the development Of more
highly specialized administrative ma
The outstanding features Of both
plans are:
T. Further development Of the Mayors
c~-o into one OF policy guiding. general
rupervison and control. analogous to that
OF the president OF a large corporation;
=. Development OF the Board Of Esti-
mate Is a board Of direction in law as well
as in fact, and the imposition on that
board Of a responsibility that It now regu-
Development of a complete Depart
rnent Of Finance, ceDtrlng tul control over
revenues funds and disbursements, now TO
q large degree scattered
4 Provision Of centralized. responsible
executive and administrative direction in
the Office Of q city manager subject 70 me
control of the Board of Estimate and the
supervision Of the Mayor.
Plan Adopted in 100 Cities
Summarizing the details of the plan,
Mr.. Bruere urges that provision be
made in the charter for some official
machinery analogous to that of gen
cral managership IN a corporation. lie
calls attention TO the successful opera
ton Of the city manager plan IN various
cities To date there are approximately
100 municipalities in the United States
which have adopted this form Of gov
eminent.
To enable the city manager to de-
vclop effective service without the en-
barrassment Of dealing with delicate
questions Of public policy. Mr. Bruere
emphasizes that Che police be excluded
entirely from his jurisdiction. The
MAYOR. 10 is proposed. should continue
as now 20 be the chief officer of the
city. the president &C the Board of Esti-
mate. the spokesman for the city in
matters Of policy and representation
and tho general supervisor Of the city
government. The suggestion is made
that the Mayor be given more than his
present thrc, votes in the BOARD Of
Estimate. possibly four or five, and that
p reduction be made I'M the three votes
Of the President of the Board Of Alder
men.
"The Board Of Aldermen is continued
in both plans as "A frank compromise
with local prejudice says Mr.
BrucrC. "Ncw York apparently desires
30 continue locally elected legislative
body. In other cities the large council
a. an institution OF government is be-
Ing abandoned
Mr. Brucrc believes that Board OF
Estimate, chosen 1s the present board
De- chosen and relieved Of admIDistra-
tive duties 20 the extent suggested in
Eis report, viii be- able fully to repre-
sent public opinion.
Would Appoint City Manage.
Tho most radical change suggested
involves the assumption by the Board
Of Estimate and AppOrtionwcnt Of a
more complete responsibility for the
effective management Of the city. The
board is empowered 20 appoint the city
manager. who shall have charge II The
naturalization Of the following depart
q, mcnts: Fire. Building Inspection,
building. Plan, and Equipment,
Health. street Cleaning. Correction.
Public Utilities. Public Welfare. I'm
der the second plan the Tenement
House, Parks and Public Works de-
partmcn's are added. The Mayor rs
given direct responsibility for the con
duct o. the departments such a. Edu-
cation. Police. Civil Service ard Taxes,
where large questions Of city policy are
concerned.
The Department Of Public Utilities is
now one and would combine the pres
ent Department Of Water Supply. Gas
and Electricity and the Dock Depart
nent. The Department Of Public Wei
fare would ta,c the place I the pres
en- Charities Department and make it
q rc~ulrfirC, 'HFc .ilgafIrc md .Ocirll