El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-26

the non-partisan, non-political char
acter of the organization. The fact
that its members are Of all parties
and have pursued their work rather
as business men than in any other
capacity, substantiates the declara-
tlon of a work in the interests OF all
taxpayers regardless Of any political
party.
In the preamble Of the articles the
objects OF the association are given
as follows: ITO promote efficient
and economical municipal and county
of scientific methods Of accounting,
and Of reporting the details Of mu-
nicipal and county business with the
view OF facilitating the work OF pub
lie officials; to secure constructive
publicity in matters pertaining TO
classify, to analyze. TO correlate, to
interpret, and to continuously inves-
tigate the facts as to the admins
tration Of the city and county affairs;
to eliminate waste for the residents
of FL Paso county by cooperating
with public officials; to serve as an
Independent, non-partisan and non
political agency for keeping the
members of the association informed
about the city's and county's bust
ness"
No man or no party has been made
has been to the end Of better methods
and good budgets, with personality
entirely in the background A cam
paign of education in matters gov
ernmental has been kept up continu-
ally by Investigations of the organi-
before the people tha results OF in
ouiry, together with recommended
tons for better methods
Study Plans in Other Cities.
To the end Of efficiency. in their
work, members Of the association
have made a special work Of keeping
Informed on the best procedures in
cities well known for progress in
municipal economy. Provided with
that knowledge. they have sent rep
resentatfves into local offices and
after obtaining facts have made a
comparison with latest approved
methods. and laid the result of their
Investigations before the people OF
the city and county. Defects have
been pointed out and suggestions OF
changes made, many of which have
been adopted to the benefit Of all
taxpayers
formed by the body may be cited the
investigation by representative OF the
organization resulting in report that
the local government was weak be-
cause OF the lack OF central control
over interrelated work; that in places
there IS unnecessary repetition in
work of city employees; that there exist
certain unnecessary overhead posi-
tons: that responsibility among city
employees IS in many cases vague ana
that specific duties are not clearly
described; that the auditing proVls-
The association devised a plan of
correction, submitted II to several
acknowledged authorities or muni-
cipal government, all Of whom APP
proved the same with no material
changes. The plan was then put up
to the city council and adopted The
final adoption OF this and placing the
same into practice means that every
official will know what he has to
ing the people viii know II he fails
to DO It Repetition C work viii be
eliminated and unnecessary official
positions abolished
City and county officials have given
every assistance to representatives OF
the association in their investiga-
tons and by cooperating with mem
bers. have greatly accelerated local
reforms
Influence Is Felt.
The work Of the association has
been OF such an active nature that
the influence Of the body is felt as
q constant potential factor in local
City and county gov
eminent is constantly under the eye
of the associations representatives
Nobody knows Il better than the Of
ficials and for that reason there is
less liable to be need OF correction
in official departments. Loose pay
rolls are frightened up and vagueness
eradicated by the methods suggested.
Unless there are acts criminal in in
tent the association stands in the
position Of a teacher and IS willing
TO help an officer straighten out his
records.
During the latter part OF 1917, De-
Witt Bandeen, director, was called to
TT. Macarthur, Cal, where he has be-
lery. z. T. Paxton, secretary Of the
Bureau of Municipal Research and
Reference. OF the University OF Texas.
came to take Mr. Bandeen's place
and Is to be accredited with much Of
the activity resulting in marked
municipal changes here.
Mr.. Paxton points out that the
work now being done is the first
taken up by the city council, mem
bers Of which body were quick to
see the advantages Of the proposed
changes and have been making
study Of the situation After making
q reorganization study OF the city
government, the association wrote an
the recommendations made. While
this ordinance was passed by the
city council at its session Of October
II, and some steps have been taken
towards the carrying ont Of its pro-
visions. the final and most important
step-the reorganization and re-