The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-24
EFFICIENCY WOULD
SUCCEED BOSSISM
DR.. A. r. Hatton Tells Labor
Men Dayton Likes City
Manager Plan.

That the city manager plan for Mem
phls would mean practical administra-
ton m executive efficiency instead OF
a boss for the city to tell the people
what to do, and that such a plan would
also mean a genuine representative
government with Democracy in the sad
die, was the gist Of an address delivered
Thursday night by DR.. A. r. Hatton, Of
Cleveland, O., municipal economist, to
an audience In Italian hall, under the
auspices Of the Central Trades and
Labor council.
DR., Hatton was introduced by r. r.
Ellis, chairman OF the citizens commit
tee Of 100, who made an Introductory
address, reviewing the history Of munic-
ipal government in Memphis and the
steps taken by the committee to remedy
a situation which they deemed intol-
III | were asked what the trouble
has been in Memphis" said DR.. Hatton
IN beginning his speech II would say
that the city has been suffering from
the purely personal and factional dis
putes Of certain men. Take the city
rom all OF these things. Without re-
Controversies, throw the f~actionists out.
Radically Democratic.
Personally I am for the most radical
popular control, I have never revered
political institutions simply as such and
do not revere them now. There IL no
divinity in them as mere Institutions.
Neither do l hold to them simply be-
much talk these days about making the
world safe for democracy. In many re-
spects we have yet to achieve democ-
racy for ourselves"
In regard to the bill for the city man
ager plan, DR.. Hatton assured the audi
ence that contrary to the general be-
lief, the bill had not been written.
The essence Of the city manager
plan" continued DR.. Hatton, "is simply
this: The people elect a council or a
representative body. to carry out their
some one to carry out An announced
policy. This council with this plan is
truly q representative government and
II Is efficient for the reason that har-
mony prevails where 1t should prevail.
in the executive branch Of the govern
ment. The place for disputes is in the
legislative or determining branch Of the
government, never in the branch which
Ia. entrusted with the duty Of accom-
plishing results"
bad Government Hits Poor.
In commenting up the democratic
far as he knew, was the only democracy
that ever tried to elect executives. He
said that the trouble with elected ex-
Co. SSpVNlaly Ill Iliy BONCI hihOiN1
was that competent men could make so
much more money so much easier In
personal pursuits that cities could not
secure their services. Such men, de-
clared the speaker. do not have to ask
cities for jobs, and they are extremely
difficult to employ.
inefficient government said DR..
Hatton, always hurts the poor and the
middle class citizen. The rich can take
care OF themselves. The city manager
plan simply means q competent man to
execute you orders, and TO do away
with these burdens
The city manager bill az outlined by
DR.. Hatton follows: Twelve councilmen
| for f%our-year terms, o%ne-third TO retire
every two years, councilmen to have
job only during. competency, he to APP
point heads Of departments; a civil ser
vice for the city so as to take. positions
out OF politics. and a real initiative
referendum and recall with a nonpar.
tisan primary and election, one-half OF
one per cent OF the voters being neces-
sary for nominations, signatures to petit
tions to be properly limited,
In regard to the alleged failure Of the
city manager plan at Dayton, DR.. Hat
der peculiar conditions one sPf which
was the state tax l~imitatiof OF taxes
He declared that Dayton wa not bank
rupt and that 1t and other city man
ager towns in Ohio were the most pros
porous communities In the state. I'm
der the same conditions, DIR. Hattoh
said, people might call Memphis bank
| rupt.
At the conclusion Of his speech DR..
Hatton answered a number Of ques-
tons, among which he said that for a
town the size Of Memphis the council
men at large plan was by far the best
| with certain sections Of the town as
signed to cohncllmen for their especial
care,