The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-17
CITY MANAGER PLAN.

tine LABOR heNlSN.J
The following letter from Judson King
is an important document showing, as 1t
does, that the new plan of government
for Memphis is not a business mans
scheme to run the city in their own IN
~terests, TO the detriment of the working
man. The fact that such mel as sam
uel Gompers, John P. White, william
H. Johnston and Frank p. Walsh are
members of a National Popular Gov
m league, n that the executive
secretary of that league gives his hearty
Endorsement OF the proposed charter for
Memphis, should make the workingman
think carefully before permitting the
professional politician to deprive him OF
the first chance he has ever had to ac-
tually take part in governing his own
city.
1t Is unfortunate that this proposed
charter should rave been called a city
manager" plan Of government. 1t is a
Council manager" plan. Not only h
but the council is always subject to re-
call when ever the people are dissatis-
fled with what they do,
Read this letter and then study the
proposed charter. You have nothing
to lose but your chains'-you have a
city to gain:
My Dear Sir-Through the courtesy Of
Prof. Hatton l have had opportunity 10
examine a copy of your proposed bill
providing a new council manager plan
| VI bONOl illliShl lOl TIC NlNS VI MOhAPhA9'
Permit me to congratulate you upon
this splendid piece of work which your
| Committee has turned out. 1t is like a
fresh spring breeze off the lake, and
sincerely trust the legislature of Ten
nessee will see fit to recognize the
adopt 1t without change. 1t will be an
honor to the state of Tennessee and
will soon be bringing to Memphis in
vestigators and men of inQuiring minds
to find out how it works.
OF particular value n interest to
me are the provisions relating to pub
lie utilities, the administration service
and for popular government.
The property interests of the people
in their public utilities are thoroughly
protected. l find running throughout
| the principle that the public must be
first served and private interests come
afterward; also a recognition of the
enormous value of these utilities to the
people. Heretofore the great majority
Of our American cities have given
away to private individuals the reve-
nue. producing functions of a city, such
as street car service, gas, electric lights,
water, ETC., and they have dumped or
the taxpayers the cost Of maintaining
those functions which are nonproduc-
tive, the streets, the sewers, the parks,
etc. Was money to be made out of
anything, give that thing away. Was
| ilOiiNy " obSllut z liz PSOPtC p0S AS
bill. We are at last awakening from
this folly, and Memphis, by adopting
this charter, will lead in the work.
For years politics" has been the
curse of municipal administration. The
able expert with capacity to do a good
job for the folks In any given line has
been ~relegated to the ear to make
room for political ward heelers. That
must stop. You open the way In this
charter for the people to secure just as
able men to serve them and conduct
their business as a any private cor
poration. And when they have had
about IL months Of that kind Of SER
vice you could not blow that provision
out of o charter with 20 tons Of
dynamite, even If all the politicians Of
Memphis are bowling like sick cats in
the night.
Because a man has a 6x9 smile and
a warm handshake Just before election
Is no evidence that he Is competent to
run the city w~aterworks.
If the cry should be raised that your
charter is u~ndemocratic because it
gives large powers to a council of II
men and executive powers to be cen
tered In a city manager, the reply is
that the people, through the initiative
and referendum and recall provision of
the charter, have absolutely final power
in their own hands to determine the
city's destiny. In short, the power Of
90 tAtA Alo oAAalA w NVAtS " IN
where it belongs-in the hands of the
voters. The power to execute the COM
mands of the people is placed where it
b~elongs-in the hands Of a single ad-
ministrator selected by the peoples rep
resentatives. Experience has demon
strated that too many cooks spoil ad-
ministration broth as well as any other
broth, and our cities have taken a les
son from the management Of our great
corporations and are getting democratic
results therefrom all over the nation.
There can be no danger SO long as the
people hold the whip rein in their own
hands.
In my opinion you have the best in
i~tiative. referendum and recall provis-
ions yet proposed In any American city,
They are tributes to the sincerity and
honesty with which the committee has
done its work.
There are nc "jokers." You have not
promised the people bread and given
them a stone, and the rail OF the schem-
ing politician does not lie upon these
provisions.
This is a peoples charter and should
be adopted by the people.
You will pardon me for writing at
such length, but I am so happy and
thrilled over your proposed charter that
/ could not help myself.
Very sincerely yours,
JUDSON KING,
Executive Secretary National Popular
Government League.