The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-10-21
A SUCCESS EVERYWHERE.

In another part of this issue of the
Herald we are reproducing parts of a
communication from Commissioner
Mayor Guyte P. McCord of Tallahas-
see, which was published in a recent
issue Of the Tampa Tribune, and tells
of the success of commission-manager
government in that city. While Mr.
+ McCord's communication shows that
the plan has been the means of pull
ing Tallahassee out of a bad hole,
J his story of the success of the commits
sion manager plan is not eXtraordin-
airy. Like evidence comes fronrprac-
tiCally every town and city that has
adopted the plan. With practical
unanimity officials and citizens of
about so cities and towns tell in
letters (Which may be seen at the
Herald office) of the successful work
ing of this modern, busness-like
form of municipal government.
Wherever a movement for reform
and adoption of the COMMISSIONERS
ager government has been started 1t
has met with opposition. AS rule
this opposition comes from the poll
ticians and office holders who fear
that If the towns or cts business is
put on business basis they viii lose
their jobs-and they often do-for
there is no room for the politician
and CRATER in the commission-man-
ager government. Fortunately, Pun
ia Gorda is afflicted with few, if any,
Of these gentry.
Opposition to thecommission-ma
ager plan often develops as a result
OF ignorance on the part of the tax
payer or voter, who has but little OPP
portunity to study the plan, which is
comparatively new. Study almost in
makes a convert OF an op- |
popent, unless he has reason to fear |
a change from the antiQuated and |
worn out, irresponsible, buck-passing, |
form to the business
like mmission-managed form. The
experience of nearly goo towns that
have adopted the commission man
lger plan proves that it is far super
or in every respect to the council
manic forum in any of its variations,
which have been given ample trial
md found wasteful, unsatisfactory
md generally unsuccessful except
or an instance here and there.
There is really no mystery about
he mmisson-manage government
t simply amounts to putting the
owns business on a business basis.
Our charter must be amended to
rovide for the change. In order to
mend our charter we must elect a
harter board. If q majority of the
harter board favor the city manageh
Ian they will amend the charter to
rovide for the city manager. After
he charter has been amended and
by the people, five commits
toner's, who will take the place of
he present council and mayor, must
re elected. When they are elected
hey will employ manager to con-
Iuct the towns affairs and carry out
he policies of the commissioners.
The commissioners sit as the board
If directors of a bank or any other
business institution, make plans and
outline policies The execution of
hese plans and the carrying out of
policies is the managers duty. who
the position Of bank cash
er or general manager of a private
Thus the commission
Frs are relieved of the detail work
hat is now being done by the coun-
I'll and mayor without remuneration
and they can give more time to max
ng plans for constructive work and
legislation
1t has been said that the commits
plan is "autocratic."
1t is insofar as the manager has
general supervision over the detail
work involved in conducting the
towns business and is held resuonsi-
Bile for every dollar of the peoples
money and for getting 100 cents
worth of service or material for
Every dollar spent. If the CITY man
lgpr DlgD iC Transformation