The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-26

OIL home rule for the Palladium. The
fourth follows:
Sooner or later every American city
will elect it's officials without the in
tervention of the political boss. or
corporate dictator, and provide for
some sort of direct legislation from
the people. The idea is coming rapid
ly to be an essential part of the Amer
ican plan of self-government.
Commission manager government
will not work all the wonders that
some of it's ardent advocates promise,
neither will it subvert our American
institutions, as the "standpat politi-
clans" predict. manager
government, as had been proved in
many instances, is a decided step for
ward in municipal administration. The
results obtained by commissions and
managers In other cities prove con
olusively that the people, the taxpay-
ers, have been getting more of service
and satisfaction than under the old
federal plan.
Hence, commission-manager govern
ment is a desirable part of the equip
ment of an intelligent democracy-a
democracy of infinitely greater intelli-
gence in public action than were the
self-selected leaders of public thought
half century ago.
imasinery Evils.
Those who trouble their minds ana
harass their spirits with gloomy pre-
dictions of the consequences of "kais-
erizing" municipality. through the
adoption of the commission-manager
form of government, are chiefly
troubled with imaginary evils, else are
selfishly clutching at political or
personal control which is fast slip
ping from their hands. At all events,
this is proving true in. commission
manager governed cities. where citi-
zens are content enough to permit
their elected, paid representatives to
Go their governing for them, so long
as they do it tolerably well and get
results.
Neither popular rule nor commits
sion-manager plan can bring about the
perfect municipal government They
do not bring about a miracle in city
administration, hut they do remove
numerous impediments to good gov.
eminent, behind which official fail
ures have for long time taken ref
uge. Commission ma nager govern
ment. brought about through the cleo.
tion and appointment of non-partisan
officials, and without regard to ward
or party lines, helps keep city prob
lens separate from state and national
problems. Thus, the people are en-
abled to choose officials wisely and
remove them promptly, and by the
same token the people who choose
the commissioners are given a part
OF the responsibility for good govern
ment in their respective municipal
tiles. Municipal efficiency cannot be
attained merely by the processes
supplied by the commission or com
mission manager plans. This fact is
patent to all who know anything
about municipal government here.
Based on Understanding
To be progressively efficient. mu
nicipal service must be based upon g
complete and continuing understand
ing of the special social and economic
requirements Of the community. This
understanding is gained through Off
cial study and citizen cooperation
City governments past inefficiency
and waste may be attributed in a great
inca sure TO citizen and official toler
ance of conditions demanding govern
ment action, and the consequent low
public expectation of government
service. City government acquires ef
ficiency when the public, or a suffi
Cient number of effective citizens
have definite expectations of govern
mental service which inefficient gov
ernment disappoints.
While the commission manager
form Of government, undoubtedly
would give to this city better anC
more satisfactory service, yet The
greatest possible results cannot b'
brought about if there is a lack o
citizen interest and cooperation. Th'
plan of electing commissioners a
large and without regard to politica
lines, and the appointment by then
of a specially trained and qualified
manager. puts into the citizens hand
the opportunity to base municipa
elections upon a program of munici
pal service. Having participated il
an election on that tasis, it therefor
behooves every voter to continue hi
interest after the votes are counted
The service the voter gets demand
that he aggressively support those h.
has helped place in office.