Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-08
RESEARCH BUREAU
SEEKS0!NLY LYFACTS
B ody Supported by Private
Funds Restates Under
lying Motives
NO FACTl0NAL POLITICS

The Bureau Of Municipal Research.
an organization supported by private
fu, DIS for the study of public questions.
today restated it's underlying purposes,
commissioning that it is nonpdi tisen and
that it concerns itself with facts and
not factional politics. o
In it's initial bulletin for 1870 the
Juroau declared:
"In the first place. the Bureau OF
Municipal Research is nonpartisan--
really nonpartisan. That does not mean
that the contributors, trustees and stan
members may not take sides as lndi-
viduas OH local or national issues. They
do. and their individual opinions vary
widely But the agency, as such, ap-
proaches public problems without refer
ence to partisan or factional considera
tions, with complete open -mindedness
and with but one ipterest--the public s.
No political or religious qualification or
disqualification has ever affected the
appointment of member of the stan.
Is Fact Agency
"The bureau is fact agency. 1t
concerns itself with the study of con-
ditions and problems rs they are and it
builds it's constructive recommendation
on conditions as revealed by painstak-
ing study and examination.
1.-THE bureau is scientific agency.
In order correctly to interpret facts and
to make useful recommendations it must
utilize the technique of the laboratory
for accuracy. To do this it must have
a trained personnel. Its staff includes
representatives of the following pro-
fessions and fields of training: Law,
medicine, engineering, accounting, sta
tistics, pedagogy, business administra-
ton. social work, personnel manage
mcnt.
"The bureau is not interested in
scandals, exposures, undertaking. It's
studies have shown the difficulties
too frequently underestimated-ot the
public official, and it co operates sin
cerely in the solution of problems when :
ever CO. operative relations are possible.
At the same time it has never promised
any officer or board immunity from pub
licity because pleasant CO. operation
may have characterized the initial or
long. standing relations between such
official or body and the bureau.
Results Beneficent
"The studies in departments have
been conducted ON the assumption that
the responsible official should have the
first opportunity to utilize any hndlngss
or recommendations that may be OF
value. This technique has usually been
productive of benefcent results.
"Transcending in Importance the
special study of given department
bureau or minor community problem, Is
the work of continuous research IN
major fields such as the law and struc =
unH finance IhG
practical application of this continuous
research is illustrated by the form OF
service the bureau was able to render
during the recent successful charter
campaign. Its day by day usefulness; is
illustrated by the bureaus information
service. which is being used by an ever
increasing circle of officials, citizens and
students.
Attitude Is Same
"While the bureau will strive, for the
sake of Philadelphia, for the successful
carrying out of the improved charter.
its attitude toward the new Mayor and
Council at the start will be precisely
as was its initial attitude toward the
three preceding administrations under
which the bureau has lived and grown,
1.-THE bureau will not be the apologist
for, nor the whitewasher of, any otticia
or any councilman, regardless OF his
political or factional alignment. Noi
will it be hostile to, or cautiously criti
cal of, any municipal legislator or ad
ministrative oficer-be he Guelph OF
Ghibelline.
1.-THE bureau has exceptional facilities
and assembled experience. These it viii
be glad to have utilized for the purpose
of securing more effective and service
able municipal government. In th'
future, as in the past, the main con
Germ of the bureau will be to strive fol
city government that shall render tt
its citizens full value for their taxes
and abundant returns for community O.
! &c