Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-05

Virginia City Transformed BY
Commission-M Manager Rule

garbage collectlon, etc., are under as
sistant engineers who report direct
to the director of public works
Asked what he considered the
greatest gain to the city from city
management, City Manager Ash
burner said:
Il wish to state distinctly and with
out any reservation that the great
est things accomplished by the city
manager form of government are the
absolute elimination of politics from
the city administration and substi-
tuting merit for political pull. The
elimination of ward lines, thereby
causing people to think of the COM
munity as a whole, creates the here
tofore unknown spirit of co-opera-
ton.
"a city only gets the kind of gov
ernment the people deserve, and all
credit for the things that are ac
-complished is due to the people, who
by their support make it possible for
public officials to render the service
for which they are paid
When Norfolk decided to abandon
the old form of Mayor and Council
government it wanted to make sure
that its new City Manager would
be man who would not be inf1uenc-
ed by any faction or clique of the old
political rings This was made GER
tain by calling C. E. Ashburne, from
Springfield, Ohio, where he had been
successful city manager from 1914
to September, 1919, when Norfolk
got him. Ashburne is undoubtedly
one of the best equipped men in the
country for the job, having been the
first city manager of the first city
manager city in the country, Staun-
ton, Virginia, from 1908 to 1911.
He is a civil engineer by profession,
educated in England, France and
Germany with long experience in
private practice. Norfolk now pays
him $4,000 a year and considers it
self lucky.
The new plan of government IN
Norfolk calls for the election of five
councilmen from the city at large.
They represent no ward, division,
faction or political party. THESE Eaen
in turn select the City Manager. who
serves like any other employee, as
long as he makes good. His job is
dependent upon no political party or
pull of any kind.
An effort to secure opinions from
leading citizens~of Norfolk in various
lines of work shows that the new
regime meets with general approval.
H. H. Rumble of the firm of Rum
BILE & Rumble, attorneys at law, said:
'What the new form of govern
ment has meant to Norfolk may be
summarized in the statement that. 1t
has meant thorough-going business
administration of the affairs of the
city We have well organized and
very efficient police force, cleaner
streets, increased speed and effic-
iency in handling public business,
and an extensive program of street
and other public improvements now
under way. | know of no thoughtful
citizen who would be willing to return
to the old order of things
Henry G. Batbee, of the Harris,
Woodson, Barbee Company, says:
"City Management here is business
management consisting of five busl-
ness men with d general manager;
which means in turn that the busi-
ness of the city is handled around a
table like the directors and general
manager of any business handle theii
business. City Manager government
has proven in the minds Of every
GOOD business man that it is a great
success. / do not believe that | am
putting it too strong when | state
that we are getting thirty-three and
one-third per cent more results from
actual money spent than ever be-
fore"
"Wonders have been worked in the
systematic routine of affairs in the
short time the city manager form of
government has been inaugurated, +"
said V. G. Swirtz, of the firm of
Miller, Rhoads and Swartz. politics
have been entirely eliminated from
city affairs Red tape has been abol-
she'd and power and authority have
been concentrated under one head.
Perfect harmony results, the mana
ger and council are working together
as one"