Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-27
Gty.Mar1ager Plan
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

A: On; Tuesday, October a, 19Zl,
between the. hours of sunrise and
sunset, at the usual voting places in
the respective wards
@: Who will be qualified to vote ct
said special election?
A. All qualified voters, both n,aie
aid female, who will be entitled t.
: vote at the general election to DC
held November s,r-1921.
G: What is the form of the ballot
: BIZ which the qualified voters ex
press their CHOICE. and from whom
obtained?
A: The ballot will be furnished to
each voter by the. judges OF election
in the respective wards, and will be
in form following, namely:
'For proposed change IN form or
municipal government:
Against proposed change in forn
of municipal government.
Q: How IS me ballot to be marked
py the voter to express his or her
choice?
A: IF the vo:ac desires to vote for
the change in. form of municipal gov
: erlmcnt, he or she, must draw q !ille
through the word against. If the
voter desires to vote against change,
he or she, must draw line Through
the word "for I"
0: What is the object or purpose
CT said special election?
A: To determine whether the
qualified voters Of the city desire t.
abandon the present form OF munlc-
ionl governm e.t, and to adopt. lnS
City Manager form OF. mun:clpal
government.
9: Why not have q commission
form of municipal government under
the supervision and direction Of the
present form of municipal govern
ment? Because the commission form
of munic,pal government under
suck conditions has failed of success
wherever it has been tried, and las
been abandoned as unavoidable and
unsatisfactory.
Q: Why has the commission form
of municipal government failed!
A: Because it. is dependent upon
a City Council composed OF two
boards, and the approval of the, Ma
yor fer both legislative and admin
istrative power, and for all appr"-
priations necessary to render It ef1ic'
lent IF either branch of the; CITY
Council, or the Mayor, is hostile. to
the commission, its hands are tied.
This situation has often occurred,
and has proven such form OF gov
eminent a failure and generally IN
satisfactory.
c.: Why not have City Manager
urder the supervision of the present
form of city government!
A: 1t has been tried and proven
unsatisfactory, fer the same reasons
that have made unsatisfactory the
commission form of municipal gov
eminent under the supervision Of a
Council, Board Of Aldermen, and
Mayor.
Q: What, if anything has been
Gore since The election OF oeptem-
Der, 1919, by those who voted for the
continuance Of the present form OF
municipal government, toward the
adoption OF any plan or measure to
;mprove tie administrative affairs
OF our city, or for the betterment OF
conditions in the administration OF
the business Of our municipality.
"A: Nothing We are drifting along
with the same clogs and enbaraSs-
merits. expanding money in excess of
the revenues of the city, borrowing
money for the current needs OF the
muoiclr:,lity, and without any ad-
rn:nistrative mead to direct its hasi'
ness Affairs
@. What is the matter with the
present form of municipal govern
!nent?
A: CD No responsible head of the
admins trative affairs of our city.
(2) Tie responsibility Of the city
government is divided between the
Mayor, Common Council, Board ct
Aldermen. ana large number OF
committees O. each board, and no
single responsible head to look to
in the management Of the City's al.
fairs. ~ The Mayor has no al
&Erin.srrat!ve powers. The Cry
Courci, has to depend upon its many
committees. Matters must be reser'
red TO committees before action by
Council, causing many times serious
delays in important and urgent mat
ters. the loss Of valuable time, &C
not infrequently money, because nc
tor cannot be promptly had. Thare
must be quorum of both the Coun--
Gil and Aldermen present to transact
any business, and frequently t is
impossible to secure quorum N
either body. Both Council and A.
dermcn must agree before any i'm
portant matters can be put into et-
feet. The Council has sixteen men,
bcrs and the Aldermen eight mem
beers. The eight Aldermen can tie
the hands Of the sixteen Ccunclimen,
and wee versa. and the Mayor by, his
veto. may tie the hands of the whole
twenty-four. The Council of sixteen
may pass an important measure by
unaEmious vote, and yet five A.
dermn can reject it. Council and
Aldermen may pass very important
and urgent matter by a bare major
ity Of each; the Mayor, by veto, nay
defeat 1t, as it requires two talr,ts
vote Of each board to overcome the
veto Of the Mayor. The present
plan is not suited to the present age,
wher organization and coordi-
nation are necessary to meet the