Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-21
A GENTLEMAN FROM AFRICA
Town Clerk Logan, OF BIoemfonteln,
10 Giving Philadelphia "the Once.
over''--He 10 the Municipal Man.
assr Of 10000 People--A
Wonderful City
BY GEORGE Nox MCCAIN
LOGAN is in PHILADELPHIA.


T p. LOGAN is in Philadelphia.
-. Under the tutenge and guidance OF
Clinton Rogers Woodruff, president of the
Civil Service Commission, he Is doing
the city.
That is, he is posting himself upon GER
tain phases of our municipal management.
Public welfare is big card In his port
folio OF desired information. Civil service
Is another.
Largest Of all, perhaps-4and we haven't
a sample on the shelf-is municipal man
agement by commission.
But Mr.. Lewis Is going where they do
have this advanced form Of government.
He is here for that purpose.
Moreover, he is the official observer and
peripatetic chronicfer for what is one OF the
world.
And It is located in Africa. ..
IT'S name is Bloemfonten.
l. Thirty five years ago, when the ninth
edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica"
was put out, 1t was 80 insignificant that It's
name did not appear in that plethoric pub
lication. '...'.
1t is the capital Of the Orange Free State.
Orange Free State is in South Africa,
and is noted for Its wool, diamonds, ostrich
feathers and hides. r#
Boemfontein has population Of 10000
and It leads the world as an up-to- date
city.
At least Mr.. Lewis says so, and he fur
nishes facts to back up his assertions.
He is the business manager or chief ad-
ministration official of the city.
Officially he is known as the Town Clerk.
CThey call It clark" down there, the same
as in England.)
He is what the councilmanic majority In
Philadelphia aspires, helplessly, to be,
Mr.. Logan has been sent forth, like the
scouts Of Israel, to Spy out tho land"
He expects to visit every country and cap
ital Of Western Europe; also some in Amer
municipal management is his Job.
The city Of Bloemfontein is paying his
expenses.
they made liberal appropriation for my
trip, but they. unfortunately, didn't know
anything about the tariffs Of American
hotels" he said plaintively.
MIR. LOGAN looks like William Gillette
AN1 and talks like George Arlss.
Bloemfontein Is, among the cities OF the
world. the favored child and shining example
Of municipal paternalism.
The city Is everything-the citizen moth
ing.
That is, nothing to speak Of Once the
citizen elects him Mayor and Council. and
City Clerk is selected he goes his non
chaant way and leaves the Town Clerk, as
IL, III.
And maybe he doesn't run them?
The municipality owns the heating, water,
trolley and transportation systems.
1t controls every public utility, clear
down to the municipal laundries
1t is the public washcrwoman as we'll MS
the policeman, fireman, electrician. trolley
conductor, real estate agent. pawnbroker.
nurse to the orphan and caretaker of the
aged and infrm.
Public welfare is it's long suit.
n,t, ,,.itl oil h.
ties are not contented.
They arc constantly seeking ways wherein
they may improve upon their present system
Councilmanic systems are passe already
with them.
They are casting longing eyes upon the
commission form of city government
In the expressive slang of the rising
Philadelphia generation, "They are sure
some go getters.'
uERE are few sample pages from the
IL book of Bloemfontein by Mr. Lewis:
In the ncighborhood of the city are
27,000 acres of Orange Free State land
The city owns 1t. This land is sold by the
city to home builders. with certain restric-
tiOns.
These restrictions enable the municipality
to maintain supervisory interest in the
property and see that its benefcent laws
and ordinances are respected and obeyed
Whenever any land is sold the money is
at once renvested In other land.
More than ~ :ooo, ,O.'O worth OF 1t has been
sold and there is still So 900 900 worth re-
naming to be disposed Of.
The land originally cost the municipality
S2oo.
ITHEfNE solved the housing problem.
L too.
The Orange Free State dumped that
IS. seized - 81 900, 900 worth Of German
money.
Germany gets per cent on 1t while in the
States hands. The state and city build