The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-25
CITIZENS OF INDIANA
Interested IN MOVE
TO GAIN HOME RULE
BY GEORGE w. STOUT


INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. a5.-Dwellers
in Indiana cities are taking an ever
increasing interest in the movement
to enact law giving to cities the
opportunity, by vote, to adopt the COM
mission-manage or city manager form
of local self-government. .-.
The optional feature of the proposed
law Is proving a strong factor in the
advancement of the proposed legisla-
ton. The people apparently like the
idea of leaving the decision to vote
of the folks most concerned. 1t is not
proposed that cities shall adopt an ar
bitrary system whether that system is
locally in demand or not.
Offers Opportunity.
AS proved by experience in some 1875
cities in the United States, the city
manager plan offers a real opportun-
ity to obtain betterment in city gov
eminent The scheme never is dis
carded once it goes in effect, according
70 the statistics. There may be cities
mat do not care to adjust their affairs
to the plan, but on the other hand. it
is pointed out, there are many cities
that strongly desire to go to vote
on the question.
Here are some of the good things
The commission form of government
has done for many cities where it has
been used:
1t has eliminated party designations
end has put the selection of city man.
ayers on a basis purely local and prac-
tical instead of persisting in the plan
of fighting city elections on the tariff
issue or on some other national ques-
ton such as the currency.
Nominate by Petition.
Under the plan nomination by petit
ton has been made possible.
Financial control over expenditures
has been improved and responsibility
for good government, economy and
service has been definitely centralized
as it should be.
Under the commission plan, as has
been suggested. the ballot has been
shortened and the old ward system Of
representation, with it's narrow de-
mands and petty trades for selfish ends
has been done away with.
In the city manager plan some of the
weak points in the commission form
of city government have been obviated
in large measure. The city manager
has come to be recognized factor.
There is field for good men in this
profession. Public service thus has
become real career.
One Expert Good.
With trained city manager in
charge the city has one expert head
rather than half a dozen amateurs. 1t
tends to expert service and calls for
the civil service principle of contin-
uing experts in service for the good of
all. With a trained expert in city
management on the job better admin
strative efficiency is made certain,
which is precisely what the good peo-
Die of every city most desire in their
local affairs.
Galveston and Dayton. cities reborn
out of disaster, adopted altered forms
of management. A score of years ago
The commission form was chosen by
Galveston. Five or more years ago
Dayton took on the city manager plan.
The principle is an old one. In the
carly days the cities were governed by
commissions. The party plan and the
''federaI'system now in vogue was
erected as a means for fostering and
Strengthening political party organ
lzations in off-years. The general de-
mand for return to the commission
form or to the city manager plan for
municipalities indicates strongly that
many cities do not look upon the exist
ing system as success.