Pueblo chieftain. (Pueblo, Colo.) 1889-current, 1921-10-26
A Leap in the Dark


The Chieftan invites particular attention to the com
muncaon printed in this mornings paper and signed
by well-known business man declaring that he will
vote for the city maager plan proposed in amend
to the city charter
There two for printing this communca
ton. First The Chieftan desires that its readers shall
form their opinions with full knowledge of the matter
under considerations; and second this letter tic
the principal arguments for the proposed change
and to suggest the principal against such
change the present time
Briefly summarized the argument is that the city
manager plan would bring about desirable conditions in
the city government that desired by all good citizens
such the suppression of bootlesgng, gambling and
prostitution the prevention of graft, improvement in
street maintenance and reduction in the cost of city
This result would be gained because of the
Capitalization of control of the city government and ii
further stated that under such system outlying
district would be able to get its share of public improve
ments readily than under the present system, as
city officials would not then be able avoid personal
responsibility.
This argument is good far it goes but it does
all the ground. If the city plan would
accomplish all that its promoters promise, there would
be little objection to its establishment. But the
fact is that the people of Pueblo have guarantee that
these results would be gained and there very serious
danger that the plan might bring evils that would
than balance its benefits. The city manager advo
Gates promise nothing that not promised by the in
PRODUCERS of the Commission plan, and they offer
better guarantee of its
The whole argument for and against the proposed
change hangs upon the point whether the city
can do and will do what the promoters of this amend
ment claim he will do.
IF PUEBLO is WILLING TO PAY A COMPETENT
MANAGER WHAT THE SERVICES OF SUCH A
MANAGER ARE WORTH; IF THE PEOPLE OF
PUEBLO REALLY WANT A CITY GOVERNMENT
RUN ON A BUSINESS BASIS, AND NOT SUBJECT
TO POLITICAL, PERSONAL OR OTHER INFLU-
ENCES THAT ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE IN
ERESTS OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE; IF THE CITY
COUNCIL, AS PROPOSED, CAN BE DEPENDED
UPON TO APPOINT AS CITY MANAGER A BUSI
NESS EXPERT WHO HAS BOTH THE ABILITY
AND COURAGE TO RUN THE CITY BUSINESS ON
BUSINESS BASIS; IF THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
FIND THAT KIND OF A CITY MANAGER FOR
PUEBLO; IF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PEG.
PIE GENERALLY WILL GIVE THAT KIND OF A
SPITE OF THE STORMS OF ABUSE, CALUMNY
AND ASPERSION THAT WILL SURELY BE d.
RECTED AGAINST HIM:-then the City Manager plan
ought to be adopted
If the proposed City Council puts the tremendous
man power into the hands of weak, inefficient, and
easily influenced cheap into the hands of
political schemer; appoints manager man who
will hold his position by trying to satisfy the demands
of every part of the city for local improvements or if
the City Council expects to make of the City Manager
merely the executive agent of the majority of the council
changing the and his policy from time to time
the majority of the council changes then the change
to the City Manager plan will not be improvement
but 1t will make the city than it
under the commission plan.
Every additional power given to the City Manager
may be power for good; but it may be power for
evil.
The proposition of the City Manager promoters is tc
turn the city for the next two years City Man
ager now unknown TO be appointed by council of ten
not elected by the people but named in the charter
Under present conditions with the millions to be spent
for flood prevention involved we'll the ordinary
work of city government the risk is too great