South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-13
MARCH -, 1921
HUGHES AND WILSON AND 2,657.403
PEOPLE OF 14O AMERICAN CITIES
FAVOR COMMISSION-MANAC
CITY GOVERNMENT PLAN

During the last 10 years 40 American cities ana
towns-wth population Of 2,657,4O3 peoIle,-have
adopted the city-nanager plan Of city government
the commission manager plan made possible in In
diana by the recent state assembly-and not one Of
those cities or towns has tired of it, none has voted
to go back to the old regime of partisan intrigues
With all faults that the politicians have sought
coniure up against the system, and despite par
tsan efforts to make the system fail. the people love
10 still
Popular acclaim runs to the effect that the city
manager system is entitled a few faults; that
nothing is perfect this side the Great River; that
however some things are more perfect than others
and that
"This comparatively new arrangement for
the conduct Of city affairs is such marked inn
provement over all predecessors, having but one
fault TO their bakers dozen, that to talk about
surrenderins the few 20 re-embrace the many
would approach the borderine Of inanity."
That quotation, You needn't take it from us. It
a from Hon. Charles Evans Hughes, ex-governor
Of the state of New York former associated justice
Of the United states supreme court republican
didate for the presidency in 1916. secretary
Of state in PRIEST Warren G. Hardns's cabinet. Mr..
Hughes is president of the National Municipal
league-and here is another some such opinion from
a man also somewhat publicly known:
ct regard the cournissioner-nlanage plan Of
municipal government as marked advance
over any plan heretofore tried in this country,
from the standpoint Of both efficiency and de-
mocracy''-
the language Of Woodrow Wilson. No two in
America have a larger personal following attended
10y confidence in their judgment public questions,
than Sec'y Hughes and ex-Pres't Wilson, of opposite
political faiths but one this subject as they
been ON "a number of other things when politics
is eliminated.
There is not a single argument IN favor of
present system of municipal government except the
inehciency of it, secretly liked by the politicians;
this and the misuse that is always made Of the pub
nc funds under it the upbuilding and main
tenance of rarity machines-also secretly cherished
by those who think OF government only in
OF partisan advantage. If YOU say the present
tenn win meet all requirements with the right men
elected to the offices our answer is that we have
other way Of judging the future but by the past and
as it never has met the requirements, we have to
assume it has never brought the right men into it,
md probably never VIII Besides, il the right men
would do so wen under the present system the prob
ability is that they would do much better under
improved system.
Anyhow the people in the cities that have tried
ii seem like it and that is about good a
mendauon you get for anything 1t is
simple. Instead of "a rag-chewing. tag-hauling city
election. involving political parties than the
city government. and party intrigues more than
ncipaI affairs, party labels discarded under the
1onaraission-rnauager system. and community well
fare becomes the primal consideration. commits
sion is chosen instead of common council; sort
Of board Of directors five in number, instead of ten
councumen-chieay concerned in pulling political
wires. The commission employs city manager who
has mode a study of. and whose business
manage the city. this instead of the people electlng
a mayor. mainly it has worked out, to build up
a political machine, and pay campaign debts
through the appointment of a multiplicity of boards
clerkships etc.
Unqussuona5ly so percent Of the ineficiency in
ciiy government comes from its administration in
the interests Of political party rather than
the interests of the people. Tx has always been
Municipal government has been altogether
a matter ~ rewarding The successful party and too
little matter Of serving the public Even where the
law anticipates bi-partisanship. as the case Of
several the governing boards it has been evaded
as for instance. in the case Of Mayor Carson who
picaed democrats who had bolted their party in the
city election TO sve him their support. Dspensation
with party labels The choice of commissioners re-
fariless ~ party and che elimination of party
gsu.zatious from the conduct OF elections, would
wrins great deal of that partisan poison. not only
out Of tho elections but of the administrations
resulting from them.
The city manager. slave to no party, would have
20 party debts pay, and realizing that the COM
mission with which he serves IS non-partisan body
with succeeding commissioners to be similarly
chosen. would be able 20 proceed with the cty's
business on basis OF getting the eitys work done
and done by competent men. regardless Of how they
voted at The election or viii vote next time. The
result ZOO would be a whole TOT Of peanuts taken
cut OF politics. something that South Bend needs
and needs badly.
Take a lesson from the 14o American cities who
have given the cty-manager s. stem trial