The Connecticut labor news., 1921-06-03

and in each the so-called Citizens Ticket was successful in the election of it's candidates by large majorities, with the exception of one year when the majority was small.
 Among the outstanding features which might be mentioned IS the pur- chasing department installed lmmcdl- atcly after the plan was adopted. In this department competitive bids were secured, for the requirements of all the divisions of the city's activities and purchases are made on the ColleC- tive plan, thereby saving for the city very considerable sum each year, many thousands of dollars over the cost of the administration of the de- partmcnt.
 A well organized, thorough depart ment of health was established with the result that the death rate was low cred the first year a very considerable percentage, and infant mortality was reduced more than 40 per cent. This department has rendered splendid service ever since.
 The department of public welfare, which includes the health department, | also superviscs the public parks, play grounds, recreation fields, dance halls, l bathing beaches and boating courses, with the result that all these things have been put on much higher plane | than ever before.
 There are five distinct departments, as follows:
 I. Department of law, which does not include the municipal court. ,. Department of finance 3. Department of public works. l. Department of safety, cmbrac- ing police and fire departments. ,. Department of public welfare. We have had better streets, better service in the removal of ashes, rub ! bish and garbage, better equipped fire department, better administered fin anccs and in many other ways a more | business-like administration. MT. Henry M. Waite, our first city | manager, entered the government ser vice during the war and went to Eu- rope, where he rendered most efficient and valuable service in the transpor- tation division, thus we lost him to the city. He was succeeded by his director of public works, MT. J. F.. Barlow. MT. Barlow recently resign ed and we now have our third man ager in the period of little over seven years in the person of MT. Will liam C. Barber,
 The adoption of this form of gov, ernment was a severe blow tO the old line politicians, of both political par ties. Our government had been for some time very poorly managed, no matter which party was in power. | Appointments were made with refer ence to service to party in preference to qualifications and fitness. The old city council was the typical sort of a body which need not be described l here.
 | Our commissioners under the new form have been conscientious men who have tried to administer the af- | fairs of the city Conscientiously and to the best of their ability.
 The city has never made such pro- gross in any period of twice the num- Der of years as 1t has in hte last sev- en. We have had a number of maga- zine and newspaper writers visit us for the story of our government and 1t has created great deal of interest throughout the country. Our last wis itor who inquired into it was MT. Szo, Chinese minister at Washington.
 MT. C. E. Rightor has published a book on The Commission Manager Plan in Dayton" which not only de- scribes it, but gives very much of the detail of it's workings and the results of the first few years.
 We would by no means consider going back to the old federal plan You will find very few people in Day. ton outside of the socialists, who would consider such a thing. The improv ement is so marked that we could not afford to go back to the ole regime.
 (Signcd) GEO. B. SMITH,
 Mutual Home Building,
 Dayton, Ohio
 Note: MT. Smith is a leading cti zen of Dayton and a former presiden of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce
 L. $. HORNER,
 Acme Wire Co.