Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-12-15

government
EXPLAINED

city government. Mr. Greene con-
tended IS the same as a business ad-
ministration OF a large mercantile
enterprise. your city is greater
and Is heavier capitalized than any
private concern. Its affairs are
yours and its money Is your money
he said
No private business could long
succeed If managed as the average
city is managed. Mr. Greene said. He
pointed TO the worn out method OF
selecting Job holders" without re-
gard 20 their merits or without a
civil service examination and con-
tinuing them in Office until the ex-
! piration OF their terms A private
business enterprise would not toler-
ate a useless employe. very long. he
asserted.
DaybOn's municipal government
was changed from the old Federal
system" TO the commission-manag
form shortly after the disastrous
food OF 1918.
Under the plan ~lere are Eve de-
partments each with commissioner.
elected at large. The commission
selects the city manager who has
jurisdiction over all the departm ents.
acting under the authority OF the
commission. Mr.. Green explained.
The five departments are law.
finance. public safety. public service
and public welfare. Mr. Greene ex-
planned in detail the functions OF
the departments.
Under the finance department all
moneys collected and disbursed come
through the one agency. This de-
partment includes purchasing
agent. who buys supplies and
materials for all branches OF the city
government. Mr.. Greene said that
the purchasing agent did not have
I free rein and that all expenditures
above $500 must be approved by the
commission.
/ One OF the FIRST results OF the
/ commisslon-manager plan. declared
the speaker. had been the wiping out
OF an annual deficit in Dayton. which
in 1918 reached SOS. 900. He then
cited numerous savings effected in
the various branches OF the city
government.
Citing the fire department. he
showed where $4,000 was saved in
buying equipment. In city paving
work. Mr. Greene said. large sav-
ings have been effected. while in the
water department the mains have
been extended 6s per cent. with an
SO per cent increase In the water
supply.
Mr.. Greene said that Dayton has
one OF the best police systems in
the country.
As proof or the efficiency IN the
fire and poice bureaus. Mr.. Greene
cited Insurance rates. He said FIRE
insurance rates have been cut 81
per cent. with an annual saving OF
100000. and that a further decrease
Of IS per cent is expected. He said
the automobile theft insurance rate
in DAYTON was the lowest in the
country.
Dayton's declining death rate was
also a factor cited by Mr.. Green. In
1918 70 was ISL per thousand. inl
1919. 1f5 per thousand and last year
1856 per thousand. he said. a great
increase in Fairgrounds and other
forms Of municipal outdoor life has
followed in the wake OF commission
In response TO a question as to
what effect the new governmental /
system had on the tax rate. Mr.. |
Greene said that in 1918. the last !
year under the old governmental |
system the tax rate was S14.40 on I
the 81 900. and in 1921, after seven I
years Of the commission plan. the I
tax rate was S29.60 on the $1,000
more than double the rate Of the Z
last year under the old plan.
Speaking Of the initiative and ref ]
erendum and recall. ne said one /
election under that plan cost over 4
$4,000. It was pointed out by some
hearers that a city election in VIII
mington costs between $4,000 and
$4,000.
Yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Greene
and members OF the Citizens Charter
Committee held a conference in the
Hotel dupont at which features of
the proposed measure for presenta-
ton to the General Assembly were
Mr.. Greene returned to
Dayton. late last night.