Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-22
WEDNESDAY. MARCH 90. 1922.
EFFICIENCY EXPERT NEEDED.

ktfltlENt1 EAfEhT NEEDED.
with some views that were ex-
pressed by State Senator James w.
Robertson at meeting held In Grace
~. Il. Church. Monday evening. for
consideration OF the public school sit
uation, many persons Will not agree. |
But the attention Of all who have an l
interest I'm good city administration |
should be challenged by his effective |
presentation OF the city's financial
situation. and his insistence that un- !
less measures are taken to check the
present tendency 20 large and ex-
travagant expenditure. the city Will
soon come face To face with bank
rurtcy. or oescompelled to resort 20
an appalling rate Of taxation. These
arc hard and stubborn facts. and they
speak for themselves.
The city now finds itself close 10
the legal limit Of It's borrowing capac-
ity. with projects OF practical import
ance demanding attention. but which
may not be adequately provided for
without further additions 20 the
bonded debt. or very burdensome In
creasos In tn. tax rate. Here IS a sit
uation that calls for the exercise Of
economy. but apparently economy has
hong since ceased 10 he an appreciable
element In our administrative system.
Also. there has been, until recent
years, practical ignoring Of the
very important question of how to
raise revenues In addition 10 that
realized from direct taxation on real
estate. which, Il will be admitted. has
about reached the limit. With inter-
est charge. that soon win mount close
70 half n million dollars annually. the
wisdom Of further additions 20 the
bonded debt. even for practical pur-
poses. appears TO be sravely doubt
ful. 80 that revenues from other
sources become the question OF para
mount importance.
When Il comes 10 economy. it may
be set down a. A fact that practical
application will meet with resistance
Under our wide and varied system oi
administration. with its numerous de
partments, each Of independent ac'
tion and with little attempt at CO
relation. there would be general &C
Quicscence IN any proposed policy o
retrenchn,ent only 20 this extent
Each department would hold that IN
pairing processes should be applies
20 the other departments. but not 4
;;s own preserves. And there IN
matter would rest. so far as the de
partmcnts are concerned. and ther
would be no economy save that whicl
City Council might be able TO ef
fec, IN the exercise of its limited au
thority In nxing the annual apprc
priations.
Senator Robertson made one yer
practical sugges;ion--a liberal reduc
,ion in salary allowances. But II
easy 10 conceive o. the storm Of ir
oignation that would be aroused b
any steps City Council or the depar
mcnts might take In this directio
duly high for these precarious time
and that the city administration cou
secure competent men and women Il
nearly all the Official places now
existence at salaries 30 10 40 per cel
less is not doubted. Also. there is re'
son for believing that the number
official places could be reduced on
fourth without impairing the efficien'
OF the service. Win safars run
nearly three-qusrters OF a million dc
lars annually, outside OF the compe
sa,ion OF our public school teachers.
Senator Robertson asserted. II is a
parent that the city is paying a gre
deal too much money for official sc
vices
But while the Information thus fl
parted Is interesting and fluminatir
there Is one statement made by Sc
ator Robertson that should make de
Impression upon all who have an ?.
terest In tho important subject. II v
that by a consolidation OF the C
d.partInents q saving of $50 900 a -
could be effected. This asserti
however, only scratches the surf
Of this element OF proposed reform
administrative methods. Not o
would there be . much larger dir
saving OF money. but the city wo