The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-04-27

the new city council to some of the
dangers which beset the path of city
under the city manager form OF gov
eminent and likewise showing how the
city of Muskegon, Mich, of which he
is now city manager, has overcome
these and established an efficient and
satisfactory government, ]. r. Ellison
appeared at the special meeting OF the
council on Monday evening and out
lined for them the plan of government
which the Michigan city has found sue
cessful. The plan in a nutshell is that
the city must be organized just as any
other great industry and that this or
ganization must cooperate with the
city manager the commission and the
oublic to produce results.
The speaker is a man Of more than
,en years experience in the work Of
being city manager, having pioneered
his form of government, first at Eden
Sapids, later at Grand Rapids, and in
;he last few years at Muskegon, in all
81 which places he has been very suck
,essful in his work. He an appli-
cant for the position of city manager
Of Kenosha and was given hearing in
order that he might show how Muske-
gon had profited under his guidance.
Must Produce Results.
"The government which you organize
must produce results" said Mr.. Eli
son, "and produce them with harmony,
cooperation and courtesy. We who
have worked on these problems have
found much in practice which we do
not find in theory and we have devel-
oped practical way of doing things, 4
although we still realize that we are
on path that has not been trodden."
He explained that he had first tried
a committee form and found it made
quate inasmuch as it made a igurehead
of the city manager; he declared that
he had also tried using commission as
a committee of the whole and that this
had been very bunglesome; he stated
that the plan now in use at Muskegon
was 8 combination of these, having the
committee act as advisor to the city
manager and both to report to the
commission for action.
Organize at Factory.
"At Muskegon, the remainder of the
city government is organized just as
it would be organized in large fac
tory" he continued. "The heads Of the
departments are like superintendent
of various parts of a factory; they
meet every Monday with the city man
ager in an efficiency bureau capacity
aud discuss matters which are to be
laid before the commission, They
make out report showing the trend
of conditions in the city for years past
which helps to govern the commits
soners. The heads of departments
must also file each day a report of
their work, which is tabulated by the
secretary of the manager. A copy of
this daily report is sent to each COM
missioner so that he is kept in con-
slant touch with the affairs of the
city,"
Make Expenses Fit Budget.
The speaker explained that in Mus
kegon the commission sets the budget
and that this was apportioned out to
the various departments and each must
stay within the amount set. At the
end of the year, if anything remains in
the amount, it is to the record of the
department, This sum is returned to
ne commission and out of that last
r 100000 was saved in Muskegon
.,s,d the money used for paving not
included in the original plans for the
year. !
He also explained that complaint
? department was establis led there
where every citizen might file a re-
+ quest or a complaint A rule that this
must be followed through and a report
made to the citizen is carried inland
convinces the citizen that the govern
ment is actually functioning. 1t was
declared that with this plan and with
cooperation among the officials and
from the public the city manager form
of government would prove highly sue
cessful.
Has Helped Muskegon.
The speaker cited illustrations to
show how Muskegon had been trans
formed from city where Conditions
were bad due to the rule of politicians"
to one where economy and efficiency
we're established and the citizens salts
bSQs OA OHG SGWST COuJIACL- the Guy
saved $4,000; blanket insurance saved
another large sum; property belonging
to the city was discovered and many
other interesting changes made. He
explained that it had taken very little
change in the personnel of the officials
of the city but had merely guided them
in the proper direction.
The members of the Kenosha council
were very much impressed with the
talk of Mr.. Ellison and declared that
his suggestions would most certainly
aid them in their present situation
They are to keep in touch with him
and he has promised to aid them in
whatever capacity may be needed.
Mr.. Ellison brought little hope that
city manager would be soon selected.
He said that probably there would be
600 applications, as there were that
many several years ago at Muskegon
The council also received written APP
plications from a score of others seek
ing the place.
Tire of Old Petitions.
The new council showed its disgust
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