Evening journal., 1923-01-31
Many Cities Think Well
ofMdnager Government


joyed commissi ion-manager govern
ment for the past nine years, found
that organized labor was strongly
lined up for the change from the
Federal system, according TO t. j.
Creager, business manager for the
Springfield Labor Assembly. Re
ferring to an inquiry as 10 what
organized labor's attitude there was
Mr.. Creager writes:
Il do not recall that there was
any opposition TO the proposition.
Prior 10 the adoption OF the new
form OF government an effort was
made 10 interest all of the citizens.
Thas was done by getting all civic
bodies 10 cooperate. Representa-
ton was given TO all classes on the
charter commission OF fifteen. We
saw 10 It that organized labor was
represented, not only by its own
members, but we also boosted other
candidates whom we thought would
support provisions we desired in the
new charter. As the charter was
being drafted and the public was
kept informed Of the proceedings
and when the work was completed
a general committee was formed
which fostered and promoted the
adoption OF the new form OF gov
ernment.
What has been the benefits TO
the city over the old way2 More
efficient results have been obtained.
The city, instead OF being exploited
by partisan politicians. has become
more OF a business institution. The
principal practical feature OF the
commissioner form Of city
government Is that It aims TO fix
responsibility. The commission and
manager are vested with definite au-
thority IN directing the affairs of
the city, and they must give a lit
eral accounting OF their work"
Mt. Pleasant, Mich.-City taxes |
for 1922 were lower than for any |
OF the three years previous. accord |
ing TO official reports fled with the |
city commission by City Manager |
Carl H. Peterson. There will be no
advance In the tax rate Of 1923.
Redding, Cal.-Profts from the
municipal electric light plant, due
10 efficient and economical opera
ton under direction OF City Man
ager Holison. were s8.sSO.04 dur
ing the first three months.
Blueheld. W. Va.-After exactly
one years administration, under the
commission-manag form OF gov
ernment, City Manager c. z. Rid
ley converted a S22. 100000 munich
- I
New London. Conn.-Although
this city had a tax rate OF SO "a
mills. the highest IN It's history. a
floating debt OF S1S5.OOO.OO. unpaid
bills OF s2O,OOO.OO. and an interest
carrying charge OF s120.OOO.OO an
nualiy on It's bonded debt. City !
Manager James z. Barlow. who
came here a little more than a year
ago from a similar position in Day
ton, o.. has so consolidated and
co-ordinated municipal activities
and effected such economies that,
without curtailing any needed ser
vices. he has compelled New Lon
don 20 live within its income and ,
In addition has cut the tax rate six
mills.
Alhambra. Cai.-Although the
population Of Alhambra has more
han doubled during the past six
'ears and total government expend- I
lures have advanced S6s, 10000 the
,ercapita cost for operating the
has decreased 2s.2 per
'ent IN that period, according 20 an a..
,ficial report OF City Manager Grant =
lorraine. In 1915 the total cost >
v operating the municipality which 4
lad a population Of 7.47o was s107.-
'i2.4e. In 1922. with a population ,
y 1900. the total cost was Sl75.- 4
I77.sl. The percapita cost IN
916 was s14.4S, whereas last year n
{ wss only s1O.05. Alhambra has 4
.ad commission-manager govern q
nent since July. 1918. n
Ashtabula, O.-While most Ohio .
stiles are piling up expenses and =
lehcits, City Manager Wilbur NJ.
'otton. since last May has so con- q
ueted municipal government that y
. has been possible TO cut the tax -
ate from 1874 to 17.6 mills. At :
he same time the tax duplicate y
ras cut s1.4S2670.0O, which will
urther reduce actual tax paym ents. a
Sturgis. Mich-City Manager r. \
}. Ballew. during the past two =,
ears. has so efficiently directed gov is
rnmental affairs here that he has -
cen able to reduce the tax rate :,
Ist so per cent. This record, it IS -
aid, has also been reached by City H.
Ianager V. II. Sprauge, Of Pipe III
lone. MINI. 1t
Dayton. On spite Of the ex- !,
ressed belief OF City Manager F. /,
. Eichelberger that Dayton dur 1t
lg 1922 would not only live with 10
j its income. but might finish with II
cash balance Of s25.0O0.OO. a re- ID
ort OF the finance director shows 10
nat municipal expenditures were Id
50, 10000 below budget estimates. q
o other city IN Ohio. regardless OF
ze or system OF municipal admin ,,f
tration, can show such a financial hq
cord. ~,
Dayton. O.-Net financial return a,
the city OF Dayton from munisi- or
II court. due to police determine co
on to enforce the laws and their e.,
ar on Volstead Act violators. was aT
S,593.5S, greater than the losses 90
r the five-year period. 1915-1919. ~,
Courts are not organized for the 81,
lrpose Of making money. Rather. 30,
ey are for the dispensing OF jus 70
e. Municipal court in Dayton M
ways was operated at a loss to Al,
q taxpayers. just as is the case cl,
th courts all over the country. th'
VII division is a necessary agency
adjudication; criminal division a.,