Evening journal., 1923-02-15

reason that 1t eliminates dletation
from party bosses and political as
plrants
Under the tommission-mana
form politics is eliminated. for the
commissioners are elected by direct
vote OF the people. and are under
obligations to no one but the people.
The one outstanding feature OF
the commission-manager form OF
government In my mind is that
the commissioner cannot look upon
any question that comes before him
az neighborhood affair. but must
look at IL as n benefit. or detrlment,
- the entire community 1 feel this
Is beneficial mostly TO the working
man. for under the partisan form Of
government one often sees weather.
heighborhoOds receiving the most
consideration.
Under the commission-manager
form the city manager becomes
strictly a manager. and not the tool
OF political party or concern. and
his only interest is in the city which
he serves. This is my personal opin-
ion, after having lived under this
form Of government for nearly ten
years"
William r. Craven. president Of
the Dayton Savings & Trust Com
pany one Of the largest and strong
est financial institutions In South
western Ohio. is "A staunch advocate
and supporter OF commission-mana-
ger government. having observed u
in operation IN his home city for
number OF years. In a letter 10 the
General Citizens Charter Commit.
tee he says:
Il don't know what I might say
that would be OF any special inter-
est in regard TO this form OF gov
eminent, but l do know that Il has
been very satisfactory one for
Dayton. I know that our money
has been expended wisely and care
fully under the good management
OF the commission and the city
We have kept free from all po-
lItical entanglements. and the city
has been run in business-like
manner. every department being
strictly on It's merits.
without political pull.
1T is unquestiOnably the wisest
plan on which 10 run a city. and
from what knowledge l have Of the
system elsewhere the reports are the
same. Every city that know OF
has improved much under such
and the people would
not return TO the old Estem under
any circumstances"
Il have Jour copy OF the new
commissioner-manager charter pro-
posed for the city OF Wilmington.
and consider It a very satisfactory
document. 70 anyone acquainted
with the present charter Of VIII
mington. the instrument now pro-
posed comes as a breath OF fresh
air"
Thus writes r. L. Sessions. for
nerly on the STAFF of the New York
Bureau OF Municipal Research, to
he General Citizens Charter Com
nittee. Mr.. Sessions has had long
md intimate contact with municipal
government IN many places. He is a
graduate OF the University of Mlchi-
gan and a member OF the American
society OF Engineers and the Azneri-
an Society for Municipal Improve
nent.
81. Elmo Acoste, commissioner OF
parks at Jacksonville. Fla. for many
Years. and who Is probably the lead
Rg exponent OF commission-man-
lger government IN that city. has
written TO the General Citizens
Committee 20 the effect
that he sincerely hopes Wilmington
viii secure the proposed new
charter.
Referring TO the commission plan,
which is in existence there, Mr..
icosta says: lowing TO the activi-
les of the politicians. we have not
,een able TO get the matter of ad-
'ancing to the commission manager
Ian before the people here. but
ince more and more people daily
re talking about IL. we hope soon to
ave the question brought TO an
lection and we feel confident that
he proposal will be carried"
Twenty-four Florida towns and
tiles are now operating under the
ommisslon-manager plan with sue
ess. says Mr.. Acosta. while many ,
theirs are studying the plan with
lopes OF adopting the same.