Evening journal., 1923-02-14
Many Cities Think Well
of Commission Government

From all over the country letters
of endorsement OF the commission
manager plan OF government are
coming to the members of the Gen
eral Citizens Charter Committee.
according 10 Chairman Leon Walker.
One of the latest OF these communi-
cations is from Max Nehaus. vice
president OF the Charles Ilheld
Company at Albuquerque. N. NJ.
This concern is one of the biggest in
the Southwest. being wholesalers of
everything from groceries to agricul-
tural machinery. Mr.. Nshaus' let
ter follows:
Replying to your inquiry regard
ing the commissioner manager form OF
government we beg TO advise that IL
has worked out to great advantage
in Albuquerque. The plan has
brought about economies over the
old form, and besides the commits
sioners have paid up a good many OF
the obligations incurred by old
boards of aldermen.
with the experince we have had
we can truly say that we prefer lie
present to the old political form.
Inasmuch as the city manager is
supposed to look after the interests
of all the wards, there has been no
discrimination in favor of or against
any particular section OF the city,
which We consider a great advan-
tage."
j. K. Swanson, district manager
OF the Michigan Light Company and
the Consumers Power Company
Jackson. Mich. has strongly endors-
ed manager government
in his home city. In a communica-
ton received by the General Citizens
Charter Committee Mr.. Swanson says
in part:
1T gives me a great deal OF pleas
ure 10 say that in my opinion this
form OF government is a distinct sue
cess in Jackson. The plan in Jack
son which necessitates the city man
ager acting in conjunction with his
board Of directors, namely. the com |
misloners. Is ideal"
Placing special emphasis on the
budget, auditing and accounting
features of the proposed charter, c. |
F. RICHTER. OF the Detroit Bureau Of |
Governmental Reseach. in letter TO .
the General Citizens Charter Com
mittee has highly commended the
measure and says II ought TO be en-
acted into law.
Mr. Fighter has been in govern
mental research work for many
years. He was formerly director OF
the Dayton Bureau, but for the past
five years has been in Detroit. He
is the author OF THE City Manager
in Dayton" a publication that Is on
the shelves Of all public Libraries in
the country. and a document that
virtually has become a textbook for
students OF municipal government.
Mr.. Rightor's letter 10 the Charter
Committee follows:
The legislative bill proposed TO
give Wilmington the Commission
Manager plan OF government has
been reviewed and appears TO be a
and highly satisfactory
document. which. If enacted, should
enable Wilmington TO assume a fore
most position among the well gov
erned cities of the country.
while I am unacquainted with
the present government OF Whining
ton. the Manager plan should prove
a distinct advantage in many re-
spects.-in leaving the Council free !
TO really represent the citizenship, ,
policies instead OF
worrying about administrative de-
tails; and expediting the public SER
vice thru centralized control in the
administrative end.
The sections OF the bill relating
10 the powers and duties Of the City
Manager, the designation OF speci-
ic departments. and the budget, ac-
counting and auditing provisions, de-
serve special commentator in that
hey provide for a sound municipal
administration. The inclusion OF
elections. the 1. r. & r..
md civil service. should be of par
icular public interest.
The document seems to follow /,
loosely "the Model Manager Char
er" Of the National Municipal
league. and will undoubtedly have =
he endorsement OF all Wilmington
.ltizens wishing honestly effective I,