Evening journal., 1923-02-13
What of the Charter?

majority OF American cities a gov
ernmental mechanism which is
adapted TO the making OF laws.
BUT WHAT THE CITY NEEDS IS
A GOVERNMENTAL MECHANISM
ADAPTED TO THE WORK OF
DOING BUSINESS AS BUSINESS
Is DONE IN THE WORLD OF TO-
DAY, AWARDING CONTRACTS.
BUYING SUPPLIES. HIRING LA
BoR AND GETTING RESULTS
WITHOUT WASTING MONEY"
Ihat city corporation is very
much like a business corporation
was long ago recognized In Europe.
and more and more in this country
as well people are coming TO agree
that the running OF a city IS largely
an engineering Job. and that II we
shall hope for efficient municipal
governments throughout this land in
the future. politics must forever be
divorced from them and municipal
engineers placed IN charge. sub
ject. OF course, 70 the direct supervi-
sion OF a commission. The engineer
ing profession. itself widely awake 20
the future field OF usefulness in pub
lie and social affairs, already has
gone on record as ready 20 serve in
public capacities. In point OF fact,
we find in a recent report submitted
20 the Federated American Engin
eering Societies the following inter
esting statement:
For century engineers have d.
rected their energy toward the utlli-
zation OF the physical forces and the
materials OF nature. The develop
ments which they have brought
about have created an epoch in hu-
man history. While these develop
ments have been OF inestimable BEN
eft and modern society could no
exist without them they have intro
duced many public problems and So
cial readjustments so closely related
to the engineers activities that It is
increasingly evident he must assume
an active part in their solution"
In other words. the modern city.
having grown up largely as a result
OF the development OF big industry,
has many governmental and social
problems which the engineer. with
proper social and scientific training,
should interest himself in. and as
slst society in their solution. Col
leges and universities in the same
report are urged 10 point engineers
toward leadership in public affairs"
We have with us the chemical. cleo
trical. mining and civil engineer. and
soon, perhaps, we also shall have
the municipal engineer.
What the average city dweller Is
Interested in. Is not wheth-
er the Republicans or Democrats
run his town. but in the service his
can render him. such as
him with pure water
grading and paving streets. building
bridges and laying down sidewalks. |
providing an adequate sewerage sys- |
.em. police and fire protection, clean 1
streets. school and recreational "a |
OF such a character he gets |
'or the taxes he pays, the greater |
iividends he feels he IS receiving on |
his annual investment, and should /
lis government actually succeed in |
owering his tax rate, Mr.. Average /
citizen becomes even more convinc- |
ID that his town Is a good place 20 /
i've. Now II happens that the :
form OF government does .
over the tax rate, as shall try 20
how from Federal census stalls
les.
In 1918 the United States Bureau
4 the Census made a comparative
tudy OF the financial statistics OF
ertain cities under the old council
mayor form and the commission
orm OF government. Rates OF tax
tion. expenditures and loans Of
light typical council-mayor cities
nd eight commission cities were
tudied. The total population OF the
ormer class was 754.111. or an aver
ge OF $4,000, whereas the total
population OF the latter class Of
ities amounted TO 655.s01, or an
verage OF $4,000 The council
layor cities included: Indianapolis,
$3.50: Hartford. Conn, 107.521;
-oungstown, Ohio. 400.593; Troy.
Jew York. 1850: Peoria, Illinois. !
0, O,O06; Little Rock. Arkansas. 53.-
Il; Davenport, Iowa, 46,537; and
'harlotte, North Carolina, 3s.263. {
he eight commission cities were
birmingham, Alabama, 1876; e
Dwell. Massachusetts,. 111.004; Salt
AXE City. Utah. 1O9,736. Des y
Toines. Iowa s7.3O4; Pueblo, Colo
ado, 51,21s; Topeka. Kansas. Al
O2; Montgomery. Alabama. 42.154.
nd Austin. Texas. 33.21s. Thus II :
i'll be noted that cities in all parts :
the country are represented in the
vo groups, and that the gradua-