The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-02-14
WE HAVE NOTHING UP OUR SLEEVES.

observe me closely, gentlemen. You see |
have nothing up my sleeves. TINS USED TO De
the customary opening for the slelght OF mana
performer and we want to use these words IN
expressing our delight that the city OF Racine
has officially decided to investigate the City
Manager form of government in Kenosha. All
we ask is that the city of Racine pick out a
bunch of honest EMissourians who VIII de-
mand that they be shown and that they Will be
men who will dig things. out for themselves
rather than just take the word of some one
else
The CITY administration which gives out fig
ures which will not stand the acid test OF IN
vestigation by a twin city is not entitled to
a great deal of confidence. We have no reason
to believe that the City Manager government
in Kenosha has been kidding itself into be-
lief that it is saving money, and we believe
that any honest Investigator will find that every
economy which has been shown IN the report
of the city of Kenosha is an accomplished fact.
All we ask of Racine is honesty in this IN
vestigation We do not want men with ears
which hear not or men with eyes which see
not to take over the books of Kenosha for an
examination But we are proud to open the
records of Kenosha for an intelligent investi-
CATION.
The City Manager government is business
government and most things which are operat-
ed in a business manner are things which can
be put under the miscroscope of an auditor
without some one being called liar. The IN
vestigation of these Racine gentlemen, If hon
estly conducted with the right kind OF methods
and with view of looking at government from
a business rather than political angle, will be
of great Importance to Kenosha.
We will then have chance to see our city
government as others see it and after all the
view of the other fellow is worth more than
passing notice. We understand that lot OF
Racine people are prejudiced against the Ke-
nosha form OF government. If these men Will
make an honest report on it we would prefer
to have them selected to come down and do the
probing.
Kenosha does not have any desire to go to
RaIine and investigate it's form Of government.
1t knows Just what the aldermanic form OF gov
eminent is and while we might be willing to
concede that Racine might have something even
better than the average form of aldermanic
government we are convinced that the business
methods which Kenosha has installed in the
city hall are to be preferred.
The Racine committee will undoubtedly be
able to find people in Kenosha who do not like
the City Manager form. They will find peo-
pie whose personal privilege has been inter-
fered with and whose political ambitions have
been curtailed by the operation of the new form
in Kenosha. Even these people can not but
admit that taxes in Kenosha have not been in
creased under the new form, and if they can
read figures they must be able to know that the
average taxpayer is getting more for his money
than he ever did before.
Our lively interest in the development of all
the lake shore cities-for the development of
one is going to help in the development of all
leads us to hope that Racine will make this
investigation an intelligent one
Kenosha and Racine have for years blazed
the path of progress for the rest of the Wiscon-
sin cities and if these two cities can install
business methods of government in the city
halls it is certain that it will not be long until
competence of efficiency in government in these
two best Wisconsin cities will be reflected
throughout the entire state.
THE PROPOSED STATE CONFERENCE