The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-13
DELAY PETITION
FOR MANAGER
Continued From Page y

feel the burden of taxation and reck-
less spending most heavily, men
who work six days in the week and
who for this eason have not had
opportunity to study this question,
have been recklessly told that a
business-like administration of the
city's affairs under a city manager
Is contrary to their best interests.
There will be a reaction when they
have time and opportunity to learn
the truth.
"(2) If the city manager plan
were not uniformly successful and
satisfactory to the citizens in the
cities which have adopted it, we
would be required to hurry before
the facts became known. 1t has
proven to be of such merit that we
can with perfect safety. take the
necessary time to give each citizen
an opportunity to inform himself re-
garding it.
20. We are on the eve of a polit-
ical campaign; many candidates
have already spent time and a con-
siderable sum of money in perfecting
their organizations. They Insist
that it Is hardly fair to them to in
ject this new question al this time.
Granting whatever merit there may
be In this objection, we are agreed
that it is a time when it will be
more difficult to get unbiased con-
sideration Of the subject.
Many Express Approval.
4. Many of the candidates and a
large number of citizens who have
already pledged their support to
these candidates, have publicly and
privately expressed approval of the
city manager plan, when conducted
under laws and conditions which
would give Indianapolis the same
favorable results which are being
obtained in other cities, and these
men and the press have suggested
that sufficient time be taken to
study the subject further. 1t would
be unwise not to capitalize the in
terest Of many prominent citizens
who, by reason of promises already
made, cannot honorably desert their
friends at this juncture, as we'll as
that Of the candidates themselves,
who have gone on record as approx
ing the principle Of the city manager
plan. This committee, as such, will
not further or antagonize the efforts
of any candidate, because we expect
to gain support from all factions as
time goes on.
Is. This committee has reason to
believe that our Indiana law is as
good and in some respects better
than the laws of other States, be-
cause 1t has written into it the ex-
perience of States which have been
using the manager system for many
years. Nevertheless, the expressed
views of individuals and Of the press
have raised doubts in the minds of
some people, who must be acquaint-
ed with the fact that there are near
ly a hundred cities using the city
manager plan under ordinances in
States that have no law at all on
the subject.
Law Not Dangerous
Those who have accepted as facts
the statements that the city mana
ger law is dangerous, must learn the
fact that 1t is dangerous only to
those who would profit at public ex-
pense; that In not a single one of
the two hundred and fifty cities I'M
der city managers have the people
ever permitted any political class or
group to regain control. To estab-
fish the truth regarding these points
will not be difficult, as there is album
dant evidence.
&c. If we file the petition now, we
may have az few as thirty days in
which to bring an intelligent con-
ception Of the benefits Of the mana
ger system to the great body of our
citizens. each of whom is entitled to
this understanding before being
asked to express an opinion by bal
lot. Without the support of a ma
jority Of the press, this can not be
done In so short a time.
A we have repeatedly said, this
great committee has no desire to
roist upon the citizens anything
thsy do not understand We have