The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-07

8; w. H. Insley. president Insley
Manufacturing Company; 1. z.
Woodward. vice president Acme
Evans Company; J. II. Lowry, presi-
dent of the Lowry Nursery and
Landscape Company; ]. r. Beckett,
attorney; Ed j. Gausephol. president
of e. j. Gausepohl & Co.
Miss Elsie Huebner, principal Pub
lie School No. 16; Mrs. George c.
Finfrock and Meredith Nicholson,
author.
This is not a movement aimed at
any candidate for mayor. nor at any
city administration" said Chairman
Coffin.
No Politics
ut grows out of a conviction that
has been gathering force for a long
time that the conduct of the bust
ness Of city is and always should
ba a nonpartisan job; that there
is no such distinction in municipal
government as Republican or
Democratic method OF taxation,
street improvements, police or fire
protection. or, in fact. in the man.
agement of any of the numerous
public business interests.
There is a sincere desire on the
part OF people of all occupations to
have the business OF the public con-
Quoted with the same economy and
efficiency as is the business of great
factories. department stores and fl
nancial institutions.
1T is the growing belief that the
non-partisan city manager plan of
municipal government will secure
this result.
$50 Cities
"Of the more than $50 cities that
have adopted the city manager plan
fewer than five has returned to the
former political program. In all of
these cities taxes have been reduced.
greater efficiency in the police and
fire departments has been secured
and greater harmony and uniformity
of method in the solution of munich
pal problems generally have been
achieved.
Eminent thinkers and public men
Of affairs have approved the city
manager plan as the best form of
city government yet devised
Every class OF citizens will be
asked to cooperate with the Com
mittee OF 1000, Coffin said. The
petition. which will be filed with
in a few days with city council,
asking an election on the question,
will contain 10000 names, is the
aim of the committee. The neces-
sary number is 10000.
THE people are signing petitions
not only when presented. but In
large numbers are asking an OPP
portunity to sign" he said.
Coffin said that after the petition
is filed an active campaign OF edu-
cation will be staged before the cleo
ton. Literature will be distributed,
meetings will be held and special
speakers detailed to set forth in de-
tail advantages Of city manager
plan as experienced In other cities
obtain in a short time the balance of
the 10000 voters signatures needed
to have the city council call a
special election on the question of
changing the city government to
the city manager system. Thousands
have already signed.
Dayton (0hiO) Speaker
Edmund r. Bates, city purchasing
agent Of Dayton. Ohio. which has
operated successfully for years I'M
der city manager plan, explained his
city government to the Indian
apolis Purchasing Agents Asso-
citation at noon luncheon
in the SEVERN. The civic affairs
committee Of the Indianapolis Cham
Der of Commerce also discussed the
subject at a noon luncheon.
Chief advantages OF the manager
plan are that authority and re-
sponsibility are centralized in the
manager and an uninterrupted pro-
gram is possible" Bates said.
Under the commission plan the
commissioners sit in judgment of
their own acts. Legislative and ad-
ministrative matters should be
handled separately"
Bates pointed out the value Of
placing the city purchasing depart
ment on a business-li like basis.
The Indianapolis Board Of Trade
has called q special meeting to dis