The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-25
improved civil
GOVERNMENT IS
OBJECT OF DEPT.
Branch of C. of C. DevoteS
Time to investigation
and Aid.

known as the bureau of municipal
research, now is completing nine
years of useful service to the Cham
Der and the city at large. The idea
supporting this activity Of the Cham
Der is that the city cannot advance
as it should industrially and COM
mercially unless the quality OF local
government is kept abreast OF nor
NAL development of competing cities.
Work of the department is outlined
as follows by L. v. Harrison, secre-
tary:
1.-THE departments program for
! the future consists of three major
undertakings, establishment OF the
merit system throughout local gov
eminent; an imp ovement OF the
processes of budget making, and
promotion of a greatly improved
type of public reporting, which will
serve to make governmental agen-
cies render to the public a proper
accounting of work actually accom-
plishment as a result of public funds.
Trained STAFF
1.-THE department maintains STAFF
specially trained to carry on gov
ornamental research work. Strong
committees, with able members, pass
upon the work of this staff. 1t is
the function Of the department also
to make thorough going and critical
examinations OF all important pro-
posals for the expenditure Of public
money.
"In addition special attention is
given to the annual budgets of all r
local governmental units, and as a
result of this work important saw
ings in taxes have been made pos
sible from year to year.
1.-THE civic affairs department Is
not interested in tax reductions, to
the exclusion of rightful consider
alton Of the quality and character
of public service. The department
contends for efficiency and economy
In governmental operations
To-day the department is working
on a fixed program, endeavoring, in
a systematic way, to improve gov
ernmental operation, while at the
same time seeking to promote real
! economy government ChdSA IAC
leadership of William Fortune, i'm
portant strides have been taken and.
further important steps are planned.
| The department has expanded since
its early efforts. 1t is now doing
for Indianapolis an amount OF work
that requires the efforts of much
larger municipal research organiza-
tons in other cities.
City Survey
I'm 1917 the Chamber of Com
MERGE caused a survey of the city
government Of Indianapolis to be
made by the New York bureau of
municipal research, to lay the
groundwork Tor development Of a
program of municipal research. An
inventory Of what might be accom-
plished for Indianapolis with such
a department was the result Of the
survey.
1.-The department only compare
lively recently undertook one major
task, in developing improved budget
procedure for Indiana local govern
nent units. Through the state
board of accounts. the new budget
procedure was placed in use by the
city of Indianapolis last year, and
soon It probably will be adopted for
counties of Indiana. The new bud
get system prevents padding Of bud
get estimates and does away with
the old lump sum budgets heretofore
submitted by some departments.
1.-The department, as a part of it's
systematic program. makes an ex-
animation of all local budget pro-
posals, with the view of seeking to
preserve the adequacy of public
service at the lowest possible cost.
In it's scrutiny of public budgets 1t
has shown the way to public officers,
whereby they might accomplish
needed public work at great re-
auctions in expenditure. Many
times it has made possible tax levies
much lower than the public officials
had prepared to adopt, without de-
stroying or harming any public
service OF recognized need or value.
Major Projects
Among major projects:
al. The conducting of an ed
tIeational campaign looking to the
establishment of a merit system in
public employment and the prepare
ton of definite recommendations as
to the administrative machinery
and rules of procedure necessary to
the successful operation Of a merit
system. With the appointment of
civil service boards by the mayor
to place the merit system in effect
for the police and fire departments,
the civic affairs department has Of
fered its services in the establish a
ment of the needed administrative
machinery and rules of procedure.
2. Preparation OF a study Of salary
Standardization in the city service so
as to give equal pay for equal
work" and to fix the specifications
and minimum qualifications for each
position in the service.
8. A study of the cost Of public
charity in Marion County and Center
Township. '
4. Development of a system Of pub
lie reports, which will complete the
budget system now in operation.
Officials should be required to make
public a record of work accomplished
under their direction and the cost
OF doing that work. Adequate pub
lie reporting will bring about strict
M % ~ nd tkaI2