The Winslow mail., 1926-07-16

the government and works, will
have to be provided, for no one
could be expected to give up his
own time, salary or bsuiness, with
out some adequate remuneration.
To you members of the Board OF
Freeholders who have had no di-
rect connection with the operation
of the city government in late
years, it may seem that l have ex-
aggerated the amount of time re-
quired of the Mayor, but if you
will talk with the present Mayor
Mr.. Gillard, eX-Mayor Douglas or
any of the few mayors just prevl-
GUS to them you will find that l am
correct and l am sure that they
will all tell you that they did not
give it all of the time it really re
uuired. To enumerate all of the
many things which will fall upon
the shoulders of the Mayor under
the new charter would be very
difficult and tedious so l will not
attempt that.
While at the present time we
have a Mayor who has had consld-
cradle experience as a member OF
the Common Council at various
times and understands the rune
tioning of the various departments
of the local government, we nave
no assurance that we Will always
be so lucky If your plan is put
into operation and a salary PAID TO
the Mavor. commensurate with the
work required of him, the Mayor
ship will become purely political
lob and as such will attract the
usual type of petty political officer
seeker who does not go into office
with the interest of the public IN
mind. but with his own personal
benefit and the benefit OF MS
friends upmost in his estimation.
Also, under the proposed plan, II
is very probable and very lkely
that every two years will see new
Mayor. This will naturally dlsrupC
the organization because 1t VIII
take time for the new man 10 get
next to the requirements Oh me
various departments and OF the
citv as a whole and each Mayor
will have and form his own opln-
IONS as to how things should De
RIM and each change will cost the
taxpayers money. Also each Nayol
will nave certain supporters WHOM
ne will favor with positions re-
qardless of their fitness Tor tne
oIoco These are not merely ran
dom statements and opinions Oh my
own mt are proven facts III all
cities where this plan or operation
is in effect and my statements Can
he verified very easily IL you care
to Investigate.
IF after a Mayor is in office, ana
if developes that the choice OF the
people was bad and things are not
carried on as they wish and III
systematic and efficient manner
the only redress they have is tnru
the recall provisions Of the charter
and this is rarely resorted to be-
cause it is a long and costly pro
cess, which is very difficult to put
thru. for if man has enough
friends to elect him he usually Will
retain enough of them to keep MIN
in office.
You members of the Board have
indicated by the provisions OF the
Charter. and I agree with you, that
YOU think the City of WinsloW does
need a responsible administrative
and executive officers who (Sec-
tion 2, Chapter V Of Charter snail
annually from time to time give
the Commission information rela-
five to the affairs of the city, ana
recommend for it's consideration
such matters as he may deem eXpe-
dent" and (Section 4, Chapter W
subject to the control OF the COM
mission, the Mayor shall have the
general supervision and direction
of the administration of the city
government; he shall supervise
and direct the Attorney, City CLERK
City Treasurer and City Mag1s-
trate; he shall supervise the per
formance of all contracts made by
any person for work done for the
city and in that behalf represent
the city except as it may be other
wise provided in this charter"
Subject to the control OF the
Commission, the Mayor shall have
the general supervision and d1rec-
ton of the administration OF the
city government" How will the
commission control the official
acts of the Mayor when they have
no power over him and he is di-
rectly responsible to the people and
not the commission? If the Mayor
does things not in accordance with
the policies of the Commission how
can they stop him from so doing?
They cannot remove him from ser
vice so they have no real authority
over him, consequently he can do
about as he pleases.
Inasmuch as you have indicated
your belief that the proper super
vision and administration is need
ed, it is my opinion that you do not
desire, to create a condition which,
from the experience of other cities
in the past, will tend to defeat the
aims of the new charter, that is, a
better government of the people by
the people, a government respOn-
sive to the desire of the public.
You are all taxpayers and will have
to bear your proportion of the costs
of excessive expense or mistakes
which may be made so it behoOVes