The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-22
OUR GOVERNMENT

Same old story, these meetings Of the city coun-
Gill; and the meetings Of the various city boards.
While bridges crumble and streets remain in i'm
passable conditions, the different parts Of the city
government squabble and debate as to which pocket
of Mr.. John Citizen they will take the money
to pay for needed improvements, and in the end
nothing at all is done.
The closing of the College Ave. bridge for weeks
is fine example of just how the present political
fork of government handicaps and burdens the city
Had the same sort of an emergency been Gre
ated in any Industrial or commercial plant In this
city, there would have been action within two days
Some one with business sense and judgment
would have hired a real expert to find out what
was needed and then the work Of repair would have
been begun.
business enterprise would have discovered the
most economical solution and proceeded to apply it.
Something very different happens when the city
is faced by problem that involves the convenience
and the welfare Of the public.
The city council, for some unknown reason
wants to look at the bids for work before it votes
any bond issue
The board of public works wants the money from
bonds so as to keep its gasoline tax for repair OF
streets and tries to pass the burden along.
The park board takes guess at what might be
done
But in the end nothing is done and the public
puts sup with congested traffic. delays and great in
convenience
Of course, it means nothing to the taxpayer as
to what fund these repairs paid from. For the
taxpayer knows that he must pay the cost, no
matter how the money is raised or in what manner
it is apportioned.
This condition should impress the people with
the utter imbeclity Of the present form of govern
ment which, by its very nature, prevents business
solution of purely business problems.
Managers of the movement for city manager
form of government understand the necessity. That
is the reason they have become active in the past
week in formulating plans to change to the city
manager form of government which does permit
business administration of the citys affairs and cuts
out the facona and partisan jealousies motives
city manager, in charge of the city at the
present time, would be intent getting results
on building up paper record for one department
at the expense of all others.
city manager would solve the problems of city
needs on business, not political basis.
True, that new form of government can not be
had for another two years. thanks to the political
of the bosses upon the last Legislature and
the Governor. They changed the law giving the
cities the right to free themselves from politics
through this change in government SO that it does
not apply to the administration of Mayor DuvaIi.
But the groundwork can be laid for a change III
government. at the end Of his term and when he has
finished his two years, the people can supplant him
not with another set of politicians, but with bust
ness organization
Each day adds to the evidence against the pres
ent system. Each day shows the necessity of get
ting rid of partisan politics in city affairs.
The movement for city manager form of gov
eminent ought to be almost unanimous 1t probably
will be- with the exception sf that new order of
Elephants, secret society which apparently has
political spoils as it's purpose. J
The time has come to set Indianapolis free