The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-04
FIRED E. SMITH TELLS HOW
 HE WOULD REFORM CHICAGO
Former Governor Urges Citizens to Wake Up to Mayor
 Cermaks Plar-HOme Rule Necessary

1 It should be directly under the
 mayor.
 "No. agency that spends money
 should either levy taxes or have
 any hand in it's appropriation. Chi cago is big enough to have practi- cally a state form of government, | with an upper and 8 lower house
 as lawmaking bodies, with an ex- ecutive budget system under the control of the mayor, with the right
 in the city legislature to reduce but not increase an item in the appro- priation bill, and with the power to add new items subject to the veto power of the mayor. A broad grant of power should be given by the state to the legislative bodies of the city, to permit them to enact statutes subject to the ap- prova1 of the mayor for the con- duct of the ordinary everyday business of the city.
 At the present time each de- partment of the government of the city of Chicago purchases it's own supplies. A central bureau of purchase should be set up, where be prepared, and competitive bids received. The head of such de- partment should be appointed by the mayor.
 While it is true that the suc- cessful operation of government is controlled by the personal equation it is also true that the best in- tentioned man in the world cannot do a good job with an antiquated piece of of machinery.
 Follow Cermak Plan "The naturak question arises: how can this all be brought about? The present mayor of the city of Chicago is in favor of 1t, and he so stated in communication to the city council in transmitting a rex port of his advisory commission. Mayor Cermak calls attention to the fact that the recommendations whose adoption he urges, covers specific problems which can be ac- complished without legislative ac- tion.' An annual reduction of over Is per cent of the present appro- priations and expenditures for city administration, or the sum of $22,500,O00 can be accomplished by the action of the city council itself. At least half of that saw ing would be in reducing annual appropriations and costs for oper- ating. maintenance yand general construction purposes. The general assembly, the legislative body of the State of Illinois. should be in sympathy with these proposals, be- cause no big city like Chicago can face financial straits without hav- ing it affect the whole state. If the bonds of the city of Chicago are not an attractive, purchase in the bond market, how can you ex- pect to sell the bonds of the out lying counties, or their municipali- ties?
 If nothing happens, it is simply because the rank and file of the people of Chicago are not suffi- clently interested in their govern ment to insist upon its enactment. because they are satisfied with things as they are and are unwill- ing to bring the necessary pres sure required to push all public l reforms of whatever nature they may be.
 Receivers for real property ap- pointed by the courts because they are unable to meet their carrying | charges are daily occurrences | throughout the land. An assessed | valuation having once been fixed | upon piece of property, 1t is dif- ficult to reduce it. Therefore It, tie can be expected by the taxpay- CT In the way of reduction of ! assessed valuation. The only way | he can be helped is to reduce tho | rate at which he pays upon that | assessed valuation and the only way to reduce that rate Is to re- duce the cost of the government. The only way to reduce the cost | of the government is to cut out | unnecessary duplicating depart. ments that have no useful purposes as far as the taxpayer is con- cerned. but simply provide patron age, which in turn makes the | grease required for the wheels of | a political machine.
 Tt will not do to take any one !