The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-12
National Consultant
 Service Established
Municipal League Hopes to Assist Local Governments
 in Financial Difficulties Restoring Their Credit

Establishment of Municipal Consultant Service by the National Municipal league to assist iocai governments in financial dif1cuities in restoring their credit was an- nounced last night by Howard F. Jones, secretary of the league.
 'That there is urgent need for such a service is obvious from the fact that nearly two housano municipalities ares already in de- fault" Mir Jones pointed out.
 Though that is comparatively small percentage or the total num- Der of local governments in the United States, many more of them are facing a breakdown in service. Fire protection has been reduced in many places to the point where insurance rates have been greatly increased, provisions for public health work have, been cut under point of safety, library and school budgets have been slashed beyond a reasonable minimum. Worst of all, the taxpayer is either unable to meet his obligations, or in many cases refuses to pay be- cause of dissatisfaction with the administration of local public af- fairs. And banks tand holders Of municipal bonds are refusing to take further risks.
 "This is an opportunity" said Jones, flor competent couDsel rep resenting a non-partisan, non-profit making organization to suggest practical methods of adjustment of public income and expenditures. Such surveys should cover the fi- nancial conditions of a municipal ity, causes of tax delinqency and their remedies, the probable in- come for the next year from taxa ton and other sources, cost of op- eration of the various departments and services and suggestions for retrenchment."
 The director of the consultant service will be Professor Thomas H. Reed of the University of Michigan. Dr Reed is one of the foremost authorities in the coun- try in the field of local government and administration. Through its close relationship with the lead ing national organizations in the field of municipal government and allied fields, the league will call into this service the outstanding experts on each phase of municipal administration. Such men as Carl H. Charters, director of the Muni- cipal Finance Officers association, c. D. Rightor, chief accountant of the Detroit bureau of governmental research, Clifford Fl. Ham, director of the Atlantic City survey com mission and former president of the International City Managers association, Philip H. Cornick, tax expert with the Institute of Public Administration, and others, will be called in the course of each survey to make their recommendations.
 Dr Reed is 8 former city official himself, having been city manager of San Jose, California, and secre- tary to Governor Hiram Johnson of California. He served as research director of the commission for the consolidation of the governments of Pittsburg and Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and a similar com mission for the consolidation of the city and county of St Louis. He is the author of numerous books and treatises on government, including Municipal Government in the United States" Forms and Func- tions of American Government" etc. A professor of political science in the University of Michigan, Dr Reed is the chairman of the com- mittee on policy of the American Political Science association, chair man of the committee on civic education by radio, and chairman of the committee on citizens coun- cils for constructive economy. He was decorated by the king of Bel gium and made a member of the Order of Leopold.