The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-02
"The Best Governed City"

noteworthy of the :arge cities which have the manager plan, not only because it is the largest (population 451, ,160), but also be- cause of the remarkable trans formation which has occurred in its city government since it adopt ed the manager plan. Proportional representation is used to elect councilmen in Cincinnati, and this is one of the big factors in the success of it's city government.
 In the countless editorials and news stories Cincinnati is referred to as our "best governed city," Yet it was only fifteen years ago that its boss-ridden politics, im- passable streets and general dis organization were the subject of newspaper comment.
 On January l, 1926, Cincinnati began operating under the coun- cil-manager plan and Col. c. o. Sherrill was made manager. At the end of the first two years pub Nc accountants concluded that he had saved the city money to pay his own salary of $25,000 for 73 years. This did not mean that he had that much surplus at the end of two years but that he had given the service provided by the old political government at that saving. What has happened to the saving is that it has been used to provide better service, to reduce the debt and reduce the taxes.
 During the years i933- 1888, period of depression when most other cities were going heavily into debt, the gross bonded debt of Cincinnati was reduced by more than $15,000,000 in spite of dis astrous flood which made heavy calls on the city's resources. In re- funding operations in 1884, Cin- cinnati bonds were sold to yield an average of 2.55 per cent, 8 rate which for that time was record breakingly low, according to municipal bond authorities.
 The city has had a cash sur- plus at the end of every year ex- cept two since 1880. At the end of 1887, its accumulated cash Sur- plus was $585,799
 Financial experts say that Cin- cinnati's tax collection record ranks among the best, while 8 Ma tional Municipal League survey of comparative tax rates of 294 cities for 1888 showed that Cincinnati had the lowest tax rate in its pop ulation group.
 In 1884 Cincinnati had obtained an electric rate settlement refund- ing more than $1,200,00 to con- sumers on bills already paid, and providing reductions amounting to nearly $9,000,000 from 1884 to 1888. Under the agreement Cin- cinnati's electric rates are second lowest in the country for cities of 100000 and over. A settlement in 1885 with the gas company gave a refund of $2,000, ,000< to consumers with a saving in rates of $1,500, ,00C during the three year period of the contract.
 In ten years of politics Cincin- nati built 54 miles of streets. In five years under manager, 107 miles were built for the same amount of money.
 Fire protection in Cincinnati l costs only $2.92 per citizen per 1 year, yet 1t is so good that the fire loss has been decreasing fol many years. In the four years 1931-1934 the fire loss was lowered from $850,000 to $555,000 and has now reached an unprecedented tow. This reduction produces the further effect of lowering the fire insurance rates, thus making a double saving.
 Newark Looks at Cincinnati
 The best way to tell how good is a city's government is to com pare it with a city of the same size and same general economic problems. Citizens of Newark, N. J., who are interested in chang ing the city's form of government made the following comparisons between their present city govern ment and that of Cincinnati. (The figures were taken from booklet issued by the Newark Junior Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 13, 1889.
 In Cincinnati, on an assessed valuation for tax purposes of $500, 900, ,000, the tax rate is $2.18. In Newark, on an assessed valua- tion of $900,000, the tax rate is $4.61.
 Police protection costs Cincin- nati $1,358, ,76O, or $2.95 per person, but costs Newark $3,485, ,934, or $7.80 per person.
 The staff used for maintaining public buildings in Cincinnati numbers 84, at cost of $143, ,205, while it takes 147 people and $353,- POT to do similar job in Newark.
 Health protection costs Cincin- natl $652,011 or $l.42 per person, costs Newark $1,133,370 or $2.54 per person.
 Fire protection costs Cincinnati $1,344,2l0-$2.92 per person-to