Hartford chronicle., 1946-07-13
Hartford City Manager Plan Discussed
Continued from page 1

in industrial processification equally is it true in city man.
 Under city-manager responsi- bility is definitely fixed upon the city manager who in turn is res ponsible to the common council which means the people. Having fixed responsibility in such a man ner you do not sacrifice the check and balance, the bulwark of a true democracy.
 Finally, the antiquity and patch work of our present form of city charter only leads to contradic- tion, buck-passing and in short leaves the people, you and me, without any real say as to the men we want to represent us or in the formulation of city policy.
 Let us remember, Hartford is now a $3,OOO,O00 corporation and therefore constitutes big business where responsibility must be fixed upon the President Getty manager) which in turn is governed by the Board of Directors (common counciD all of whom are respon- sible to the stockholders (the tax payers-you and mel. This being true, then we must eliminate the present political gold-mine" sys- tenn. A system which is not only wasteful but is an antique that should have been sitting in a mu- scum years ago.
 City-manager form of govern ment here in Hartford with the election of the common council at large will give the people a real choice of men instead of tradi- tional ''blind point choice" of Tweedle-dee Tweedle-dum politi- COS. Rightfully one might ask how?
 Simply it provides system which would encourage independ-' ent progressives to present them selves to the people, men who would only be obligated to the majority that elected him or her into office.
 On that basis politicians are opposed to such a plan because they realize that no longer are the people goaded by vague generali- ties and promises nor will they any longer submit to the present limitations upon the choice of can didates. A choice not dictated by what you or I want but who "Joe Big" and his patronizers decide" we should have.
 The merit system included in the proposed new charter insures the city that only persons are holding positions for which they have duly been qualified. Em- ployment on such basis insures the taxpayer low-cost, efficient government.
 Needless to say, such system of employment based upon indi- vjdual ability serves as an incen- tive to work and even advance him or her self. An advancement which does not depend upon Knowing Joe Big or his friends" but purely upon his or her pass ing qualified examinations as far as individual capability will per init. The merit system and eff c1ency work hand in hand.
 Not only is the city and tax payer protected, so is the worker. Protected to the extent that as long as there is such an office his CT her job is protected against the political spells system. In case any high official seeks dismissal, a public hearing must be held at which time evidence must be pre- sented to substantiate charges. Thus the danger of underhanded "grudge actions' is reduced.
 Another distinct feature of the proposed city charter is the fact that responsibility for city de- partments is definitely fixed upon the city manager, who, naturally free from politics and operating as corporation president, only places qualified men to fill posi- lions over which he must admins ter. With his reputation and in- tegrity at stake do you think he could afford to risk mixing poh-. ties with city appointments?
 He in turn is responsible to the common council in turn to the people. Two points must be made clear, the city managers job is that of administration while that of the common council is to serve as the governing directors for the people. With such a democratic business-like arrangement eff ciency is bound to increase which in turn reflects in low cost opera tion. Need more be said?