The Wrangell sentinel., 1948-01-02
CITY MANAGER

The Junior Chamber Of Commerce has endorsed a new form of municipal government for Wrangell a Council
 Manager system and expects To ask that such a referendum
 be included on the ballot this spring.
 The Sentinel thus far is
 neither endorsing nor op- posing a change in our city
 government until we, like our readers are aware of what a City Manager form really is.
 Therefore, until time for decision as whether it shOuId
 be placed On the ballot, The Sentinel will, from time to time. run such information as it finds available on the sub
 ject. Folowling are ten Ques- tions and answers on the Council-Manager plan. They will be continued next week.
 l. What is the Council-manager plan?
 Ii is the most efficient and at the same time most democratic form of local government. It re- sembles closely the organization of modern school systems and modern corporations, public and private, The voters (stockholders) choose a city council (board of directors) to determine policy and hire a trained man as chief administrator. 2. How does the manager plan differ from the mayor council and the commission forms?
 The manager plan is superior to both old forms because it unifies organization fwhereas the commits sion form sets up five or more lit tie governmental and makes possi- ble expert, non-political adminis- tration (whereas the mayor-council form supplies partisan executive saddled with political obligations) 8. Why does the council-manager plan work better?
 Because it remedies the defects in other forms which experience has shown up. It is simple and is understood by the voter It faciii- tates getting capable executives in the public business. It makes non partisan elections practical and thereby facilitates non-partisan administration. It centralizes res possibility.
 f. How many cities have the councii-manager plan? More than 600. About 200 others have some variation of it. More than 100000 Americans live in communities which have the man. ager plan.
 5. What size are these eommun- ities?
 They range from towns with populations of a few hundred to Cincinnati, with a population of half a million One out of every five cities Cover 10,00e) has this form of government.
 6. Is the plan growing rapidly? Four of every five cities which have drawn up new charters in re- cent years have adopted the man ager plan. Abroad it is known as the typicaliy American form oi government and is considered this country's principal contribution to the science of local government
 2. What has been the experience of the cities now having this form of government?
 Almost uniformly the reports show citizens are we'll satisfied. Consistent records of improved ser vice and reduced cost have been made by these cities.
 8. Why not elect the manager instead of appointing him?
 Whenever an administrative ex. ecutiVe is elected, his office fs thrown into politics. Men who are not at all qualified will seek the position because it has a good sal ary. In order to be elected even qualified man will have to make promises-or his campaign manag- CTS will do so. That means appoint ments on a patronage basis in- stead of merit. When the manager