Evening star., 1952-04-13

The council-manager form of
organization merits serious con-
sideration for the District of
Columbia for several reasons.
l. 1t has been the most success
full plan of city government in the
Judgment of municipal experts.
Experts on municipal government
are generally agreed that the
council-manager form of organ
ization is the soundest and most
effective type of city government
though some prefer the mayor
council plan for very large cities.
BY and large the council-manager
form has brought better service
and more economical operation.
Its success is evidenced by the
rapid spread of the plan among
American cities. The proportion
of cities over 10000 population
having the council-manager plan
increased from 5 per cent in
1917 to 33 per cent in 1851. On
the other hand, the proportion
using the commission form of
government decreased in that
period from SO per cent to % per
cent, and the percentage using
the mayor-councn plan also de-
creased sharply.
2. The plan provides a single
executive head, which is important
to effective administration.
Experience, both in government
and in business, demonstrates
that single executive head re-
suits in more efficient, clean-cut,
and responsible administration
A single executive provides uni
fed leadership, clearly fixed re-
sponSibility, and the overall
viewpoint in administration
which is required to develop and
maintain a balanced municipal
program.
3. The plan makes for the selec-
ton of the chief executive on the
basis of administrative ability and
in municipal govern
ment.
The method of selecting city man
ayers definitely favors selection
on the basis of administrative
qualifications. In practice, city
management has already become
a profession.
4. The council-manager plan
separates policy-making and ad-
ministration. which call for
different types of organ
iZation.
Policy-making calls for a multiple
body capable of bringing to bear
different interests and viewpoints,
while administrative direction
calls for single official.
MAIN FEATURES OF A
COUNCIL-MANAGER PLAN.
Scope of the Reorganization.
The reorganization would deal
With all agencies and all functions
If the District government except
he courts, the Office of Register of
Wills. the Office of Recorder of
Deeds, the Commission on Mental
the National Guard, and
he Board of Education other than
is functions of administering
;hild labor laws.
Several of these agencies are
parts of the judiciary, and are
by provisions of the Re-
organization Act. The NATIONAL
Guard is essentially a Federal
agency and only technically a part
If the District government. The
Board of Education has been ex-
,luded because the school system,
IS in most communities, is par
tally autonomous and should only
oy dealt with by a separate
measure.
The plan would not attempt, as
lid the Auchincloss and Kefauveri
bills, to make a complete separa-
ion between District and Federal
If the District had
home rule, it would be desirable
'or all purely District functions
% be locally administered. The
of functions is not es-
'ential, however, and the inclusion
If certain transfers which might
prove controversial would cloud
he basic issues.
District Commission. i
The plan would create a small
called the District Com
mission, with between five and
nine members, to be the general
policy-making body for the Dis
5rict. Members would be appointed
from District residents by the
President with the consent of the
Senate for overlapping 4-year
terms. The Commission would be
q part-time body like the council
Of a city. Consequently, members
would receive salaries of only