Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1917 — Home Town Helps [ARTICLE]

Home Town Helps

CALL FOR HIGHEST ABILITY Time Coming When All American Cities'Will Employ Managers to Direct Civic Affairs. A predict!on that within a few years this city would adopt the city manager plan of government was made by-Rich-ard S. Childs, in introducing Henry M. Waite, city manager of Dayton 0., as the speaker at the second Saturday afternoon luncheon of the City club of New York. Mr. Waite, who took over the direction of the affairs of Dayton on January 1, 1914 —after Gen. Gyorge Goethals had refused the post —outlined to about 50 inemberswhat he had done to earn his $12,500 yearly salary. Mr. Waite, the dean of City managers, was referred to as “logically, New York's first manager.” “Out in Dayton we run our municipal affairs this way,” said Mr. Waite. "First, the people elect a council or commission of five members, whose duty it is-te-dook-T&bout -through th» country and locate a num who might capably direct the city’s affairs. When one such is found, the commission questions him about his experience and so forth, in much the same way a business man does when he hires a clerk. If the applicant measures up to the standard, lie Is hired, and he, in turn, selects the heads of the five departments of finance, law, service, safety and welfare. .. . “In selecting the heads of departiherits ability and experience and not politics count. Personally, I don’t know of what political persuasion my departmental heads are. In this way we are able to get many men who otherwise would not think of running for office, under the old conditions. For example, the head of the welfare department is a clergyman, thoroughly capable to study out the park and recreation needs of our populatiori. “Take our finance department as an example of the efficiency obtainable under the new plan of government. We have our finances so systematized that I —or any other citizen—can tell at a inoment down to a“cent Justhbw any of the. subdivisions of our budget stand.” . - .