Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1918 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE]

HOME TOWN HELPS

CITY MANAGERS MAKE GOOD Newspaper Points Out Many Instance* Where New System Ha* Proved of Great » Value. : St. Augustine, Fla., the oldest city in the United States is now Operating under one of the most modern of charters. It’s a city manager charter that forbids candidates for commissioner, personally, to solicit votes. Once elected, a commissioner is forbidden .to dictate any appointment by the city manager. Already the new plan has meant a considerable saving of public money In St Augustine. In Niagara Falls, where, owing to failure of the New York legislature to pass adequate legislation, the city manager administration is still hampered by partisan elections, the tax ieyy has been reduced to 97 cents per ?1,000 valuation. In Sherman, Tex., the city manager installed a complaint system, by which each complaint is recorded, referred to the department concerned, and followed up if necessary until cared, for. The number of complaints in six months dropped 30 per cent. Public works improvement bonds amounting to $150,000 Were voted by the people. So obvious a step toward' efficient, government as depositing city funds in a responsible bank, willing to pay Interest on daily averages, will save San Jose, Cal., $5,000 a year' under the city managerplan.—Umaha News.