Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 284, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 April 1925 — Page 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1925

Don’t Guess at Facts— Know Them!

KNOXVILLE, TENN , APRIL 3, ’26. City manager government wonderfully successful In Knoxville. Politics replaced by business efficiency. More street wc.*k done at lower expenditure. New civic center and park established in uptown district. Real health department established. Modern accounting system shows daily condition of every department. Old administration had spent sums requiring tax rate of two rdnety-three, but levied tax of only one ninety, leaving tremendous floating debt to be absorbed by present administration. Tax rate now two ten, of which sum sixty-six cents is for interest and sinking fund on old debt, forty cents for schools. This tax being considered part of city lax rate In * Tennessee, two cents for public library only, one dollar and two cents for general city purposes. Ten per cent of last year’s taxes refunded to taxpayerr*. Police department under civil service. Great improvements made in efficiency with practically no change in personnel. Budget and sinking fund previously existed in theory only, but are now realties. New government, which was adopted by three to one majority, has increased steadily in popularity, as shown by results of several elections in which city manager principle was directly involved. Voters recently authorized by ten to one majority anew two and onehalf million dollar water plant that had suffered four to one defeat under previous administrations. No city in America has better government than Knoxville. KNOXVILLE CHAMBEER OF COMMERCE. MUSKOGEE, OKLA., APRIL 3, 1925. Six years of actual demonstration has proved absolute success of managerial form of city government. Politics eliminated. Police efficiently greatly increased. While operating cost of city has not decreased yet full value for every dollar cost has been given taxpayers, and this was not true under old form. Business principles alone govern acts of city manager. No bond issues voted and no deficit or deficiency judgments incurred since form adopted. We recommend plan without reservation. C. C. LYDICK, SECRETARY CHAMBER COMMERCE. PHOENIX, ARIZ., APRIL 3, 1925. Business men of the city of Phoenix have for years voiced the opinion unanimously that under no consideration would they return to the old style of government. Now that the city manager plan has been in force for years it has had a decided effect in lowering taxes, eliminating graft, increasing efficiency of police and fire departments and has enabled this city to be run on a strictly business basis instead of at the mercy of politicians. People from the East spending winters in our wonderful climate marvel at the efficiency of our city government. PHOENIX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, H. B. WATKINS, GENERAL MANAGER. , \ WHEELING, W. VA„ APRIL 3, 1926. City manager plan has been highly successful here for eight years. It. makes for greater efficiency, economy and honesty and is more responsive to public opinion than old Federal plan. This city will never return to old plan. WHEELING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, H. P. CORCORAN, MANAGER. * DAYTON, OHIO, APRIL 3, 1925. Dayton business manager form government most efficient and economical. City operating today on less money than prior to adoption of plan eleven years ago. This plan insures practically full dollar service on every dollar of tax revenue. Irrespective of limited revenue, service improvements have kept pace with times. Considerable portion Dt.yton’s progress and prosperity las tten years due to adoption of this plan of government. Has unanimous support of people exclusive of few politicians and radicals. W. B. MOORE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I* PORTLAND, MAINE, APRIL 2, 1925. Council manager plan—five councillors and manager giving our city-a business administration, lower taxes, better police and fire service, common sense budget. Politicians disgusted. Business men well pleased. Everybody happy. E. H. MCDONALD, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. KENOSHA, WIS., APRIL. 3, ’25. Business men and honest politicians heartily favor city manager plan. Per capita cost of operation reduced twenty-one per cent. All departments more efficient operated on even less than budget allowed. Value received for all taxes. Department heads have to produce or get out. C. A. POPE, PRESIDENT KENOSHA RETAILERS’ SACRAMENTO, CAL., APRIL 3, ’25. Business men of Sacramento generally are heartily in favor of city manager plan. Tax rate has been reduced each year since inauguration. Police and other departments are more effective. Greater program of improvements carried on more economically during three years of city manager government than during any ten years period previously. Manager plan has gone a long way toward eliminating politics in o/ty government SACRAMENTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Citizens’ “City-Manager-Plan” Committee of One Thousand Charles F. Coffin, Chairman Fred Hoke, Vice-Chairman Edward 0. Snethen, Secretarv L. M. Wainwright, Treasurer I I 407 MEYER-KISER BANK BUILDING . *

What the City Manager form of government has done for other cities, it can also do for Indianapolis

Read the telegrams and know the facts. Asa citizen of Indianapolis you are entitled to something more than you’ve been getting in the matter of city government. It is time for this city to get out of the old political rut and resort to common sense business methods in the administration of civic affairs. ' v / Under the City Manager Plan, business will replace politics; graft will be eliminated; tax rates will be reduced; fire insurance rates reduced; police and fire service will be improved and the city, as a unit, will progress as never before. All this has happened in other cities as proven by telegrams reproduced herewith. Indianapolis will enjoy similar benefits when the taxpayers adopt the City Manager form of government V ' Know the facts. Not from politicians, but from actual statements of results from • \ numerous other cities that are operating under the City Manager Plan. The telegrams tell the story. GET THESE FACTS-IN NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE 250 CITIES OPERATING UNDER CITY MANAGERS IN 31 DIFFERENT STATES HAS ANY CLASS OR GROUP BEEN ABLE TO GET CONTROL—9O CITIES IN STATES HAVING NO MANAGER CHARTER LAW AT ALL ARE UNDER CITY MANAGERS BY ORDINANCE

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STOCKTON, CALIF., APRIL 3, 1925 Stockton’s city manager plan started July 1, 1923. Five leading business men today concur in statement absolutely no politics in present plan. Taxes reduced five cents per hundred after first six months. City carried surplus at end of 1923-1924. Business licenses reduced thirty-five per cent. Fire department increased forty per cent in men and equipment. Plan centralizes authority and places city on practical business basis same as private business and industry. City attempted for years to secure important municipal improvements, but not until present system created administrative confidence were these improvements voted. Present efficiency effecting immense saving in administrative costs and example set by municipality has become contagious in pirvate business, resulting in rapid increased growth of entire community. A. S. DUDLEY, MANAGER, STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE * * NIAGARA FALLS. N. Y., APRIL 3, 1925. City manager plan with council of five elected at large has been successful operation in Niagara Falls, N. Y., since 1916. The plan has centralized responsibility, reduced administrative and legislative overhead. Increased operating efficiency and lowered proportionate operation costs. Despite an extensive program of public Improvements tax rates during past eight years have been proceeding the plan, elimination of ward lines in election of councilmen, an aid to civic unity. *Some three years ago politicians sought return of old aldermanic ward representation form. Proposal decisively defeated by voters at referendum. Satisfaction now general. Police efficiency improved, budget, preparation, public and thorough. NIAGARA FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WICHITA, KAS-, APRIL 4, 1925 Best answer your question fact. Throe efforts to assure petitions for recall elections have failed. Opponents of manager commission plan being unable to secure signatures of twentyfive percent of voters. Wichita has lowest tax rate any firsts class city in Kansas and one of lowest in country. City on strictly cash basis, discounting all bills no matter how large. Expenditures always kept well within budget and bonded indebtedness being retired as due. New issues of bonds for bridges, etc., bearing four and one-fourth per cent interest always sell at premium and issues generally taken by local investors. Every employee of city directly under and answerable to city manager, who can dismiss for cause without interference of any civil service commission, which fact results in real efficiency. Principal opponents plan are disgruntled office Beekers who continually fed at public crib under old plan, W. E. HOLMES, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. MUSKEGON. MICH., APRIL 3, 1925 Our city manager plan of government has been in effect in Muskegon since 1920. We have found It far superior to former aldermanic system, resulting in increased efficiency. Publio improvements are. made in logical sequence and in accordance with well developed plans prepared by best engineering talent in the country. Underground work precedes surface construction and every sewer or water main trunk laid ANTICIPATES TWENTY YEARS GROWTH. Partisan politics have been entirely eliminated. Our city taxes are higher, but we are getting results and all elements of the city appear to be satisfied. J. C. BEUKEMA, SECY. MUSKEGON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ~ ’ DUBUQUE, lA., APRIL 4, 1925. City manager plan great success in Dubuque. Old indebtedness being rapidly reduced and taxes somewhat lower. Taxpayers have confidence in plan and realize that they are getting all they pay for. Tax money is spent Judiciously and without waste, extravagance or graft. Delinquent taxes of long standing have been collected. Fire insurance rates reduced from class six to class three city. Police department operating efficiently. Police court fines have Increased from one to seventeen thousand dollars since manager plan took effect. DUBUQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NORWOOD, MASS., APRIL 2, 1925. Capable city manager makes for better efficiency of centralization responsibility, thereby reducing taxes, almost entirely eliminating politics. Reducing city budget lowest practical level. NORWOOD BOARD OF TRADE / BEAUMONT, TEX., APRIL 3, 1925. City manager plan has not lowered taxes, but given us more for the money. Has eliminated petty politics and brought government closer to the people. Direct supervision of manager has brought co-ordination, efficiency and economy. Beaumont would not think of reverting to the old plan. E. C. BRACKEN, MANAGER, BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., APRIL 3, 1925 Commissaon manager form of city government very efficient. Attracts better men to public life. Eliminates politics and is working extremely weM in Grand Rapids. LEE H. BIERCE, GRAND RAPIDS ASSN. OF COMMERCE. NEW LONDON. CONN., APRIL 2, 1925 0 City management here has increased efficiency, lowered tax, fixed responsibility, eliminated politician and partisan politics. Established equitable taxation. Popular with large majority. JAMES G. HAMMOND, SECY.. NEW LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

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