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552 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

mission form of government was first instituted. Several hun-
dred cities have since undertaken this method, and as a step
forward in the betterment of conditions it is to be highly ap-
proved. While not all cities or towns had so wide a margin as
Galveston, between corruption and extravagance on the one
hand and honest administration on the other, upon which to
work, and while therefore the changes made elsewhere have not
indicated the same tremendous improvement, it is unquestion-
ably true that there has been a general and decided tendency
towards a higher standard in municipal government. That the
commission form of government is not in itself a panacea for
all ills of municipalities has been ascertained and is admitted,
but the method permits of more opportunities for improvement,
and offers a better basis upon which to promote the interest of
taxpayers, who may be likened to stockholders in a corporation,
except that they secure dividends through savings rather than
from profits.
“Tn our own city, the new government had a small field for
accomplishment, as the previous ones had been economic and
conservative—possibly a little too conservative. It was the
result of the infliction on the city of too many commissions,
though the establishment of these was due to a desire for the
abolition of harmful politics, and was attributable to an effort
in the direction of better things. The form as we now have it
was intended to simplify and improve. This it has done, but
there is more to be accomplished. We should advance further
by making our council more of a legislative and less of an execu-
tive body, and by consolidating departmental management un-
der one responsible head, following the method forced by expe-
rience on all commercial corporations. The appointment of a
city manager, having charge of executive and administrative
work, subject to the legislative control of the council, would, in
my judgment, unify the work of the government, promote har-
mony of operation, secure economy and effectiveness (which is

practically the same thing), and, while not interfering with the.

right of the people to select their own rulers, would secure man-
agement which would approve itself in lower taxes, higher effi-
ciency, less deference to selfish interests. Several cities are try-
ing out the manager plan, already successful in other countries,
and. it is more than probable that all will adopt it eventually.”

J. Allan Taylor, Esq., one of our most eminent publicists and
logicians, whose experience as an alderman of the city of Wil-

Peace Restored 553

mington in former years increases the weight of his excellent
opinion, has expressed to me his view of municipal government
in the following words:

“Among the expedients tried for the betterment of city gov-
ernment is the commission form, but the principle of this form
of administration is only indifferently understood and worse
apphed. The principle proceeds upon the true conception of
municipal government—that the nearer government comes to
the control of the citizen in both life and property the more

should approach industrial corporate management,

pedient has proved successful just.in the degree that
true conception has been appreciated and its true principle
applied. The political element is so ever-present and persistent
that capable administration can obtain only under conditions of
Civic pride and sense of property responsibility, and when it is
temembered that of our municipal electorate only about four
per cent represent real property owners, the difficulty of admin-
istering city government on a business basis would seem an all
mat insoluble problem.

In regard to our local government, we have never had the
commission form except in name, and the opportunity for givy-
ing the theory a practical test was lost when political pressure
proved strong enough to dictate the terms of legislative enact-
ment, so that the present system is distinguishable from our old
form of aldermanic government only as respects the payment
of salary to councilmen and the shearing of the mayor ‘of all
magisterial power. Ward lines still mark the political influ-
ea that shaped the system, a condition thoroughly inconsistent

1th the choosing of councilmen with the single idea of fitness,

ne — is the rock on which our experiment has been wrecked.
ith ward lines abolished, there is reason to believe that it

—— be possible to elect men at large qualified to administer
the government on business princip]

councilmen were made directorial an

a a
- The ability of the city to pay salaries commensurate with
€ undivided services of capable men is obviously impossible,

and the only practical alternative is the making of the office of
councilman an honorarium. The commission form of govern-

a thrives just in proportion as the politician is absent and
the business man present.”

its

d the salary eliminated.