Show PRAISE 4 FOR LONDON 03 N w ex congressman asserts english systems superior to others A M todd of michigan discusses public services have wonderful method of bookkeeping co operations part 14 london nolon former congressman A M todd of michigan who early last spring came to europe to make an exhaustive study of 0 the system in vogue among the public services with special reference to municipal ownership has come to the conclusion that the best beet managed public service systems in the world aro are those of great britain in prance france and germany Ger mariy sald eald mr todd according to a london correspondent sPon dent 1 I found much to admire and perhaps even more to condemn go bo far as mere mechanical methods are concerned both countries show many important and valuable ae improvements prove ments but in nearly every case their organization and management are and lacking in system which of course means a certain increase in the cost of operation arid and I 1 a corresponding decrease in profits politics and the necessity tor for providing places for party supporters may have something to do with this as in my mr own country on the other hand band I 1 have so tar far been able to find only one point to in the equipment and operation of the various municipally owned public services of great britain and that is the construction of the double decked tram tramcars tra mcara cars controlled by the london county council they ire not broad enough or heavy enough at the base for their h height eight and the danger of capsizing seems to me to be too great it seems surprising that th BO 0 few accidents happen considering the tremendous con congestion congests gestl on 0 of f traffic in most ot of your gofir streets perhaps this danger la Is discounted by the superb way in which the cars are handled mr todd was particularly struck with the running of the various public departments in glasgow politics Is eliminated there and the sole aim ot of the authorities seems to be to give the public the best beat possible service at t the least possible cost Dir birmingham ming and manchester are ara much the same in many respects with only minor differences due to a changed environment viron ment one striking phase of these public service systems of england and scot land which I 1 found well worth studying in detail Is the wonderful system of bookkeeping and auditing of accounts I 1 dont think I 1 ever saw a more perfect method of classifying accounts on so large a scale where even the smallest item it em may be traced at a a moments notice while a balance sheet can be furnished practically on demand in the published report of my investigations which will be submitted to the governing bodies of all the principal cities in the united states I 1 shall recommend the adoption of this comprehensive system of bookkeeping in every public department this will not be bb for some months yet as the volume or of information chave I 1 have collected Is very large and it w will probably take me all winter to prepare my report at the same time I 1 shall start an effective campaign in my own state for the of all public services along tb tle e same lines that I 1 have found in olle operation ration here for I 1 believe no better system of really efficient service rould could be devised in the present stage of our civilization but mr todds dodds enthusiastic eulogy does not stop here he has been particularly ticul arly struck with another peculiarity of english civil life the big co operative concerns concer fis which have begun to play a leading part in the british world of business he says ong one institute whose plant I 1 inspected with the most absorbing interest not only manufactures an immense output of superior goods tor for the markets of the world but gives profitable employment co cc thousands of men women md knot children ch ildron under the moat wholesome conditions condl tlona and mani tary regulations all ot of them are provided with comfortable homes at reasonable rentals and everything lie ie done to make them contented and happy while each in addition enjoys a proportionate onate share in the general profits moreover Ifo this concern has its own steamship lines for shipping its goods to foreign markets at a minimum expense for freightage and tor for bringing back supplies of raw materials from its own plantations and forests in at africa and south america and all of t these vast enterprises in one are operated simply and easily because the principle of operation cooperation co behind it insures a unity and harmony of both purpose and effort ifor for the common profit |