Show I 1 THE WHY OF THE I 1 CITY MANAGER I 1 some years ago it was taken for granted that city government wj was irrupt that inefficiency was wag of necessity the rule in municipal affairs in fact an englishman by the name of lord bryce had said the american municipal government was the disgrace ot of this country that was waa during the ency of he old mayor council plan a type of decentralized administration that breaded inefficiency and graft in its very bones it took a couple of good inard jolts to wake us up the first jolt came in 1909 when galveston texas found itself unable to cope with flood flood conditions under the old plan A special commission of five men was vas formed to run the city under the emergency created by the flood rhe form of government wail wag so BO successful cess ful it spread like wildfire A little experience however soon demonstrated that where five commissioners ners of equal responsibility run the government there may be greater centralization than under the old decentralized plan but lack of directing authority will prevent smooth operating what the omal r slon sion plan amounts to Is a partnership of five men A partner partnership of two la Is bad e dough a partnership of five Is well nigh inconceivable le potash potash and perl peri knutter arent in it staunton virginia led the way in 1913 with the manager plan the ilea dea caught like wildfire it fitted with the american idea of efficiency etl clency t was the principles of business mail mad argement applied to the city in academic language it accomplished the BeP separation of thi the legislative and admiel of the city government in every day terms the council met decided policy and hired a manager to run the business tile manager had complete control ot of administration it he made a good record he kept his job it he made a poor record he was tired fired the way eveia every business co corporation pe ration ot of any size operates why not the city |