MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1914, Page 4

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

The city of Dayton, Ohio, is, trying a brand-new experiment in municipal government. It has just entered the ranks .of the commission-governed cities, and lias entrusted its business affairs.to a city manager. Henry M. Waite, formerly of Cincinnati,, where he served as service director, and who before that was an active figure in railroad and coalfield developments, has been chosen for this position at a salary of 12,400d0l a year. Most American cities of the size of Dayton do not pay their mayors more than onefifth .of this sum. Under the old form Dayton was governed by a mayor cljosen by the entire electorate and a city council of 15 three, of whom were elected at large and 12 by wards. Under the new form the entire electorate elects n commission of five men, who appoint a clerk and city manager. The manager has entire appointing power, including the heads of five departments and all their subordinates. The new government is divided into five departments —safety, service, public welfare, finance, and law. The head of each of these departments is appointed by the city manager, with the approval of the commissioners, and is accountable c:dy to him. The power of removal ivithout notice is reserved to the manager, who, in turn, can be removed by the commissioners. As a further safeguard, the right to recall all officials is reserved to the people. The new government is based on the principle of fixed responsibility as an impetus to efficiency. The job of city manager of Dayton was offered recently to Theodore Roosevelt at a salary of 25,000d01, and was refused.