Later the work of the Efficiency Division was transferred to the committee on finance of the council, which has organized a staff for its performance. PUBLICATIONS Final report of the Municipal efficiency commission, city of Chicago1909-1911. [Chicago, 1911?] 41 p. Report on the Department of buildings, city of Chicago. Inquiry conducted at request of Mr. Henry Ericsson, commissioner of buildings, December 28, 1911, to May 6, 1912. Conditions, methods and systems in use organization-conclusions and recommendation. [Chicago, Western newspaper union, 1912.] 59 p. charts. Final report police investigation. Inquiry conducted by authority of His honor, Carter H. Harrison, Mayor, Sept. 5, 1911, to March 7, 1912. Details of vice investigation-departmental analysis-reorganization plan-conclusions and recommendations. [Chicago, Western newspaper union, 1912.] 54 p. 3 I. Analysis of employment and charts showing departmental organizations and distribution of employees, city of Chicago, March, 1913. Outline report of work of the Efficiency division, Civil service commission, 1909-1912. [Chicago, Western newspaper union, 1913.] 99 p. incl. charts (part. fold.). Contents. Analysis of employment-1913. Outline report of work of the Efficiency division. Reports on the Department of electricity, city of Chicago. Inquiries conducted at request of Mr. Ray Palmer, city electrician, May 24 to November 29, 1912. Conditions, methods and systems in use and organization of the Department of electricity. [Chicago, Barnard and Miller, 1913.] 40 p. incl. charts (part fold.). Contents. Report on investigation of the organization of the Department of electricity. Report on investigation of the Interior wiring bureau. Report on investigation of police powers of employees in electrical department. Report on investigation of storehouse and yard-construction and maintenance division. Report on the gas meter testing division. Report on the investigation of engineer and janitor service, Board of education, city of Chicago. Inquiry conducted at the request of the Board of education, May 1, 1913, to September 5, 1913. Compensation, conditions, organization, administrative and efficiency control-conclusions and recommendations. [Chicago, 1913.] 71 p. tables. Reports on the Bureau of streets, Department of public works, city of Chicago. Investigations conducted at the order of the City council and at the request of the commissioner of public works, April 21, 1913-October 15, 1913. Methods, systems, standards and schedules of service-bases of estimates and appropriationsadministrative questions, organization of the Bureau of streets and of other departments having similar activities . . . [Chicago, H. G. Adair, 1913.] 113 p. plans, tables, diagrs. ... Reports on the budget of educational estimates and expenditures, Board of education, city of Chicago. Educational budget prepared by the Efficiency division . . . February 27, 1914, to May 2, 1914. [Chicago, J. F. Higgins, printer, 1914.] 49 p. incl. tables. Partial Contents. Classification of standard accounts. Report on procedure in preparation of budgets and accounting control. Rules governing compensation of civil service employees. Report on the budget of educational estimates and expenditures, Board of education, city of Chicago. Educational budget prepared by the Efficiency division . . . February 27, 1914, to May 2, 1914... [Chicago, J. F. Higgins, printer, 1914.] 558 p. Contents [same as in edition above, except that detailed estimates are given for each organization unit]. Report on the investigation of prison labor and management, House of correction, city of Chicago. Inquiry conducted at the request of the Committee on finance, December 11, 1913, to March 24, 1914. Statutory provisions, organization, management, record system, inmates and prisoners, contract labor, extension of industries, present industries-conclusions and recommendations. [Chicago, Cameron, Amberg & co., printers, 1914.] 66 p. incl. illus., plan, tables. Report on the investigation into organization and administration, Department of health, city of Chicago. Inquiry conducted at the request of Dr. George B. Young, Commissioner of healthMay 26, 1914, to April 19, 1915. Statutory and ordinance provisions, organization, administration, methods of procedure, equipment conditions, records and systems-conclusions and recommendations. [Chicago, W. J. Hartman co., printers, 1915.] 160 p. charts, tables. Milwaukee, Wis.: Bureau of Economy and Efficiency and Bureau of Municipal Research. In 1910 the Social Democratic Party succeeded in gaining control of the government of Milwaukee. A leading feature of its program was that of subjecting the government of the city to study with a view to perfecting its organization and methods of business. By a resolution of June 14, 1910, the Committee on Finance of the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee was directed "to investigate the system of accounts of all departments of the City of Milwaukee and the operations and activities of all departments and powers granted to the city," and to submit to the council for adoption "a complete system of uniform accounts, vouchers and other forms that may be necessary or convenient for carrying out such system and recommendations for rendering more efficient and economical the administration of the city." For expenses connected with the preparation of this report $5,000 was appropriated. To carry out the purposes of this resolution and appropriation there was created an organization with the title "Milwaukee Bureau of Economy and Efficiency." This body in May, 1911, issued a bulletin in which it discussed proposed plans of work, and indicated the studies and researches which it intended to make. In 1912 a change of government took place. The idea of subjecting the government to a thorough overhauling had such a strong popular support that the new administration declared its intention to continue the work projected by the bureau. Though it abolished the bureau it created in its place a new bureau under the title of "Bureau of Municipal Research." Following is a list of the publications of these two bureaus: PUBLICATIONS Bulletin, No. 1-19. Milwaukee, Wis., 1911-1912. Contents. police alarm tele1911. 23 p. No. I. Plan and methods in municipal efficiency, by B. M. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. No. 5. No. 6. Pub. by the Wis Proposed minimum wage law for Wisconsin . . . Prepared for the Wisconsin consumer's league under the direction of J. R. Commons, 1911. 18 p. (This bulletin was not published by the Bureau, but simply included in its series.) The refuse incinerator, by M. Cerf [and others]. 1911. 75 P. Citizens' free employment bureau, by F. A. King. 1911. No. 7. Free legal aid, by F. A. King. 1911. 16 p. No. 9. Guide to exhibit and a review of the Bureau's work. Loan exhibit of the Census bureau. Milwaukee budget exhibit, Auditorium. Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 1911. 12 p. No. 10. Plumbing and house drain inspection, by F. H. Elwell. 1911. 33 P. No. II. No. 12. No. 13. No. 14. No. 15. No. 16. No. 17. No. 19. Water works efficiency 1. Water works survey, by Health department. 1. Milk supply, by S. M. Gunn. Water works efficiency. 2. Present capacity and future Water works efficiency. 3. Operating efficiency, by Recreation survey, by Rowland Haynes. 1912. 31 p. 44 P. Eighteen months' work of the Milwaukee Bureau of economy and efficiency, by J. R. Commons. 1912. Standardization of salaries of the city of Milwaukee. Report of the Bureau of municipal research, November 4, 1913. [Milwaukee, Wetzel bros. printing co., 1913.] 96 p. incl. tables, forms, fold. charts. Efficiency and economy in municipal work by modern type of equipment. Milwaukee, Wis., Bureau of municipal research, 1915. 37 P. Milwaukee's ash problem, by the Bureau of municipal research. . . Milwaukee, C. H. Kronenberger & Co., 1915]. 45 p. incl. plans. Annual report, 1914-15. Milwaukee, 1915— Full title of report for 1914-15: Annual report, Bureau of municipal research, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. New York, N. Y.: Commissioner of Accounts. The large powers of central administrative control over the government of the city of New York actually exercised by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and by the comptroller through special agencies, as set forth in a subsequent section of this volume, doubtless make less necessary in this city than in others, where a less degree of central control obtains, a purely investigative agency. The city charter nevertheless makes provision for the Commissioners of Accounts, appointed by the mayor, who have wide powers of investigation and report. While the charter makes provision for two commissioners, it has been the custom since 1909 for the mayor to appoint but one. Regarding the interpretation placed upon these provisions, a report1 prepared by the Commissioner of Accounts' office has this to say: The work of the Commissioner of Accounts' Office is not limited to ferreting out irregularities and obtaining evidence of inefficiency or dishonesty; it includes also budget investigation, the study of important administrative problems and assisting in reorganizing bureaus or departments to secure greater economy and efficiency. The efficiency staff formerly under the Board of Estimate and Apportionment has recently been transferred to the Commissioner of Accounts. The staff is conducting efficiency studies looking toward the standardization of work processes in the various departments. The foregoing may be supplemented by the following appreciation of its work contained in a report on New York City's Administrative Progress, 1914-1916.2 Continuously through the past two years, the commissioner of accounts, in addition to carrying on his own work, has supplied several members of his staff to assist in constructive work under the direction of the chamberlain and to investigate and report on current administrative matters referred to the chamberlain by the mayor. He has also assisted the various heads of departments in their work of reorganization. Especially noteworthy assistance has been rendered to the commission on pensions in its investigation of the city's pension funds, and to the temporary central purchase committee organized to purchase supplies on contract for all departments under the jurisdiction of the mayor. The commissioner of accounts has coöperated in the preparation of the annual budget by detailing examiners to analyze departmental requests prior to their approval by the mayor for submission to the board of estimate and apportionment. The volume of constructive work done by the office is greater than that done at any previous period and indicates the necessity for continuing as a branch of the executive force an administrative staff to deal with general questions of a constructive nature. 'Government of the City of New York: A Survey of its Organization and Functions, 1915. 'P. 203. |