Wanted: Business Efficiency [editorial]

The complaint now being raised by the farming sections of this township seems in no way to impugn the integrity of New Trier's highway commissioners. But it does demand a more intelligent business administration of the township's financial affairs.
The officials directly concerned protest that the complaints are vague and inaccurate. They hae declared that they fear no publicity in the discussion of their activities, or the lack of them. Yet they have either willfully or indifferently evaded all opportunities to explain their attitude on the drainage and road improvement problems of the western sections of the township, or to gain the co-operation of the residents of these sections. In a letter addressed to this publication one of these officials, apparently inspired to such action by the remaining members of the board, dwells at some length upon the unreasonableness of the alleged demand that the township commissioners use the township funds to drain the privately owned farm lands in this section.
To those who have interested themselves enough to become acquainted with conditions, it seems ridiculous for a board of public officials to hedge upon such a point since it is well understood that no such demand is made by any one. With the exception of a few hundred yards in one section of theis territory what drainage work has been done has been accomplished by the individual farmers and land owners at their own expense. The bed of the Skokie, which in past years created a marsh, utterly useless except as a breeding fround for mosquitoes, out of a vast stretch of land which now sells for $800 an acre, was opened up by these farmers who worked on Sundays to clear out the masses of weeds, driftwood and silt which chocked the stream and the removal of which reclaimed their lands.
What these property owners ask--and it seems reasonable--is that the township commissioner assist them by cleaning out and opening up the ditches along the public roads and which are township property. It cannot be denied that this work efficiently done will benefit these taxpayers; but their demand is not made on this basis but from the sensible contention that such work will conserve the publc interests by draining properly these public highways, which will protect them against floods and which means a considerable savings to the township treasury. It does seem that such an item as this should receie the favorable consideration of the officials whose oath of office clearly obligates them to this duty
Again the ancient law of New Trier stipulates that the township commissioners shall receive $2 a day as compensation for their services. Custom has interpreted this stipulation to mean any service which the commissioner may render the township; such as the attending of meetings, the cursory inspection of public work on the highways, the round of which may require but fifteen minutes if made in this high-power touring car. One commissioner rendered a bill for such services to the townshi for the year previous to March, 1916 of $26, another of $70, another of $30, which later represented an unexpired term; and his succesor for the time he served tendered a bill for $92.
Offhand this seems as if the township were receiving the services of these men, the majority of whom are experienced business men--one especially being a man of technical training which emiinently fits him for this work, at extremely reasonable figures.
Then again, especially when it is considered that there is a meeting once a month of this board for each of which session the commissioner draws $2, it becomes a question as to whether the board is actually devoting as much time to the duties of office as the conditions would require. Unless it is to be assumed that the members of the board are donating the greater part of their services to the community, which, from the nature of man, would seem unlikely, these officials are giving the public work very little of their personal supervision.
One commissioner admitted tothe writer that "perhaps the township work was not being done as efficiently as it should be and that he was not personally familiar with the manner in which the roads were being repaired in some sections, but that he had made a tour of a few of the roads last Sunday morning in his automobile and they seemed to be in unusually good condition."
This commissioner admitted that very little durability could be expected from road repair work where the stone was merely dumped into the holes without the use of a "binder" or a roller. He declared that the township could not afford more thorough treatment of its highway. It might be suggested that this commissioner invite his fellows to an inspection of the twenty miles of Glencoe's streets--highways which represent the acme of perfection in a community. We might further suggest that they consider a few of the lessons in efficiency which these streets offer, namely the "patrol system" and annual repair work at $200 a mile. It can be seen clearly that if Glencoe resurfaced all her streets every year, which is not necessary, the bill would amount to but $4,000. New Trier township anticipates $12,000 this year for the especial needs of its highway department. Perhaps it were not so foolish to suggest also that should these resources be placed in the hands of an individual such as he who is actively responsible for the administration of Glencoe's affairs this sum would supply the township with the convenience of the Glencoe type of roadway in short order, leaving at the completion of the work a tidy little bundle of cash which could be used for intelligent drainage. Only this expert to whom we refer would doubtless reverse the process--build a good drainage system to protect his road foundation and then make his highway repairs. But this is not the present system. One point is evident--that were the township commisioners half so jealous of the people's intereses as they are of "delegating authority" and of suppressing the amound of funds available more would be accomplished on New Trier roads.