Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/541

 MUNICIPAL REVIEW, 1908-1909 527

Avail itself of the citizen's right to examine public records.

Abstract and analyze such information as is contained in the records.

Supplement examination of records by collateral inquiry where the records are defective as to work done and as to conditions to be remedied.

Compare function with accomplishment and expenditure as to each responsible officer, each class of employee, each bureau or division.

Confer with the official responsible for the municipal department or social conditions to be studied.

Secure promise of co-operation, and instructions that direct subordinates to co-operate with the Bureau's representatives.

Verify reports by usual accounting and research methods and by con- ferences with department and bureau heads.

Supervise work in progress.

Hold frequent conferences with supervisors and directors as to method of investigation and as to significance of facts disclosed.

Co-operate with municipal officials in devising remedies so far as these can be effected through change of system.

Make no recommendations as to personnel further than to present facts throwing light on the efficiency or inefficiency of employee or officer.

Submit in printed form suggestions not easily understood when orally given and not readily conveyed by typewritten statements.

Prepare formal report (after conference among trustees and after edit- ing by committee on reports) to department heads, city executive officers and general public.

Support press publicity by illustrations, materials for special articles, suggestions to editors, to city officials, and to reporters.

Follow up educational work until something definite is done to improve methods and to correct evils disclosed.

Supply freely verifiable data to agencies organized for propaganda and for legislative, agitative or "punitive" work.

Try to secure from other departments of the same municipality and from other municipalities the recognition and adoption of principles and methods proved by experience to promote efficiency.

There can be no reasonable doubt but that a large measure of the success of the recently concluded New York campaign was due to the effective work of the bureau in bringing home to the people of New York the tremendous importance of the issues, financial and otherwise, but especially financial, involved in that campaign.

Whether New York City wastes officially $50,000,000 a year, as a recent writer (Franklin Clarkin in Success) claimed, mu-