At all times, under the current Manager, civil service appointments have gone to the man rated first by the Civil Service Commission. Councilmen have no authority in appointments according to the Plan E Charter. They can of course try to exert pressure on the City Manager.
While the current administration was jacking up the efficiency of the municipal government machine, it was also modernizing and adding to the machine's parts. The fire department received new equipment; parking mercers were installed on Cambridge streets; the capacities of the City Hospital, Infirmary and Sanatorium were increased; and two public swimming pools were built.
Success or Failure
Atkinson has economized by skipping the use of contractors whenever possibly. On the repaying of Massachusetts Avenue, for instances, Cambridge has used its own equipment and personnel--an unheard of practice by pre-1941 standards.
The success or failure of City Manager government depends on the personalities of the Manager and the members of the City Council. A strong Council with shady motives governing with a weak Manager could result in the most corrupt of administrations.
Atkinson has had his Councils in the past well under control. Transactions dealing with job appointments and contracts awards in the past may not have been all pristine in their political purity, but there is no more and probably much less dishonesty in the Cambridge administration than in other municipalities in the United States.
Because of the large number of candidates that filed each year under the new Plan--over 100 in 1941, for example--a number of residents decided to form a good government group, which would endorse certain candidates for each election. Corresponding closely in makeup to the old Plan E Committee, the Cambridge Civic Association was incorporated in 1945.
Donald Spencer '26, elected president that year, has led the organization ever since. According to present methods, candidates request endorsement from the Association, and go before a reviewing board. This panel, composed of members of the Association's board of directors, holds open sessions at which it questions the hopeful and studies their past records in office, education, and experience. It then picks the top men to campaign under its endorsement for positions on School Committee and Council.
Representative Group
All walks of life are represented in the CCA's 2500 non-partisan membership. Campaign literature and weekly bulletins plugging the CCA platform are published. Individual candidates must produce their own propaganda.
A lapse to government by political machine is what the CCA fears would result if they lost a seat on the Council at the coming election. "Their (anti-CCA candidates) objectives is clearly," a CCA campaign bulletin said,"1) to destroy P.R. in 1950; 2) to jam (the 1951 municipal election with stalking horses and restore political rule; 3) to appoint is January, 1952, a manager who will be the tool of the politicians."
This gloomy forecast is effective in getting out votes; but not all independents are as the CCA paints them and even if it wins only three council seats it is unfair to assume that all six or even a majority of the independence would be purse snatchers.
It is doubtful, however, that the CCA need seriously worry at all, about such a remark. Its four incumbents on the council, Pill, Swan Crane, and Deguglielmo are all likely to be reelected. Lawrence F. Feloney, a newcomer is running a strong race. CCA's organization and growing prestige are likely to give it at advantage over the "independents" who depend wholly on votes they can rally in this own districts through personal popularity.
"Town and Gown"
What friction there may have been between Harvard and Cambridge municipal author its has rarely showed on high levels. "We have a lot of respect for the University on the Council," Deguglielmo said, "and we have always done our best to fulfill the requests of the University." Public statements made against Harvard usually stem from the value as vote gutters.
John J. Feley, a strong North Cambridge politician has verbally rapped the University on occasion. His son, however, was recently admitted to the College, indicating that Foley's expressed feelings against Harvard not deep seated.