Quote#Politics & Power
Each officer possesses all the power necessary to render his position…
Quote byDaniel McCallum · 1815–1878
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Report of the Superintendent of the New York and Erie Railroad to the Stockholders (1856), p. 40; Cited in Alfred D. Chandler, Jr. (1977) The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business. p. 102.
English (original)
Each officer possesses all the power necessary to render his position efficient, and has the authority with the approval of the President and General Superintendent to appoint all persons for whose acts he is held responsible, and may dismiss any subordinate when, in his judgment, the interest of the company will be promoted thereby.
— Daniel McCallum
More from Daniel McCallum
# Great promptness in the report of all derelictions of duty, that evils may be at once corrected.
# A proper division of responsibilities.
# The means of knowing whether such responsibilities are faithfully executed.
# Sufficient power conferred to enable the same to be fully carried out, that such responsibilities may be real in their character.
The road must run save first and fast afterward.
# Such information, to be obtained through a system of daily reports and checks that will not embarrass principal officers, nor lessen their influence with their subordinates.