PM magazine in the 1940s focused on a variety of topics of that era, including post-war rebuilding, war workers, and public war housing. In an article adapted from an address given at the 30th ICMA Annual Conference in Chicago, titled “Some Observations on American City Management,” Arthur Collins shares his perspective as a public servant in Great Britain. He writes about the growth of careers in public service stating, “Since I was in the states for the first time, over 25 years ago now, it has pleased me to see that the public service has more and more proved itself as a career, with experience gathered from city to city, beginning at the foot of the ladder and climbing up to the biggest jobs in the greatest cities and counties. In this evolution, the profession of city managers has led the way.” He concludes by writing, “By the time I may be addressing you again, I trust I may look out on the faces of more men and women who have made public service their career, who are assured by law of retirement allowance, who are as proud as they are today of their code of ethics, and who are respected by the public they serve…”

In the April 1943 issue, under “What American Cities Are Doing” the problems that local governments were tackling become evident. In a bulletin titled, “Canteen for Children of War Workers,” the author announced that Detroit had opened a children’s canteen to provide after-school and Saturday care for 6-to-12-year-olds whose mothers worked in the war plants. It read, “Boy and Girl Scouts will meet the youngsters at the close of school and escort them to the canteen where they will be entertained with games, gymnastics and story-telling and given a hot supper.” It also stated that the charge for the children attending the canteen all week, including Saturday, would amount to $2.50.