Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07

the authority given iilih' Win piOp'i oilt-
guards TO administer the citys affairs.
Instead OF making the office. as 1t Is at
nresent only that IN name? Why might
NOT the Mayor, summoning TO himself the
sunerintendents Of the various depart
rnents Of the city execute and administer
the affairs OF the city, and DO Il In such
a way that every department should work
70 lis individual advantage, and yet In
one harmonious SYSTEM
III the Mayor. having consulted with
the various heads OF departments, should
say. Mr.. Superintendent OF Streets, we
have so much money TO spend on streets;
Mr Superintendent Of Water. We have so
much money 10 spend on water. and
should further say. You will be as econom-
ical as you can, and try, II possible. to
lay your pipes at the same time that you
pave your streets and before either de-
partment begins it's work you will notify
me. that the City Engineer may give his
advice in the premises does any one
doubt that much labor might be saved to
the Council. much inconvenience 10 the
citizens, and much money to the treasury?
"But, some will say, l. IL not dangerous
ia trust 80 much power to the Mayor. II
II is universal suffrage is failure. If
there was any such danger his term OF
Office might be made for one year, or for
for reelection For my part. / DO not
fear any such danger. Since | have lited
in Richmond. ] believe the mayoralty has
been held by honest citizens, and | be-
lieVe that some change i'm the charter VIII
have TO be made 10 meet the eXigencies
OF the city's growth.
What these changes may be l do not
pretend to know; but l give It as my
unreserved opinion that no municipal
government can successfully maintain its
functions so long as its legislative and
executive departments are all jumbled up
together. and when the defects and de-
ficencies OF administration are supposed
to be remedied by the levy of additional
taxes. and the impositions of new bur
dens
COLONEL PURCELL'S REMARKS.
Colonel John b. Purcell followed Mr.
Page, ana after setting forth that the
league had accomplished "a great thing.
in that # had demonstrated that the tax
payers can control the city when they
want to. and asserting that many who
had entered the league last spring had
been disappointed by the knowledge that
it was not organized as a forgetting in
stitution, discussed the charter amend
ment from the standpoint of overworked
councilmen.
He asserted that unless the charter
were so amended as 10 reduce the work
Of the legislative officials. il would be
impossible TO get good men to serve in
the Council. The arduous duties now de-
volving on the City Fathers. he asserted.
were driving the best men out and would
eventually only leave those 10 admins
ter Our affairs who haven't any business
of their own. and 90 10 the Council simply
for what they can get out of it.
The first thing to be done. he said. was
to send the right men TO the State Legis-
lature and then let them get the amended
charter through
TO DRAFT \ REPORT.
Mr. John b. Minor at this juncture Of
fered a motion providing for the appoint
ment Of a committee with the president
as chairman. to draft a report TO be pre-
sente, at the next meeting setting forth
the amendments proposed 10 the charter.
After some discussion the committee was
reduced to FIVE and made an addition to
the Judiciary Committee. The president
did not announce the committee.
II was stated just before adjournment
that Mr.. Minor would address the next
meeting.