The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-15

subcommittee to Move Very
Slowly i'll Board Of Control
Matter.
.PRoBLEMs TO BE SOLVED
Suggested That Three Members
and City Attorney Go Off to
Some Place.

some Race.
l4sts
Although the members have talked
informally over some of the PROPOSE
tions before them no definite action
has been taken as yet by the sub
committee on charter changes, having
III It's special charge the matter OF re-
porting plan for a board of control
in Richmond.
general committee was appointed
some time ago to look into the ques-
ton OF charter changes, with a view
to a more economical and businesslike
administration of the city's affairs. and
this committee at its first meeting
passed a resolution asking for the
opinion Of the City Attorney as to the
constitutional limitations upon The
Council in making such changes. The
opinion of City Attorney Pollard was
received last week, and, broadly speak
ing, was to the effect that under the
Virginia Constitution the City Council 2
could not delegate to any board or
limited body of men It's Legislative
functions, but that the executive and
business affairs Of the city govern
| ment, the expenditure of funds and adj
COulu US
assigned to board OF control or the
separte departments could be put
in the hands Sof separate boards, as
Hin the case OF the Police and Fire De-
partments at present. Any such changes
however, would have to be under
new charter approved by the State
| Leg islature.
Will Take Long Time.
| The general committee on receiv-
| Ing this report, felt that SO large a
| body was too unwieldly to wreste
with the problem. and a subcommittee,
consisting of Mr.. W. r. Dabney. Mr..
| Gilbert K. Pollock and Mr.. Hunsden
| Cary were appointed to thresh the
| matter out and report back to the
| general committee their findings, with
| possibly proposed draft for new
| city charter. and any recommendations
! that the committee might find to be
| wise and best under the circumstances.
This sub committee have as yet only
/ formulated their work in the most gem
| eral way, and have not taken up any OF
4 the more intricate points involved Mr..
/ Fiunsdon Cary said last night that the
bcommitteo We're DESTROYS OF procuring
/ the very Best charter for the city that
was possible. and would do nothing
\ hastily
With the business Interruptions
4 which all the members OF the commit
4 tee have. It may take month or mora
to make any real progress. continued
] Mr.. Cary. and as some of the sub.
4 committee may wish to take summe,
4 vacations the work may be even mora
i delayed 1t has been suggested that
4 the three members of the sub-com.
i mittee take their books and papers. ana
4 possibly with tho City Attorney, II ne
i can arrange to do so, go off to soma
i quiet place for a week or two and
thoroughly work the matter on. DAY
| t,y day without anw Interruption
Il i t seems to be a foregone conclusion
| that the committee will recommend a
!. new city charter providing for the es-
ii Establishment of Board of Control of &,
limited number OF men paid for theii
Z whole time, who VIII do large part
4 OF the executive and administrative
!. work now done by the variouas conf
mittees of the Council. II remains tc
, be developed just how much power Will,
J, be given to this board, and how IA!
3 the members will really be in control
of the departments over which they are
placed. One OF the points on which the
members of the sub committee say they
! are not fully determined. and which
has not yet been discussed. as 70
Fl whether the heads Of the various city
Il departments will be elected by the
. Council, or by the Board of Control.
It being admitted that the latter course
4 would make the board vastly more au'
thoritative in It's action.
"A What other duties shall be imposed
on the salaried members OF the board
= of control in addition to sitting on
e tho board has not been decided-for
n instance, whether or not the members
: Of the board shall in themsclves be the
u heads of certain departments of the
e city government. somewhat after the
! lines of the Presidents Cabinet. where
: each Cabinet member is himself the
5. executive head of one of the branches
: of the national government.
2 Question of Election.
# Another point under consideration
IS lis whether the members OF the hoard
d shall be elected by popular vote, or
n by the Council. 1t is pointed out that
II if the members Of the board are tc
i be each trained specialists in separ-
y ate departments Of the city govern
/ ment. tho charter must provide certain
!. qualifications however they are to BIZ
o selected That is to say, the charter
might provide that one member OF
y the board should be a graduate Of some
IT school of engineering another quail.
i fed lawyer, and SO on. Even If thu
e board We're selected by popular vote
y candidate would have to meet with
e these requirements to be eligible.
y A great many such problems natur
9 Il any ttiiiss ~ tlio colsluerdtloi OIL SuCl
= a question: and they Will have to b.
% taken up one by one and discussed
- and acted upon by the subcommitte,
- during the summer
"a The final report of this committee
!, Will be watched with the greatest In
A. terest, as seldom any problem befor
SO the city government has caused a
,e widespread attention among all classe
~ of people.
o.
81 SERVICES IN TENT.
= Adycntists Holding Revival Meeting
In West End.