The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-01
Says City Hall People
Don't Study City
Government.
TIME WASTED ON
THRILLING THINGS
----. --.--- -------
Declares He Amazed Committee
by Informing Members of His
Powers-Asserts Charter
Is Defed by Men
Sworn to Up
hold It.

In speech bristling with fiery thrusts
and brilliant periods, Mayor MCCARTHY,
| addressing the local r. r. A. post las:
night, arraigncd the City Council for va
rious alleged shortcomings. and denounced
| some OF It's committees for performing
| what he termed executive duties and vio-.
lating and defying the city charter.
The Mayor spoke with his old time
vigor, and In eloquent and biting Lam
guage he warned his hearers against the
alleged encroachment OF corporate power
upon the rights OF the people. Toward
| the end OF his effort. which provoked FREE
ducnt applause, he became as calm an
q May morning, and pleaded in beautiful
language for the cooperation OF all the
citizens for the best and highest inter
/ ests OF the entire city.
| The post held a business session before
the Mayor was introduced; and after his
speech was over light refreshments were
served and every one was made to feel
ut home.
Should Stick to Lawrnaking.
/ Mayor McCarthy's subject was "city
Government" and he treated It "from
| the ground up.'
Taking the charter upon which Rich
mond's municipal structure is builded,
!, he spoke Of the lines OF demarcation
| between the executive and legislative
| departments, and this led him to a
discussion OF the powers and duties
of each.
| He declared that when Councils and
Council committees contented them
selves with legislative work, to which
they should be limited. they were su-
premc; but when they undertook to
esercise executive functions. they
| placed themselves under the supervi-
sion OF the Mayor. who was sworn to
| zee that all executive officers did their
duty.
dramatic effect. related recent incl rpci
He declared that he had been called
before committee for the purpose OF
being rolled over about something's
| when he .'called a halt.
i .I told them that was Mayor" he
said. "and that the charter gave me
! the absolute authority to see that they
! did their duty in the matter under con-
sideration. They seemed dumfounded.
1t was an authority OF which they did
not know and which had lain dormant
| in the charter for years and years.
The Mayor said 1t was being felt now
/ to some extent that the chief executive
OF the city did have some authority with
| reference to municipal affairs. though
1t had never been realized before.
Boards or Committees.
Continuing. he discussed the advisahility
! of going from Council committees to a
4 board of control for the conduct OF all
| business now done by the former save
/ such as related strictly to legislation,
i but said If the board Of control should DC
| chosen by the Council, 1t might as wei
l not be chosen Mt all. He was inclined to
the view that they should be elected by
] all the people, and he didn't care If they
| all came from one block. provided they
were five OF the best men in the city.
i ,rhe speaker devoted much time to 2
! discussion Of the subject Of taxation.
| and said that though the greatest stu
dents the world ever saw had falled OF
its settlement by more than forty niles.
yet a Councilman elected from stall
a tax ordinance for the city of Richmond.
Three-String Brooms.
He did not think a man in the City Fiall
devoted much time to studying the greas
j subject of city government. Committees.
j he declared would spend hours wranglins
over whether 1t was better to buy three
I string broom or q two-string broom, or
I. whether the City Hall should be swept
by hand or by machinery, when questions
of vital moment to the city We're dis
posed OF in three minutes
Mayor A1cCarthys arraignment OF cor,
4 porations was severe in the extreme, and
! he declared if he had been in office
during the recent street car strike he
. would have disarmed and arrested every
man who came here with belts and pis-
tolls, and then Informed them that fol
the time being he was the only shooting
man In the city.
The Mayors concluding remarks con
stituted an eloquent peroration. IN Whlcf
he pointed out the wonderful possibilities
OF the city, and asked all the people tt
co-operate for the common good.
The Mayor Begins.
1t was about .; $50 o'clock when tlit
business session was over, and Prcsl
dent Christian, in highly compliment
!, tury terms, presented the Mayor to TIN
gathering.
Hts Honor was greeted with roun,
OF applause as he arose. and nftel
briefly returning his thanks for ths
invitation OF the post, plunged into ;
most vigorous discussion of tho sub
ject of "Clty Government"
!, lie briefly sketched the charter o
Richmond, defining the powers anl
duties of tho various departments n
set out therein, and laid great stress
upon the Importance OF the Legislative
brapch-the Council.
II believe only small proportion
of the people," he said, "realize thu
great power which tho Council CAL
WELD for good or for evil, and It there
fore behooves them to choose thel
!, best men for membership in this body
"The impression seems to prevail II
! the Council and elsewhere that tl'
5 Mayor has no power whatever To
y example, II he should thoughtlessll
\ order a fire engine to put out a fire on
Q u dump lie might be told that th'
I engine would go when ordered to d
0 so by Mr. Irischkarn,
. IF lie should order a leak stoppet
In pipe that was destroying TIL,