The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-02
The municipal Problem.

inc movement 10 modify the city
government Of Richmond BY tho ad-
ditionl to the existing machinery OF a
Board of Control has assumed a shane
sufficiently definite to invite discussion.
The advocates OF the change realize
tho hopelessncss under the terms OF
the Constitution OF innugurating any
system fairly comparative with that
hands from which such good results
are claimed to have been derived In
Galveston, Des Moines and few other
municipalities in the United States.
in that direction they are confronted
by the fact that the supreme law OF
the State. not subject to repeal or
amendment by the General Assembly.
endows the Mayors. Councils and Ger
tain other OF the administrative officials
of cities with powers which are In
alienable except by change in the
Constitution. This being So. while 1t
is competent for the Legislature to
grant. as in the case OF Norfolk. the
clothe 1t with certain advisory and Sec
ondary functions, any provisions null.
tiifying or encroachtng upon the pre-
negatives and duties of the Mayor and
follows that the main arguments In
favor OF government by commission"
have no application to the partial
measures which alone arc permissible
" VIZ ma Scch1IS W
prove by simpliication their forms or
government. AS we have said above.
government by commission" borrows
its efficiency from the concentration OF
dividuals; all executive and legislative
authority Is vested In the chosen
agency. and all the cumbrous and COM
plicated mechanism which has hereto
fore apperta!ned to municipal sstab-
lishments is abolished. Thus prompt
tude of decision. conference OF policy In
all departments. and an economy not
possible under a hydra-hcnded system
may be attained. 1t is we'll to re-
member that where the plan has pro-
duced satisfying results It has been
applied in entirety. Nowhere within
our Knowledge has the mere amalga-
nation Of the old and new systems fur.
nished any conspicuous example OF
DDS or the cost Of administrations: nor
is disappointing outcome OF exper-
iments which fall to apply in tho-
eussnann Ae By e Commission" mat
ter for surprise. For the mere graft
ing OF one system on the other Is but
to hinder the smooth working OF either
and to deny full opportunity OF use,
to an engine already overburdened
with wheels: the causes for friction
are multiplied instead OF lessened, and
If, under such conditions. better and
would be little short OF miracle.
viate some OF these superficial objec-
tions by developing in the proposed
Board OF Control the functions now
the Councils and BY other devices
which seems to us rather evasive of
than overcoming the provisions of the
Constitution. The scheme also con-
tsm9lates aharp reduction etc IN the
doubtless wise move. But It must
not be expected that the officials to
whom the Constitution has given the
executive nndsSlegislative powers and
assert them against encroachment from
any source whatever. An eXtra.con-t
Rstltutional body, acting in the same
sph eres with the authorities created
much it may be distinguished BY ability
and high purpose. must be so ham.
pered by legal Limitations on the one
hand and lack Of cordial official CO.
to have no choice except between per-.
functorys performance OF narrow
range OF routine work and open and
impotent struggles with forces impreE-
nably intrsnched In Norfolk Il the !,
tuted and it has been earnest and cons
scientious in endeayors to Improve
every branch OF the public service.
SOBlar 1t mas not come into aQ!TcCl CON
tlct with other departments, and to say
that 1t has accomplished no good would
be untrue. But In the very nature OF
Its existence It has II . conclusive voice
on any subject OF material Importance
as against the will OF any OF the de-
partments which draw their az thority
from the fountain head OF all authority;
and 1t would bs going very far to
claim that the innovation has met the
expectations OF those who inaugurated
1t. has yet repaid the cost Of nainte-
nance. or that there are lacking igns
OF danger OF future paralyzingR conflict
from which the jurisdiction which Is
based principally on sufferance must
emerge shorn OF even the sembl lance Of
useful influence. Tho experience dur
ing a brief period OF years OF q Inns
tied number Of American cities may
strating the merits OF los cal and
chaote government by commission;
but government by method which Is
d CROSS between the concen tratlve and
diffusive methods, with oil the real
power resident lin the latter, Is 81 a
plunge into the sea of experimentswlth
out any support from the records OF
experience, and running counter. to MI
consistent theories. TO our mind. It
9isTa ma tier to no S lows q bout.--N orfolk