The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-03
FRIDAY, JANUARY ., 1905.
The sick man nctcth n foolisl,
part who makes his physician his
hcir.-FubIlus S,ms.
THE WAY TO IMPROVE OUrt CITY
GOVERNMENT.

THE WAY TO IMPROVE ouh CITY
GOVERNMENT.
There are many opinions as to the
kind of city government Richmond
should have, but al! are agreed that
\ the present plan must be remodeled.
There is but one sensible and practical
course for Richmond to pursue, and
that Is 10 appoint Il commission, to be
composed OF select citizens and an.
expert OF national reputation, to i'll
vestigate the entire subject of NUM-
cipal government at home and abroad,
and then draw UP charter. 1t Is q
mans task. and it should be performed
by the best talent and patriotism at
our command.
Baltimore adopted that course eight
years ago. commission, composed Of
eight of her leading citizens, among
whom were United States Senator WI.
liam Pinckney whyte. T. c. Latrobc
and President Daniel C. Gilman. of
Johns Hopkins University, was Sc
lccted TO report q plan, and they
drafted a charter based on the follow
ing controlling principles:
.. To locate responsibility upon pub.
lie officials in such manner that IL
could not be evadcd.
2. To give representation to the
minority party in all departments. when
composed of more than one person.
so that an opportunity might be given
the minority TO scrutinize the actions
OF the party in power.
9. To hold municipal elections at a
different time Gin the spring. from the
State and Federal elections, in order
to separate municipal affairs from the
Influence of the political issues which
are necessarily involved In State and
national elections and to translate
them to nonpartisan basIs.
4. TO require the appointment of cx-
perts in all departments where pro-
1essional knowledge and skill are re-
Guircd
. To grant the use OF the streets and
other public property for limited terms
and to the highest bidder, subject to
the control and regulation OF the city
during the period OF the grant.
y. To check nasty legislation, espe-
ciaily in matters relating TO cxpendi.
lures OF public moneys. and to prohibit
The creation of a floating debt.
addition to the Council, two
boards were crea;ed, the ono called the
board OF estimates and the other the
board of awards. The first board Is
composed of the Mayor, the City A,tor.
ney, the Comptroller. the President OF
I The Council and the City Engineer. This
board prepares annually an ordinance
Y providing for expenditures during the
ensuing year. If the income is moi
sufficient to meet them, q pro rata re.
duction in all the departments must be
made; II there is Il surplus, it is cred.
+ ated to the sinking fund.
The other board is composed OF all
the members OF the first, except tia,
% the Treasurer takes the place or Tho
City Engineer. 1t opens all bids 70.
supplies or work of any kind, anc
awards contracts openly to the loves
responsible bidder. It is said that tn,
Lian operates efficiently, and has re-
deemed the city from partisan polite.
and organized graft, which flourishet
Il under the old regime.
This plan is open to some of Til,
objections that are made against TIL,
Board Of Control scheme which Rich
4 mond is now considering, and We d
net mean to recommend Il. 1t is on,
lined merely as a matter of informa
ton. The point is that Baltimore com
mitted the subject 10 a number of he
best citizens, who gave 1t intelligen
consideration and provided the cit,
M with charter which Is conceded to b
q vast Improvement over the old one
@ and which has corrected the abuses O
Al tbs past II Richmond will appoin
q 4Astmilar commission she may reason
ably expect equally good results. sh
has the talent. and in the interest q
the community she should utilize II.
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