The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-17
DllkE SEVERE ON
POLLOCK AND WISE
UecIares He Would Have Been
Sent to the Penitentiary for
What They Did.
NEED MORE SIMPLE PLAN
Speakers in General Discussion of
Commission Question Point Out
Defects in Present System.

Though one or two spoke in favor
Of the bi-eamerai systefn of NUM-
eipal government, the general con-
census Of opinion at the meeting held
In Chimboraxo Hall Monday night by
members Of the Clay Ward Annex
League and the East End Citizens
Association was that the present
council form OF administration in
stseAsaas.a 10 failure assA- s.4essiittss be
changed at the earliest possible mo-
ment 10 commission or administra-
i've rUmmftter government
ytce-Prestdent George r. Node, of
the East End Citizens Association,
presided, introducing the first speaker.
Mr.. @. L. Ryan. or Clay ward. Mr..
Ryan was In favor of launching a
sity-wfde movement for reform. The
commission plan could not be work
ed out. he said. until the ward feeling
--s<sa 4easotssy nave way tn ercnsf pa
trtottsm, when all the people would
be willing to work for the composite
city rather than each for his own
community, as against every other
community,
Point Out Its Deficiencies.
Mr.. i. r. 0'Keefe and Major Huns
don Cary followed, each showing the
advantages to be enjoyed under the
commission plan. while they pointed
cut the many deficiencies OF the pres
emit bi-cameral system. Mr.. O'keefe
taking Memphis AS "a typical example
81 commission governed city, COM
pared IL with Richmond. In 1880,
he said. Memphis had a population
III s3,eeo. while Richmond had ss.-
na0. According however, to shs
latest figures of the census bureau.
Memphis had 1891. and Richmond
i0T.ss4, The debt of the Tennessee
city In $500 600, and that of Rich
mond $s,ss2. 1000: the per capital debt
OF Richmond is ssA.7s. that OF Mem
phis. sbI42 the debt per average
Family I'm Richmond In s32S; In Mem
phis, s2BT-
In taxes Richmond pays per capita
sls.ss: Memphis, sll.o6: Richmond
has 100 miles of sewer: Memphis
@ve miles; Richmond s77 acres or
parks: Memphis s7s acres.
Adds Much 10 Cost.
Alderman Richardson wac next
called upon. His speech resolved it,
self into rapid-tire debate with Ma
applause for the unmereifui scoring
he gave the council system. He de-
elared that three prices were occa-
Aionally paid for one piece Of work,
and that no business organization
would stand for such methods one
second.
Attorney NJ IL. Omohundro and
Sergeant Satterfield followed. Both
we're In favor of less cumbersome
AyHfAm OF government, an executive
organization which could accomplish
more and at less expense
Criticixes Pollock and Wise.
Gounctfman-E Elect George Mel,
Blake threw a bomb into the meet
ing with the declaration that Coun- !
etlnnen Pollock and Wise whose con- /
duct is under investigation, had cast !
Il blot over the official record Of the
council and had done a thing for
which he would have been sent to the
psHftfHtsary. lie had nothing but
the kindEat personal feeling feF- the !
two men. he said but could not pass
over their transaction with the dairy
men. Although they were lawyers,
and were consequently supposed to
fellow different code of ethics from
the ordinary citizen. he thought they
had even strained the lawyer code to
the breaking point.
Common honesty" he declared,
should have forced them TO resign
before they brought this investigation
upon the city council
Need a Better System.
Mr.. Blake declared that some sys-
tenn Of government should be devised
which would put an end to the scan !
dals which have composed go great
. part OF Richmond's history. 1t was
shown. he said. that the bi-cameral,
even at It's best, could not do the
work imposed upon 1t with any de-
gree OF satisfaction. The men were
not alWays capable 81 traasaetisas the |
city's affairs, while practically all of
them are employed elsewhere, and |
consequently give their best efforts |
10 their own business.
The speaker advised that the city /
70 slowly. however, and not rush |
headlong into any new blunders. He |
believed that II the citizens took the /.
matter to heart and realized the true !
condition OF affairs, they coufu gave |
q concrete plan fully mapped ont TO
present to the next Legislature. which |
could then be asked to so amend the |
statutes az To allow Richmond TO in
RuGurate system OF government |
which would be more of a credit than |
that by which 1t 10 at present con-
troIled.