The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-17


mcnt recently refused to send its
prisoners there" oh" replied Mr.
Satterield, that went by favor
A commission form of governments
he continued, means a business form.
An inefficient government means highs
er taxes. which in turn mean higher
rents.
That the work now done by co,n-
mittees should be done by a commis-
sion was the plan OF NJ. II. Omohun-
dro, another of the Annex League
speakers. 1t will take three years to
get a change in the State Constitution
to allow a strictly commission plan,
but the executive functions of the City
Council could now be placed in tho
hands OF a sort of commission. while
the Legislative branch must still for
three years be left with the govern.
ing body. He understood tina, the de-
partments do not work In harmony
because an efficient body is
lacking. He thought the people should
meet and discuss the subject and form
a plan which would be adopted by
the Council under the pressure which
would be exerted.
All Cities Will Come to 1t.
Major Cary told OF the birth of the
commission plan in Galveston, fol-
lowing the flood. He predicted that
All the cities of Virginia would come
20 IT In Germany, he said. when n
Mayor is eco they advertise for ono
in the papers. and the applicant for
the job must present his credentials
showing his fitness. Men are trained
Tor the work and give their lives to
it 1t Is a profession. Mayors who
make good go from small cities Ia
larger ones. This could not be done
In America, he said. because we have
no schools in which to train men in
the science of government.
Reverting to his experiences on tho
Council. Major Cary said that the dis
tribution of money was large guess
work. Each department asks for three
or four times as much as II eSpccts
to get. and the Finance Committee
scales down the appropriations to suit
the exchcquer.
He strongly urged a city spirit in-
stead OF a ward spirit. Until" he
concluded, you can get the people OF
the whole city united in a movement
for a common purpose, you will never
have a great city"
Opposes Plan.
One or two members of the East
Enc Citizens Association said a few
words mildly commanding the cons
mission plan. and then Alderman Rich
ardson was called on. He said from
the outset that he opposed the COM
mission scheme. He had. he said.
heard nothing but criticisms, with no
tangible suggestions as anything bet
ter. He said the apportionment of
the city's funds was the best that
could BE done. and did not believe a
commission could do any better. He
did not like the comparison with
Memphis and Atlanta. saying that he
liked Richmond best and did not want
to be like those cities.
Responding, Major Cary said that
If the pick of the city were gotten
into a body of forty men 1t could not
give the city an efficient and econoni-
cal form OF government. When asked
by Mr.. Richardson to prove this, ha
replied that 1t had never been done.
He asked If any business man would
pay three times over to have the same
job done. This sentiment got no
heaviest applause OF the evening. He
wanted a government that would re-
suit in putting Its finger on the man
responsible for things that go wrong.
He presented q suggestion of from
three to five men to run the city.
these officials to he well paid.
His especial point was that no ono
man with his own business to attend
to can possibly be as Well informed
as he should be in the matters upon
'A'' - - NN''S 49, w y
In the running debate which cnsued
between Messrs. Cary and Richardson
1t became evident that the meeting
was with Major Cary by a large mas
jority.
City Sergeant Satterfeld said that
the discussion had not satisfied him,
There was. he said, a general feeling
the city government was not
doing what it orGllpIo de- fsSw
eli m berSOmo a n1EI T. Iyi n /. HHl m ~ mr. ~, HW
bers of the govSIinga bodics could
not become familiar enough. with de-
partmental work. He thought perhaps
1t would be best to reduce the nuns
Der of members of the City Council
to twenty-four, Each one of these
falniliarize himself with the
OF government. While on til,
Board of Aldermen he found it nee
essary to vote for appropriations OF
which he did not approve because 1t
difficult to arrange the budget ac-
cording to individual Views. There
might, he said, be ineficiency in Rich
lnond, nd he believed there was; but
II there was any r%ottenness he had
unable. after an investigation, to
find 1t.
George Med. Blake dvised going
slow. 1t touched a tender spot, he
said, to take away a mans vote. He
thought it best to get together and
lallt matters over for the next two
so that tho city would be ready
with a plan by tho next meeting OF
The Legislature. He didn't like Rich
to he compared with small towns
ike Stanton and Atlanta, anyway He
thought good men could be gotten IL
hey We're paid adequately for their
york.
Making his statement as to Messrs.
Pollock n Wise, Mr.. Blake said he
vas not talking for publication, but
ne had said the same to tho mon them,
and would say 1t TO any QUE.
The lIast End Citizens Association
,meet again neNt Monday night