Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-30
A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.

| A siep In the right direction was
taken nv the aImshomso and poor
committee Of the city council FRIDAY
night when resolution was adopted
recommending that the council con
Soldate the Offices Of oyerseer OF tue
poor aud superintendent OF the
slmshonse. When the citys almshouse
was located some fifteen miles up
the country, Of course II was lmpos-
slble for an overseer Of the poor liv-
| ing In the city To act as superlnten-
dent Of the institution. However, now
that an almshouse has been establish
ed lust outside the limits and the
superintendent is on the ground ana
in close touch with the city nall. an
overseer of the poor wocld be a use
less Injury. In fact. Information
nicked.np nj the committee meetings
is calculated to lead TO the BELIEF
that at times. ut least. IN the past
the oyerseer Of the poor has been lit
tie more than pensioner. drawing
portion OF the money paid for the
interment of paupers and performing
practically no duties. The committee
is 10 be congratulated upon its decis-
ION to abolish useless Office.
In ,ais connection. It may do no
harm to again draw the attention OF
the public to the fact that other ana
more important Offices than that of
overseer OF the poor might well be
consolidated. The sooner the council
as a whole gives serious considera-
ton to this subject the better. IL
The affairs OF our municipality were
conducted on the business principles
that make private enterprises sue
eessful, our list OF city officers and
employees would not be so long.
There would be few II any reductions
in salary, for most OF our officers are
not too well paid. but there would
be some consultations and additions.
It would be useless for this paper
TO attempt to specify just what Of
fees could be consolidated or elimi-
mated. Such proceeding simply
would arouse the ire OF the present
holders OF those Offices and start
their friends on a campaign against
the proposed changes. Naturally
enough. few men holding salar:ed Of
fees are in a hurry to lose their
places, and they do not readily admit
that their services can be dispensed
with TO the advantage OF the COM
munity Each officer, no matter how
humble his position may be. has
friends who will lock at the situation
from his pont of view. And even
when an office is vacant and there
is no incumbent TO contend with. ordi-
narly three or four people want to nh
the vacancy and the friends OF these
three or four raise howl If anyone
suggests abolishing the job.
The council ought TO deal with this
proposition and deal with il in a bust
ness like way. Some day, when
Virginia cities are permitted to adopt
a more simple and satisfactory form
OF government, perhaps the desired
reforms will be made. But that day
is likely TO be several years hence. at
least, and there is no excuse for con-
tinuing unnecessary abuses of the
present system because we hope for
a general change at some time in
the future Prsbahiy the council
could best attain the desired end By
bringing a disinterested municipal ex
pert from distance to look over thel
local situation carefully and recon-
mend such changes as he may deem
necessary and expedient 20 give us the
best possible administration of our
affairs under the present system. III
the council would secure such a report
and act upon ii regardless OF whom
the changes might affect. Newport
News would not have so many financ-
ial problems to solve.