The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-17
WARM DISCUSSION
OF COMMISSION / A
and West End Citizens Confer on Modern
City Problems-Blake Scores Pollock and
Wise-Council Government Criticized.

w lSe-COuncll GOV
Spirited indeed was tho discussion
over the commission form of govern
ment for Richmond. and widely Diff
ferent were the views advanced as to
the form a r~eorganized governing body
should take, at the conference between
the Clay Ward Annex League and the
East End Citizens Association. of Mar
shall Ward. This meeting was held
last night in the Toulouse at Chin
borazo Park. being well attended, as
all such gatherings are in that Sec
ton OF the city.
No definite action was taken, but it
was generally agreed that such an
Interchange of views was an earnest
tof better things. and that gather
kngs should be held from time TO
time to weigh conditions and to dis
cuss plans.
Among the enlivening remarks was
an exceedingly plain statement regard
Ing the o'clock Wise matter. made by
George Med. Blake, one of the Demo
cratic nominees for the City Council
from Monroe Ward. Common hon
esty.' he said. should have told them
that they ought to resign their seats
in the City Council He did not think
there should be a law which would
allow an attorney to earn IL fee in
such a manner, and, in fact, he did
not believe there was such Il law.
He said that had he been in the Coun-
Gil when the matter came up ne would
not have voted for a committee OF in
vestigation. Had | lone IT," he said.
they would have put me in the peni-
Tertiary. and I don't think IL is right
that lawyers should be allowed to act
in this way
Wants Small BODY.
Major Hunsdon Cary made the prin-
cipal speech for a commission form of
government in cities. He declared the
existing plan TO be a failure. relating
his own experiences In the Council to
show It's impracticability. lie thought
a commission of three or five men
would perhaps be the best.
Vigorous opposition to a commission
plan was voiced by Alderman E. Doug
las Richardson. of Marshall Ward. He
did not see how a small body could do
the work any better than 1t Is now
being done. II some of the wards. he
pointed out. would be unrepresented.
A third view was expressed by City
Sergeant John C. Satterfeld. who wants
a smaller body than at present, COM
posed of perhaps t~wenty-four men, who
would be paid enough to command the
use OF their entire time. This would.
nc tHOuBHt. De DetteT IMAM a commits
sion. Mr.. Blake's ideas ran along the
same line.
1t was made plain that the Clay
Ward Annex League had no particular
! plan to suggest, but only desired to
inaugurate a city-wide movement for
the study of municipal problems, SO
that an improved system could be
worked out. It was generally felt that
the meeting, which provoked a full ex-
preston of individual views. would be
productive of valuable results to tho
future of the city.
In Initial StnEe.
Vice-President George L. Node. of
the East End Citizens Association,
presided, first introducing G. L Ryan,
of the Clay Ward Annex League dele
cation. Mr.. Ryan said it would be im-
possible to enter into a discussion OF
the details of the matter. since it was
still in its initial stage. The league.
he said. has no particular program.
When the territory in the West Enc
was annexed the organization was
formed to see that the o Of the
ward was spent to the best advantage
Of the citizens. and since hat was ac-
complished its functions had practically !!
ceased. Lately it had taken up the i
work of trying to secure a reform in
governmental methods. Little. he add
ed, could be done by one section, so it
was desired to get W a city-wide or
ganization for the study OF the prob
presented. The league, he insist
ed. was welded to no particular plan.
The chairman of the committee APP
pointed by the City Council to, look
Into a commission plan had mapped
out a system. he said. but could not
present it at this meeting for the rea-
-. 10 ! ~ ta G MT vet haen nf1rial1V |
reported.
j, r. O'Keefe was the next speaker.
He traced the history of tho commits
sion form of government OF cities.
showing how it had It's inception In
Memphis after the yellow fever epi-
demic of 1879. when the city was bank
rupt and was forced to surrender It's
charter. 1t then took up government
by commission.
He then compared these cities. In
1880 Memphis had $4,000 people. and
$4,000. According to the
latest figures OF the Census Bureau,
Memphis had now 132.5Sl, and Elch-
107, s44. The debt of the Ten
nessee city is $6,6O0.O00, and that oe
Richmond So 81 900; the per capita
debt of Richmond is s64.79; that of
Memphis, $51.43; tho debt per average
family in Richmond is $323; In Menu
phis, 1857.
In taxes Richmond pays per capita
1885,; Memphis, $1l.05. Richmond has
100 miles Of sewer, Memphis $50
miles; Richmond 377 acres of parks;
973 acres.
All cities have their bfunders, butt
in some places the blunderers are
punished, while this is not the casa
in Richmond. He referred to the mis-
takes of recent ~years--the hume, the
jail, the sewers. Ten or fifteen
years ago. he said, Colonel John B.
Cary secured a lake for Byrd Park.
'They are still digging IT. ne added,
Pokt-Ofice Robbers!
When Mr.. OlKeefe referred to tho
jail, Sergeant Satterfeld said, Z
'.That was the old one" whereat a
went around. "Anyway," said 7