The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-30
CEASE OPPOSED
TO COMMISSION
NEW PLAN OF CITY GOVERNMENT
NOT PLEASING To MADISON
WARD COUNCILMAN.
sgffI.1
HE FORESEES DEFEAT
BELIEVES THAT HEADS OF DE-
PARTMENTS OUGHT TO DE
tH-
CLOTHED WITH MORE
Il
AUTHORITY.
HE FORESEES DEFEAT

! Councilman George NJ. Cease, Of
! Monroe ward, is one of those who
| believe that ii is better to let we'll
| enough alone. Mr.. Cease does not
approve of the proposition to change
the existing form of government and
! he will doubtless be found in the
| ranks of the opposition when the
matter comes to vote on the floor
| of Council.
In the first place, Mr.. Cease be-
lieves 1t would he far better to re-
duce the number of councilmen with
| out reducing the number of wards,
even though it will take some time
| to effect such change by charter
amendment through the medium OF
! the Legislature.
! Above all. Mr.. Cease sees no oc-
casion 10 put such a commission
(, into operation. as 10 proposed, for the
| administration Of the city's business.
! He believes the work can be accom-
! plished just as efficiently, ii the heads
| OF departments were clothed with
more authority. For instance. there
| IS no reason, he says, why the head
| of the water or gas department
/ should not fully execute all matters
/ OF his respective department. and the
] same might be said of the engineer
! ing department, though he would like
to see-this department supplied with
a first rate superintendent who would
| be directly under the city engineer
and who would look after much work,
| particularly outside work. that now
falls upon the shoulders Of the en-
gineer. Personally Mr. Cease would
I like to see a higher priced engineer
/ In charge for there is no department
SO important as this one just now,
with the city growing apaee and de-
veloping in every direction.
Meet Unnecessarily.
4 As for the Council committees, MIR.
Cease says they could be relieved OF
much unnecessary service If the heads
of departn were authorized TO
vouch for and approved pay rolls. ,
IL is. the committees have to assem- Bile
. twice month for no other purpose
than to approve pay rolls
1t is Mr.. Ceases opinion that both
/ the proposition to reduce the mum
her of wards and that to install a
! commission for executive business
/ will meet with such serious opposl
ton in both branches OF Council that
| they will not get by
! Discussing the situation yesterday
| Mr.. Cease said he could already see
! in his minds eye great scramble
| for the proposed five Jobs of com
m issioner and 1t would not surprise
| him in the least to see several coun-
| cilmen in the race. In fact, he had
in mind two counciimen who Wouio
be certain TO become candidates
though he doubted the fitness of both
for such responsible position-no'
that they are not honest and faith
full servants of the people. but because
they were lacking in the chief quail
ties which a. commissioner should
possess And yet he did not douo
4 that both would put up good sim
\ fight for election. II they ran.
Put on FINAL Touchfs.
The committee on change in form
Of government Is scheduled TO nee'
again Wednesday afternoon, when il
lis expected that final touches Will bt
put upon the ordinance providing foi
an administrative board. One of the
--latest changes in this ordinance pro
vides for election of the city auditor
and city collector by Council instead
of by popular vote. as at present.
| The ordinance providing for reds
! tricting OF the city wards was put III
shape for councilmanic consideration
some days ago.
Both ordinances will be presented
to Council at its approaching Novem-
Der meeting.