The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-25
WOULD ENLARGE
POWERSOF BOARD
Councilmen Favor Delcgating to
New Body Right to
Fix Salaries.
DOUBLE CHECK is PROVIDED
To Prevent Drain on Treasury,
Board May Consolidate or
Abolish Offices.

In view Of the statement recently
issued by Chairman II. r. Pollard, Jr.,
OF the Council Committee on Finance
showing that the city OF Richmond is
paying annually to it's army OF office
! holders grand total of s1,l53,752, or
more than one-th4rd of tho whole in
come of the city, including receipts
from the sale of water and gas, and
that petitions for salary Increases
amounting in the aggregate to the an
nuul sum OF S106.+65 are now pending,
discussion has arisen ut the City Hall
and elsewhere as to tho advisability of
turning over to the proposed Admin
istrativo Board tho entire matter of
liking salaries.
When tho special committee mapped
out its plan for simplifying the adj
ministration of the oity's business AZ
fairs 1t found itself greatly hampered
by the provisions of the State Consti-
tuition which absolutely precluded what
is commonly known as commission form
of government. The Constitution saws
there must BIO q Council OF two
branches. elected by wards. Able at
torneys advised the committee that un-
der Virginia laws the right was re-
served in the Council itself TO levy
taxes. appropriate money, grant
franchises, and enact ordinances with
penalty.
These powers. 1t was held, could not
be delegated. Beyond that tho Coun-
Gil may delegate specific powers to
an employed board, just as It now dele
gates certain executive functions to its
Joint standing committees. each of
which under tho present plan, has the
expenditure of certain funds without
reporting back TO the Council, being,
within the scope OF their departments,
niue commissions in themselves.
Officers Versus Employees
Under the plan adopted by tn. Coun
Gil and requested from the state Leg
islature, section 20 of tho charter. VIII
provide that the Council shall fix tho
pay of all officers. but when II has
neen so fixed BY ordinance. no salary
snail be increased until the propriety
OIL such Increase has been referred 10
the Administrative Board for report.
inc Council is not bound by this re-
port, but 1T was believed TINT The
members or the board would be in
closer touch with city affairs. and
therefore able to advise on tho sub
!ec'' inc section further provides
tna' Tue council may, IL 1t SO elects.
=, " ''iS administrative Board
lhe power TO FIX the pay or all officers
whom 1t is authorized 10 apno,nt
| clear distinction is made between an
! GERS and employees. for 1t is further
PROVIDED III the snme section thar tho
pay OF all employes-that is laborere
"ot olhcers-shall be fixed by tho Al
illustrative Board. and may from Tim,
20 time be increased or diminished Nv
the board NY
9hce all appropriations must he
mace by tho Council il is obvIous ,na,
'hcre is strict check OH the ,3n,it
OF increase that the board could MAKE
Apptopria'ions in tho annual budget
ne In lump sum. and the board
re .. 'nl sp.haing of these lump sums
! u ~ considers II WISE, to cmploy p,orn
mon at less pay, or fnwcr
higher salaries, 1t can do So nro,.,,as
IL Keeps within the limits of tho f,,n,,
| appropriated t"''
Nay Consolidate Offices.
the special committee clearly forc
90" 'hht tho time would come whom
."e army OF offceholders would have
DC curtailed. If any funds wer. n
DC ieft In tho cit ytreasury for TIA
'hak'ns or public improveme and
'ur'her double check is provided IN
.o.'on "o-h OF the new charter. which
~ TIE new board the authority
"pi'o'i' hii officers at the head of
~; Up" rahiehts such as the city
engineer. Superintendent NJ tho 80.
works the Water Works. strno,
Cleaning and all subordinate om.as
now employed by committees Of tbc
I!tN council, the terms of such mr.
suns appointed by the board to h. for
l"o years. But even though Tho
Ioihc'i were to continue IT'S meet