The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-20
LETTER FROM Mr.. G00LRICK
He Wants Change In the Municipal
System.
(Communicated)

He Wants Change In lhe MuhiSiphi
System.
Communicated
To The Free Lance:
lnasmuch as the 1st OF Sept. Is
rapidly approaching and since on
that day the City Council elects the
city officials for the ensuing tweiVe
months. IL seems TO me that the
business men OF Fredericksburg
ought to arouse themselves TO the
needs OF this city with view OF
securing a more satisfactory system
of municipal government than that
which now obtains IL is disagree
able. but no less truthful fact that
the average man in this town taxes
little or no interest I'm its munlcipal
affairs. and to this fact in large
measure may be ascribed the failure
OF this town to progress as she
should have done All over the Uni
ted States the people OF the various
cities and towns are uniting in con
certed efforts TO do away with the
old system of government In Rich
mond, our own State capital, pub
lie meeting was held few days since
with a view of securing for that town
commission form of government.
its leading newspapers are support
ing the movement and the Council
has appointed a committee OF its
members to confer with a citizens
committee relative TO adopting this
plan. From Fredericksburg Coun-
ell committee went to Staunton.
accompanied by the writer of this
article. representing the local Busl-
ness Mems Association, and upon
the return Of these committees the
association appointed a committee
from its body to confer with COun
ell committee, then considering the
matter OF a change. significant as
showing the lack Of unity here. no
invitation OF any kind has ever been
received by these representatives OF
the Business Mems Association TO
confer or meet with the Council com
mittee and no intimatiOn ever re-
ceived that their presence at any OF
the meetings would be welcomed
Unofficially the writer has heard
that there is a plan on foot to
create the office Of street commits
sioner and stop at that This would
be but a half way measure at best,
and If change is to be made there
seems to be no good reason
why the "StauntOn plan In its en-
tirety should not be adopted here
the cost OF General Manager,
such as they have in Staunton would
be but little more than that OF
street commissioner and the differ
ence in the value Of the two offices
would far more than pay the differ
ence There is no use closing our
eyes to the disagreeable fact that
this town Is not going ahead as II
ought to- Thousands OF dollars have
been wasted I'm past years because
of the organic defects in our system
of government and thousands more
will go the same way unless We do
something about il.
Just think how long this town
has been here and then look al our
streets with rock at our very doors.
they remain unimproved save as 10 4
few blocks and year after year we
sit with folded hands. allowing this
state of affairs TO continue. What
is the result of this system? The
town does not increase in population
as she should, business is injured,
capital will not come no incentive
is furnished TO the people TO i'm
prove their own property and taken
altogether II amounts to a damag-
ing advertisement for Fredericks
burg. | believe the people OF this
town want permanent streets and
that they are willing to pay for
them, even by a bond issue, If neces
sary, but they are not willing to
risk their money under the present
working system. Reverting to an
other drawback Of the system |
might call attention to the red tape
which this system develops. Busi-
ness men and manufacturers, and,
/ in fact, our citizens generally do not
know whom to call In for aid when
| it is needed. Council committees
are hard to get together and a man
sent from one TO the other finally
gets disgusted and gives up hope
of results. IL is a lack of necessary
concentration OF authority in some
responsible head which is pIaguing
this city at this time. The various
superintendents apparently havelittle
or no authority and as stated above
life is too short to contend with
rCOuncil committees and be met with
the postponements,e etc. attendant on
that system. All OF this may not
sound very pleasant, but It is never
theless true and II is high time that
ha .
selves if they ever expect this town
to amount TO anything more than 1t
does now. No one can deny the
obvious fact that we are not pro-
crossing as we should and a town
must either go forward of back
wards. II can't stand still. Why
Is it that the commission form of
government in modified form, such
as StauntOn adopted with good re-
suits, can't be put in effect here?
IL it isn't good thing why are so
many cities and towns throughout
the country adopting it,why so many
newspapers urging its adoption, why
so many eminent public men Civ
Ing it their unqualified approval?
Why should Fredericksburg wait any
longer to make a change? Has our
past experience satisfied us with the
present system? Are members of
the Council so welded to their idols
or so Jealous of their prerogatiYes
as to be unwilling to put this town
In line with other cities and towns
Throughout the country and there
by keep us in the rut? A change
In our form of government should
be made and made at once. Years
OF experience have demonstrated the
folly of continuing the present sys-
tenn and the town won't make prog
ress until the change is made. What
, are the people Of Fredericksburg go
Ing to do about It?
What is the Council going 10 do
about It?