The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-14
APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS,

committee ON Improving the admins
tration of Richmond. But there /!
great force and sound wisdom in III,
position that was taken BY Alderman
ADAMS on Tuesday evening
Tho experience of other cities. where
unmodified commission government has
been tried. shows that the people are
both able and willing to choose for
themselves perhaps the host citizens
that could be chosen to administer the
public affairs. But in other cases
where this successful choice has been
made. the mon so chosen were given
free hand and the voters who were
doing the choosing were actively
awake and !ntently set upon making
the best choice possible.
In Richmund we arc TO choose under
the proposed plan, five commissioners
all nj one time II Is q large export
mcnt and one which labors at the out
set under the serious difficulty that
Tho administrative board is only par
tally responsible, and will be hamp-
cred in its actions by it's divided al
lcEience to the Council OF two bodies
and to the public at large
This experimental feature, especially
In view of the failure of Norfolk's ad-
Ininistrativo board, will doubtless de-
ter citizens from seeking positions
who would otherwise make cficient
and valuable public servants No one
who looks at the quality of the rep
'cscntatives throughout the country at
large would affirm that the standard
required, OF even the standard re-
ceivcd from elective officers. has in
creased in the last generation.
Without discussing the reasons for
this state of affairs, 1t Is obvious that
If there is to be a wide open scramble
for nvc Offices, Richmond Will be by
no means assured of getting at the
outset The sort of commissioners that
the city desires and deserves. Rich
inond will doubles receive the 1--WE
citizens who are the most popular
with the 10000 voters. many of whom
arc city employees. and many OF whom
have been registered In anticipat ton
of wet and dry asht; but whether
popularity measured by this test will
mean efficiency in administration Is a
Very different matter.
Now. * Mayor Richardson could APP
point number OF citizens, leaving the
Council the right to confirm the APP
pointments Richmond would at least
he assured that this new experiment
was 10 start under the most favorable
conditions.
II has been suggested that there are
members of both branches of the Com.
mon Council who would make excel
lent administrators. AS such they
would be debarred from even Offering
10 serve the. city. If the appointment
was made b.s- the Mayor and confirm
ed by the Council. because no member
nf the Common Council can be elected
10 any Office within the gift OF tho
Council within twelve months from
the date OF his resignation
If this objection Is considered ser.-
Gus, there is no reason why the law
could not be repealed, or why tho
members of the Council who would be
affected thereby should not be able to
offer themselves to the people at the
hFsi general e!ection--a matter OF on
iy a year or SC of waiting
No one who is familiar with the
affairs of Virginia can doubt that the
success OF the Corporation Commits
sion mas been In large measure due
10 the fact that its officers were an
pointed at irst, This enabled Cover
nor Montague TO secure a, class of SER
vice That he could not have received
had the officers been elected.
Now, that the work OF the corpora-
ton commission is ARMY established
and its lines have been clearly defined
the election Of one corporation com
missioner at the time would not be
anything like 80 dangerous 10 the pub
lie welfare as would have been the
election Of them all at first.
So In the matter of the administer,
tive board for Richmond The peopIr
know who they want and are able ia
choose<whoIn they want If they hay.
only ono OF tive choices 10 make a,
the time. But with The present ON,
look. and with the great and scrious
burden that lhs administrative hoard
will be calico upon 10 assume i, I,
undeniable that hotter class of sc,..
vice will be received by the people Of
Richmond II the Mayor could apno,n,
ha