The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-26

power IN the appointment OF and en-
| troll over the various city oficers and
| members of the several city boards
These powers are the great essen
tials. so that city expenditures shall be
made and its affairs shall be conducted
more on business principles by experts.
duly compensated and devoting their
| abilities to the Interests OF the city.
Legislative Powers Narrow.
II 1t be true. as 1t Is, that the purely
Legislative powers OF city are of but
narrow scope, while Its administrative
requirements are extensive and diff
cult 1t would appear that by recon-
mending an amendment to the charter
as to the creation OF an Administrative
department. we would suggest method
| by which the business part of our city
| government could be managed upon
business principles. Not only could the
City Council be OF great service In
properly exercising the purely legisla-
! tive powers. but 1t could be of service
in other ways
You will notice that in the West Vir-
ginia charters the Council has the
power to demand a submission to 1t of
| any contract. plan, specifications, etc,
( pertaining to any work contracted for
| by the commission board. BY the due
! exercise of that power the Council
, could give. when deemed desirable, all
! the publicity necessary as 10 the add
ministration OF affairs by the board.
| BY our Constitution the Mayor would
necessarily have not only general SUI
pervisory powers over the work of each
ME amber of the Board of Administra ton
and OF all officers under the board, but
would also have the power OF removal,
| subject to an appeal to Ithe Hastings
Court. of any member Of the board and
! subordinate officers
Powers OF Mayor.
Hence there would still remain upon
| the Mayor the primary responsibility
of seeing that the duties of all officers
are faithfully performed. Thus would
be removed all necessity for the pro-
/ vision commonly called the right of
recall, unless that right be made to
apply to the Mayor alone There is at
| present statutory provision for the re-
moval of the Mayor
| Power might also be given to the
| city Council to demand OF the Mayor an
! investigate into the management or
| conduct OF any member OF the board OF
| administration. Thus double oppor-
| tunity would be had to examine in to
| the administration OF any memb err OF
the board:
LIST BY the Mayor. OF his motion.
| I'd, BY the demand OF the City Coun-
| Gil
Nor could it be correctly claimed
that such power of removal would
| tend to destroy the independence OF
, any member OF the board. as there
would be afforded ample protection
| In the right Of appeal to the Hastings
| Court OF course. the charges would
be confined to malfeasance or misfeas-
ance in office or personal unftness
Can Amend Charter.
1t would appear from the above that
! we can present to the city proper
! amendments TO the city charter. which
would tend to relieve 1t OF some OF the
, present evils of city government
OF course, there Is one great essen
tial which We cannot give-one whicL
no human law can create--that Is. a
more honest performance by each in
dlvidual Of his civic duties, an unwav-
, ering determination to vote for compe-
tent and trustworthy men. no matter
what may be the lnducement to do
otherwise, Fortunately. we are only
asked TO present proper form OF gov
ernment. Its success must depend
| upon the use made OF X by tho citi-
zens generally. c. V. MEREDITH.