The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-07
POLLOCK TO LEAD
FIGHTFOR CHANGE
Councilman Has Plan to Revise
Charter So as TO Simplify
City Government.
WILL MAKE EARNEST EFFORT
Present System Too Clumsy to
Permit Of Businesslikc
Methods.

On the ground that any man who
VIII come TO the rescue OF Richmond s
elumsiiy administered city government
q monument OF which any one might
be proud, Councilman Gilbert X Pol
Lock has prepared and will offer on
Gil Joint resolution looking TO a
general revision Of the city charter
and change in the form Of govern
nent 10 businesslike and economical
basis.
MIR. Pollock Is the second Oldest man
In the Council in point of service and
mas seen service on every, important
committee and with every depa rtment
ne is now subchairman of the Com
mtttee on Streets and one OF the active
floor leaders of the Council
Mr, Pollock says, he has consulted a
majority Of the leaders in council
manic action, and that there is gem
eral agreement that the citys business
Is not beins administered 10 the best
makes no charges against any one
and says he does not believe there
Is any serious graft or Intentional
smanagement, but that the system
about with red tape. making the sim :.
plest action an almost interminabe
matter of councilmanic and committee
procedure.
AS to procedure, Mr.. Pollock opposes
taking any hasty action. He will ask
the Council on Thursday night merely
70 authorize the appointment OF q
Joint standing committee composed OF
three Councilman and two Aldermen.
to study the question from every
available source during the coming
months and prepare such a plan for
the administration of the city gov
eminent rs may seem best. The whole
matter is 10 be determined, If possible,
before the election of the next Leg
city arc to he pledged TO secure such
charter changes and general enact
m M rs this city may demand to give
II a right TO administer its own af-
fairs in businesSlikc manner
illustrations TO members or the
Council. Mr. Pollock says. Will hard
y be necessary Those who have seen
simplest resolutions, the inevitable de-
lay in every matter, will agree as
10 the need. If not as TO the remedy
y striking illustration has been al
fordcd recently in the Electricity COM
mittee. The contractor failed utterly
to live up to his agreement TO erect
the overhead system OF poles and
$500 per month Yet had The Com
mittee on Electricity. COMMITTEES
above the average of the Council and
acting annarentiy in the best OF faith.
rcscinded the contract. II had the
right TO do. II would have taken
months OF delay to secure authority
from the Council TO advertise for bids,
award a contract and then have the
Council several months later CONFIRM
tic award of new contract
1t Is believed by all who have stud :
led tho matter that great saving could
bc made in almost every department.
we're the city run on business princi-
pies.
An Alderman made the offhand
statement recently that he would pay
$4,000 a year for the privilege OF rum
ming the city government. and would
save enough on the profits to retire
In year or two. Mr.. Pollock has hal
the matter under advtsement for a
long time. and Will ask that the presi-
dents of the Council use their utmost
Judgment In making committee COM
posed Of the hest timber availa ble--a
committee which can consider the sub.
lect seriously and without bias or pre-
Judgment. and which can render a re-
port which Will command the respect
Of the public generally. In explaining
his position. Mr.. Pollock avoids the
term commission" and all other terms
referring 10 SPECIFIC forms OF govern
ment. lie wants his committee FREQ
TO work out n plan suited TO tile needs
Of Richmond. and that plan 1t Viii rec.
ommend for adoption.