The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-01


/ streets, better schools and better pub-
I lie utilities?
I These are the issues which are to
| come squarely before the Council when
( IL receives the report of the special
Committee on Changes il the Form Of
. City Government. The fate of this re-
( port Will be awaited with keen interest
/ in the city by those citizens who are
mindful OF the progress and better
ment of Richmond. There are high
minded men in the Council, whose con-
trolling motive Is the public welfare,
but there are also in that body men
OF narrow vision and less commendab BILE
motives. Which faction Will dominate
in this move for a better government
for Richmond the final vote alone can
tell
To understand clearly the proposed
new government, it is necessary to
examine the present government and
it's defects. A clear comprehension of
the vicious elements of the present
government must be had before the
merits of the system proposed can
I
Richmond is now governed by a
Council of 81 members, divided into
two branches and elected from eight
wards. Under the city charter the
Council is vested with both Legislative
and administrative powers, and in this
very fact lies the defect which the pro-
posed system OF government would
81
the dual capacities of legislator and
administrator; they determine policies
as members of the Council and arer as
members Of committees execute these
policies.
This dual duty forces upon the mem
Der of the Council administrative
work. for which he is unpaid, and to
which he cannot give due considera-
ton The wonderful growth of the
municipality and the complexities of
its agencies and enterprises have
brought about such a condition of af-
fairs at the sort Of men who make
the best Council members cannot al
ford the personal sacrince of time TO
the city which proper discharge of
couneilmanic duties demands. The re-
suit is that, after term or two many
good members cannot conscientiously
offer for reelection. and in this way
the city loses the tremendous benefit
OF experienced and efficient servants
1t is remarkable commentary on
the character of the Richmond Council
that not in Years has any charge of
graft been made or sustained against
any Councilman, and it should be said
here that the proposed change carries
with it no imputation of wronguoing
on the part of any one in !e Council
but would merely substitute efficiency
and business-like methods where. by
no fault of the Councilmen, they do
not now obtain The members of the
fourteen standing committees having
control of the several city departments
are burdened with countless details.
which would be harassing even to men
who had nothing to do but serve as
Councilman. Committee meetings are
held but twice month, and then at
night. In many cases members neces-
| sarily vote bl!ndly and without having
had any opportunity OF personal in
vestigation No one who has attended
meeting OF the Committee on Streets
can fall TO be impressed with the
amount Of detail. delayed for two
weeks and then voted on hurriedly and
confusedly, which that committee
regularly passes upon.
He who runs may read from this
that the vice of the present system
! consists in the double function OF the
! Council. y mixture of Legislative and
administrative duties and powers in a
single body. in the opinion of the Com
! City Government, is responsible for the
| defects in Tic system now in opera
ton. Were this the Richmond Of
! 1920 or 1865, the same criticism would
not apply. perhaps. but this city has
| outgrown Its entiquated governmental
| system. Why travel in the horse car
when the electric car is at hand?
1t should be noted that the new
! form proposed is not the commission
| form OF government Under the vir-
| ginia Constitution. commission form
/ of government for cities is impossible
| The Committee on Changes in the
Form OF City Government does not
| favor commission. because 1t holds
| that the same vicious admixture of
| legislative and administrative powers
| and duties would be present in a com
| mission form of government.
To meet the difficulties of the situa-
| ton. tho Committee has made two sep
arate and distinct recommendations
which have no direct connection with
each other except IN their effect
The first OF these Recommendations
is that the city be redistricted into
four wards of equal population, each