The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-14
Voice Of the eople
WIN Richmond n. n,..,

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70 the Editor of The Ti,nes-Disnatch
Sir.-fo our editorial OF November i :
comparing tho proposed Richmond
G bY epn with that OF Toronto, us noted
makes n more thorough comparison nj
IN, his time advisable. 1 have before
me the "Report of Special Joint Com
Kisbnon on Form of Government" for
nicipal Council of the City Of Tor nu
TO- sent me by Mr. Spence. no1c
from the latter the following in reenr,i
10 INC Board OF Control OF Toronto:
controllers elected at large.
2; They have duties and powers ~
Slhermen, and sit and vote In the
S;ouncn with the other eighteen Al
8. The Mayor presides over the Coun-
Gil and Is chairman OK ofilcio OF all
it's committees.
4; The BOARD OF Control prepares the
t ouutet ana the Council cannot appro-
budget. IA sucn
s.. The Board of Control nominates
10 Council all officers and may dis
mise or suspend any head OF depart
g. The two Controllers receiving the
greater vote at election are placed
on the committee to name committees
WITH the senior Aldermen from each
Waro, thus, giving them % per cent
representation on the committee
4 Any action of the Board Of Con-
tIol can only. be reversed by two
,n,Tns vote to of the Council present and
voting. II tho Board OF Control -
unanimous It will take sixteen out of
the eighteen Aldermen to reverse any
of their decisions
The fundamental idea OF the Toronto
charter is the closest possible union
OF the administrative with the lcEts-
iative branch, the administrative board
PEN actually a part of the lesisla-
i've branch. This Is also the funda-
mental idea OF the commission plnn
OF city charter. This plan, wherever
adopted, has produced unprecedented
economy and efficiency. and since about
ADOPTED II and some gao more are con-
templating Its adoption, the charter
revision committee of Richmond, In
denounclng the union of the powers
charter based on the separation Of
these powers. is lighting against the
cold. hard fact OF the invarlable sue
cess Of the opposite plan.
Their quotation of article 8, section
80. OF the Constitution OF this State,
which reads as follows: THE legisla-
tive, executive and judicial departments
snail be separate and distinct. so that
belonging 10 either of tho others, nor
any person exercise the power OF more
than one of them at the same time"
Is Irrelevant and has no reference to
mat IT did have reference to the cities
the subsequent definition In the Con-
stitution OF these various departments
would compel every city to have a
Its executive department. a general
assembly for it's Council, and tho va
rious state courts from the Supreme
Court Of Appeals down for It's ju-
dietary. This is conclusive proof that
the principle laid down for the sep
aration of the powers in State affairs
does not apply to cities. since the
framing of police regulations and con-
tracts by the Councils cannot be prop
erly considered Legislation, and in the
intent of nhe trainers OF the Constitu-
ton was not SO considered.
If this principle were intended to
apply to the political subdivisions of
the State. counties as we'll as cities. 1t
would clearly be unconstitutional for
the Boards OF Supervisors Of various
counties to levy taxes. make appropria-
lions and then supervise the eXpendl-
ture of money. The conclusion seems
inevitable that the principle alleged
with such perfect unanimity by the
committee TO be vicious does not, and
The concentration of powers Is tho
essential feature of board of d.
rectors, which controls all successful
business enterprises. and this Is why
business OF running the city has proved
everywhere so invariably successful.
An examination of tho Report OF
Special Joint Committee on Form OF
Government" and OF the ordinance by
which they propose to accomplish their
reforms, shows n step in tho right
direction in reducing the size OF the
Council, and the establishment of n
board of control to replace various
boards and committees. This board is
subordinate to the Council in every
particular. and, of course. cannot have
under our Constitution any vote in the
Council. Apparently, Its only source
OF power Is such as the Council may
delegate to 1t, and even the extent of
It's powers is limited to certain de-
partments. and seemingly II has oven