The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-12
RIPE FIELD FOR
NEW GOVERNMENT
MCCARTHY TELLS OF REFORMS
THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
MAY BRING ABOUT.
ECONOMY NOT ISSUE
WISER EXPENDITURES OF FUNDS
AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL HE
TURNS For INVESTMENT
THE IDEA.
ECONoM Y NOT ISSUE


Richmond by the administration of
the affairs of the municipality under
the new plan of government is, at this
stage, purely a matter for speculation,
agree. Not one of them who was APP
preached yesterday was willing to
prophesy Or to promise anything def
mite. though all held to the view that
satisfactory than the present cumeer-
some system, because the city's affairs
will be conducted in more business
like manner.
Captain Carlton Mccarthy, who has
made thorough study Of municipal
government, and is probably one OF
the best-posted men IN Richmond In
that field. advanced some ideas and
suggestions bearing on the situation
that the new government Will con-
front that are of no little interests.
Approached point blank with the
puZzlinE query as To whether ne
thought the new plan of government
would result In more cconomtcaf
administration OF the city's affairs, Mr..
Mccarthy said that the answer de-
pended altogether on the viewpoint
If. by economy. the reporter meant
material curtailment OF the eity's ak
penses, he would answer in the mega
tive without hesitation, nor does he
believe that curtailment OF expense Is
the point to be aimed at.
Not Crying Hard Times.
The Municipality of Richmond"
ne said, lis not crying hard times, it
Is a fiourishing, well-to-do corpora
ton. growing by leaps and bounds.
To my mind the problem that is TO
be put I'D to the administrative board
Is not how to retrench, but to expend
the same amount that is now being
spent In q way to accomplish greater
results by eliminating waste. Event
uaily the greater accomplishments
could be achieved perhaps with even
smaller expenditures. but these prob
lens VIII have to be worked out by the
| board gradually r might require a
year, he said, to demonstrate to the
people of Richmond the value OF the
new plan of government
At first blush the cost of the new
nlan Of government will show COR
siderable increase over tho present
| system. Counting the salaries OF The
members of the board and the clerk
hire, etc. the new government Will
cost the city of Richmond the 9rst
years little less than $4,000 add
| tional.
| Opposes Retrenchment
| Captain Mccarthy made 1t plain
/ that If retrenchmenr meant the re-
duction of salaries or wages az cHA
| er.pioyes he was opposed TO retrerch-
u.ent teetotaiiy.
| Il believe" ne said. " in paying
| good men all they are wort'i 70 the
| city, and in holding on u them by
increased wages and prats4etle: i--na
the merit system This is no time
! TO even hint OF retrenchment by de-
| creasing Wages when every salar'eo
| man and every wage Garner is Ending
| It rough Shedding to make both Fnf'
| meet. RetrenchmeR- shall not come
| from that quarter il my vote ana in
| tiuence prevail"
| Captain Mccarthy stated. in an en-
| trsly speculative way. that the card
| night lind 1T possible TO consolidate
| some of the smaller departments ~
| the city government and ~ more
modern methods save the city money
md expedite its business. though this
| would be determine-y arter the board
got in harness. There has been some
talk of consolidating the building Ia
| spectors and the engineers depart
| n.ent and this, It seems. is likely &c
| 10 done though Captain Mccarthy
did NOT say sc--alI the department.
| wjn have to run the gaunticT, NJ VI
| were after the new board s't.rpass the
situation.
Problem of Street Cleaning.
One idea Captain Mccarthy shs'
| rested. not as plank" In fts plat
fern. nor in any sense his news, be,
| merely as suggestion of what ma :,
been done by other municipalities, ane
that was tho great problem Of stfee'
cleaning. Richmond expends now
lse,newhere in the neighborhood Ct
$4,000 annually for that one item
whereas in a number OF Northerh ahe
Western cities the task Is ~ out 1e
private contractors and the contrae'
tors hid on the privilege. AZ least enc
municipality in New Engiuni receives
100000 annually from 4 private con
tractor for the prtyrege of Cleaning
it's streets. The contractor makes hi
| money from the disposal % this gnr
bage. waste paper. scrap Iron ana th'
ftIKc at price. that return him a fFeh
on the investment. II Richmond TOT
lows the example OF municipalities
that have tried this plan the savini
In the ona department :none Mo.i.e
mere than reimburse the munlespaHt,
for the extra expense of he now pal
of government.
II may be expedient to consolidate
the gas and water departments; !
NAV be- expedient to consolidate TN
bbuiiding inspectors department WITT
1.-THE engineers departments 1t may bt
possible to accomplish other business
like reforms. with the installation o.
, lnew and modern methods and ma
l Ichinery that viii result in mor'
economical administration of the city,
\ affairs, but all these and many othel
H problems that present themselves will
\ have to be worked out. Captain Nc
l Carthy believes the first years results
\ will show such an Improvement IL
\ general conditions that Richmond PEG
\ pie will be wondering why 1t didn
\ experiment with the commission form
n of government sooner.
N Sees Great Advantage.
H At long distance he foresees on'
\ great advantage to be derived from
\ the work Of the administrative heart
\ that will be . distinct improvement
\ over the present unwieldy system. ant
\ that In in the matter Of street I'm
H provements. With the new board II
\ charge Of affairs, there will not b.
the annoying. expensive and frequent
Il tearing up Of the streets that hal
fyeen 'xnt il stiii a source OF complain
\ from all quarters. When the board