The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-23
COUNCIL MAY YET
ELECT INSPECTOR
Beck Has Already Vacated
Office Through Qualifying for
Board Membership
DRASTIC ACTION UNEXPECTED
Councilmen Prefer TO Let New
Board Work Out Its Own
Salvation.

something in the nature OF show
down Of sentiment in the Common
Council in regard 20 the recent action
OF the Administrative Board In select
ing John f. Butler. discharged dep
uty, as Building Inspector TO succeed
SIr. Beck. may be expected at the
meeting of the Common Council. called
for tonight. That several OF the in
nuential leaders OF the Council are
outspoken in their condemnation OF
the action of the board is known.
There are several ways by which The
Council might assume control of the
situation. but the general Opiniex
among Councilmen seems 10 be that
* would be the better part Of wisdom
to keep hands or, leaving the Admin
istrative Board TO work out its own
salvation before the people who elected
1t. and who desired such plan OF gov
eminent in preference TO the commit
tee system.
II is of course within the power OF
the Council to meet II, Join, session az
any time before January ]. when the
charter changes take effect, and 10
elect a Building Inspector for the un-
expired term which ends July I, 1914.
Mr.. Beck has already vacated his Office
through qualifying for membership on
the Administrative Board. He Is hold
, ing on as Building Inspector under the
general clause which requires him 10
serve until his successor is appointed
( and qualities. Such drastic action is
not anticipated Several Councilmen
take the ground that since the puohc
demanded the creation OF an Admins
! trative Board, taking from the Coun
! Gil many OF its former powers. and
since the public elected the five men
, who compose the first board, 1t IS
hardly their part TO interfere. what
, ever may be the nature of the boards
actions in matters clearly committed
, bv the new charter 70 the Administra-
tive Board.
Lose sight Of Vain Point.
In the street discussions last night
| the main point was ushayy lost sight
! Of. There was sympathy for Mr.. But
! Ter as one who has quit bad habits and
! desires to rise: there was criticism OF
Mr. Becks method OF pushing forward
! his own nominee. but there was none
! who would deny thar the new board.
! created to bring about efficiency enn
business methods in city government
and paid $4,000 per annum 70 90
more effectively work heretofore done
Co. Tho CITY without compensation by
Council committees, had in its very
4rs+ choice Of an oficial selected an
unframed man to I'll a technical posi-
zion Instead of seeking the best man
in the field. the board. 50 u appears
{ sought only to reward a friend ana
! noIi;ician. and made no inquiry Wheth-
I or ba was an expert. or even 10 nhu
whv he had been twice discharged
| chairman Robert Whittet OF the ne"
board. indicated last night that rs
: would probably prepare in the heA'
J few DAYS a statement of his poSitio"
7 in regard to the selection OF a DITCH
! laver rather than an architect OF sH
| girasr for the position of Building IN
spector- ..;,.,
! Letters and expressions Of opinion
condemning the board in lis hrst oi.'-
cial action continue 10 come IN 30
one blarnes NJ. Butler tor seeking t"'
position, and the writers WISH "'"
well should his selection be hHalIy Ap-
proved by the board when II IS leeAi.S
organized. But the writers are La seiy
of the opinion that unless t1e OVa.
changes its policy and stands LOT IN
J ciencv rather than friendship-ior eA-
I pert training EdtAS4 e-41"
! f1uence-that its usefulness is al an
end. and the $4,000 year 10 be raiH
ont IN salaries a pure waste OF puOll0
| funds.
Believes In tie Recall.
| "A week ago I would not nave be
loved il possible writes one We"
known man. that the sentiment IN
f.vor of the recall could make sucn
! strides in Richmond in few days
was not before favorable TO the recall
hut hear everywhere the question"
WHY was not the recall feature IN
cluded in RichmOnd's charter changes
ca that it's administrators would DC
more directly representative oil '"e
wishes of the peopieT
/ Another writer questions the len,
of the new board to pay the poHticai
debts of it's members. or their cam
nsign expenses for reelection, iroi"
.bo civ treasury in the shape oil salary
- a friend who does MT claim 20 ne
.,eciaIlv or technically trained Tor the
Office for which he has been seiec''"-
"Thev promised US bread and nave
given us a stone writes one. Ie4.i
ring TO campaign promises to give inc
CITY n businesslike and effective man
cement. Concedng that II II coh'i"-
ucs along the line Of its hrst ono
st that the new board Is tailure'
- e,ues.foner desires 10 know no"
soon n can ne abolished and the s-s.VVV
- animal salaries saved 20 the TAX