The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-19

- '''S Appropriated lt InOlSy
spent on streets is spcn; by the Street
Committee. and similarly committees
spend the city's money III tho various
municipal activities There Is little
concurrence and conference between
these committees. and CO. coordination OF
| expenditures and totally of results do
! not exist.
! Under the bill 10 permit changes in
tho Charlottesville charter, now pend
ing before the General Assembly. tho
Council will continue to levy taxes and
| appropriate money. but it Is the duty
! of the Administrative Board 10 report
at the beginning of each quarter the
needs OF the city in its various adj
! ministrative departments and the nec-
| essary amount for its operations. Tho
| Council Is thus requested to appropri-
save In cases of emergency The re-
! guest to appropriate Is made as the
result OF a majority vote OF all the
members of the Administrative Board.
. which Will amount TO three fourth
vote. Ths reform is particularly plain
! here. The four commissioners are
substituted for tho Committee OH Gas.
the Committee on Water and Sewers
and all the other COMMITTEES now spend
ing money and guiding the administra-
tive affairs of tho city. In such way
tho board effects co-ordin alton and has
a business-iike perspective. The needs
of the city are viewed us whole. In
considering tho needs OF streets the
board viii have IN mind the needs Of
water ard sewer departments. They
are equally in charge OF each and all
departments. Expenditures viii have
relation to other outlnys Such n re-
lating of work is Impossible under the
ant!quated aldermanic form Of gov
eminent
No money Will DC expended in any
department unless three of the four
members of tho Administrative Board
approve. They will act as salutary
check OH tho city finances. If the
board wishes to 80 TOO far the Coun-
Gil has the string TO pull 1t bnck, be-
cause the Council nppropriatcs.
The power OF the Council over tho
board has been objected to by those
seeking strong administrative gov
ernment plan. such DIRECTORS would
leave the board free to do what 1t
pleases. but the Charlottesville Pro-
gress, supreme IN tho University City,
is OF opinion that
Tho conservative entering upon an
experiment ought to be commended.
This proposed new form of government
Will have been IN force jus, about
sixteen months before the next con-
vening OF the General Assembly. If II
is undoubtedly failure. the charter
can he so amended as to return 10 pres
ent conditions or TO introduce others
This reason alone is protection enough,
and no more should be demanded even
by those who do not wholly approve
the proposed amendments, Tho uatri-
otic thing TO DO is to give the measure
this much OF Trial. To our minds II
Is an unequivocal demand o; the PEG
pic, and anybody seeking 10 defeat an
experiment 90 moderate and conserva-
tive as the present one would find il
hard 10 Justify his act
II Is believed that fair trial is all
that IS needed to provs to the people
of Charlottesville that the old form
Of government is archaic and 'neffi-
cient. The new plan is not by any
means perfect but it paves the way
for commission government. which is
so much better because 1t concentrates
responsibility and does no, divide II.
Governmental changes must be effected
slowly, for improved city admin 'stration
In this country is even yet In an exper-
mental state. Charlottesville has per
formed q service for better municipal
governments in Virginia BY having the
couras TO step forward and venture
the neN and modern. Tho example OF
the AHcmarie capital will doubtless
soon be Oliowed by other cities Fred
eriefshurg and Petersburg should now
oompAte vigorously for tho next place
in the list of Virginia cities adopting
improved forms OF government Char
lottesv!lle has bit tho advantage of
the other municipalities that are stir.
ring with the consciousness of new life.
, for the University Of Virginia aided
materially In the achievement OF this
new plan IN tho city of its location.
no enlightened viewa. the hearty 90
operation and tho stimulating expert
advice of Professors Charles W. Kent
and William NJ. Hunley helped aub-
stantialiy. and other Virginia cities
seeking light would do well to invite
the university's commission ,sxperta 70.
d ddress their citlzens and inform them
as 20 The blessings end dement's OF mod
ern forms OF oity municipal adminis-
tration.
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MoDIFYISG THE HECAIL,