The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-26
GOVERN CITY BY
REDUCED COUNCIL
Powers Describes Novel Scheme
us Substitute for Present
Government.
PLAN WOULD ABOLISH BOARD
Vests Legislative and Admins
trative Function i'll Paid Body
Of Eleven Men.

Nice-Presidcnt Joseph L. Powers. of
the Board Of Aldermen. has a new plan
of city government, the central fea-
ture of which is Il small paid Council
endowed with both Legislative and ad-
ministrative powers. He will prob
ably request City Attorney Pollard TO
make provision for the plan in the act
now being prepared under the direction
of the Virginia League of Municipali-
ties, giving the cities and towns of tho
{ ommonwe the right. under the re-
cent constitutional amendment. to elect
any one OF four general forms of mu-
nicipal government.
Il have not had time TO formulate
the plan in detail" said Mr. Powers.
last night. and can only describe it's
essential features. II ia enough to say
for the present that it rests upon the
institution of a small paid Council
say of eleven mcmbers-which shall
undertake the entire work of making
the city's laws ana administering its
affairs
''u"der such plan there would he no
need for the Administrative Board. Its
functions would he vested in the paid
Council. For the transaction of bust
ness the Council of eleven members
would be divided into three committees
Mayor. who would be q full member
as we'll as chairman. would form a
Board Of Public Safety and would di-
rect the work of the Police Fire and
Health Departments.
"A second board for four members.
with the Mayor as fifth member. would
take charge Of all the departments now
under the direction of the Administra-
tive Board. y third committee COM
posed of the remaining three members
I
and perform the duties now exercised
by the Council Finance Committee, as
We'll as OF the other Council commit
tees.
The distinct advantage of this form
of government over the ordinary COM
mission plan would be that the small
paid Council would retain the valuable
bicameral feature. which this coun-
try through century and a quarter
of republican government. has demon
stratcd is necessary FOR preservation
OF a proper check and balance. The
Council of eleven members could be
composed Of lower branch of six. and
an upper branch Of five members.
The Board .as well as the Common
Council. under this form, should, l be-
lieve. he elected ny the present ward
plan. Each ward could elect one Al
derman and one Councilman. leaving
TO be elected at large one member of
the upper branch and two members
OF the lower branch
Ordinances would he passed in much
the same manner IN which they are
passed now Each branch would act
upon them separately. The two
branches would sit separately as leg
islative bodies. but together as a
committee of the whole in matters of
administration. Such other details as
the size of the salary TO I've paid TO the
members of the reduced Council, and
the rules under which the body would
work. viii have to be worked out
later.
This plan, it is my belief. would
remedy Il great many of the disabili-
ties under which our present city
government labors am not pre-
pared TO say now that | intend to
press The adoption OF the plan 10y the
city OF Richmond ! am certain of
this howeNcr-thcre can he no harm
IN including it in the general act now
being prepared by Tie League of Nir-
Einia Municipalities IL would nj
least leave the way open TO Richmond
10 adopt such form when The time
seems ripe FOR a change from our
present scheme Of government I, is
my intention TO bring the inattcr 10
me notice OF the city ATTORNEY. ana
10 ASK that the proposed legislative
'tc' ne made 10 include, In addition TO
me four plans contemplated. also nv
plan as a iifth."