The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29
MUNICIPAL REFORM GRADUAL.

The provision in the recently adopted
form OF municipal government amend
n1ent to tho Constitution of Virginia,
expressly retaining the present mode
of selecting clerks of courts. commits
sioners of the revenue, city treasurers.
city sergeants and Commonwcalth's
attorneys, is an "insuperable bar" to
the attainment Of real commis sion gov
eminent in Virginia, in the opinion OF
c. p. Shaw. chairman of the executive
committee of the Commission Govern
ment League of Norfolk. In II letter
elsewhere published in this issue lie
declares that the provision in the
amendment requiring the election by
popular vote of all the fee oficeholders
makes ii Impossible for any city in Vir-
ginia 10 adopt the genuine commission
plan, for in that plan the commission
ers, in order to have undivided respon-
sibilty, are the only officers TO be
elected by popular vote" This Is
equivalent TO a contention that such
officers should he appointed by the pop
ularly elected commission.
While The Times Dispatch believes
in the full application of the commits
sion principle to municipal govern
nient, 1T feels at the same time that all
lis not lost simply because tho officers
exempted i'll the new amendment are
stu to DC elected by the people 1T
dos not seem that even were they no
toriously inefficient. they could OBJ
struct the successful operation OF com
mission government. Is it not truo
that if these officials We're put on
salary basis, instead of deriving their
compensation in fees, they would be
shoin OF all the undue power they now
exercise? The law and finance de-
partments OF our municipalities have
ciently, and, as Il practical matter, 1t
is not clear to us that their inclusion
under the jurisdiction OF commission
would bring additional benefit TO mu-
inequalities
The process of obtaining "A full meas
ure of municipal home rule in Virginia
has been and will be slow and gradual
Drastic constitutional changes cannot
be effected in Il day, especially when
the method OF amendment is AZ DELHI
crate and innexible as ours This
newspaper has been advocating a mu-
nicipal home rule amendment for "A
long time. 1t believes. however, that
there is good in the amendment passed
last November for il there he sufficient
popular demand in any municipality
for change in the form OF It's gov
hardly ignore that demand nor deny n
request for alteration. The fec Office
holders OF this State have a red hot
fight on their hands now over the abo-
lition OF the fee system, and that
ought TO keep them too busy to inter
fcre with changes in city govern
ments.
There can be no dissent from Mr..
Shaw's belief that now Is the time to
make preparations to initiate a NUM-
cipal home rule amendment in the
General Assembly OF 1911 1t may be
also desirable that Richmond ana Nor
folk confer as to legislation which will
enable them 10 alter their forms of
government when they see 1T. but to
The Times Dispatch Il seems that the
most practical course TO follow would
be TO interest ms many other Virginia
municipalities as possible in a move
ment to secure general municipal
home rule amendment Such con
stitutional alteration should be so
broad and comprehensive that II will
apply TO the smallest and the largest
municipalities with equal facility.
1t liz high time that our cities and
towns should take such action in the
direction OF securing more efficient
forms OF municipal government Other
states are thoroughly awake as To the
desirability OF such forms, but Viz
gina sleeps on.