The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-29
REDUCED COUNCIL
WAS GUNST'S PLAN
R Recommended Salaried Bicameral
Body Of Thirteen Four
Years Ago.
AKIN TO PoWERs's SCHEME
Remarkable Coincidence Reveal
ed by Document Long Buried
in City Hall Archives.

Alderman Powers. 1t appears. is not
elone in his advocacy OF the plan to
vest the government OF Richmond in n
small paid Council His statement to
The Times Dispatch on Thursday, out
lining scheme of government by q
reduced Council OF eleven members has
aroused wide discussion in local politi-
cal circles and has incidentally un-
earthed the fact that four years ago
alderman Marx Gunst. of Lee Ward
recommended to the City Council for
ratification an almost Identical plan of
government.
The Gunst proposition was tho out
growth of a movement begun in the
fall Of 1909. having for It's object a rad
8ical change from the system of gov
: eminent then In vogue. The movement
n culminated In the appointment of
= special joint committee on forms OF
government, charged with the duty Of
reporting to the Council what, In Its
- opinion. was the best form of govern
81 fnent for the city of Richmond to
adopt.
- The committee. headed by John a
Cutchins. chairman. reported. after con-
~ quoting an exhaustive investigation.
and recommended the creation OF an
81 administrative committee. to exercise
the same general powers now vested
ST In tho Administrative Board 1t pro-
81 rided, however, that such committee
shall consist OF four members, and that
the Mayor shall be an ex-officio mem
Der. with the right Of vote in case OF
tic.
II Gunst in Minority.
~ alderman Gunst, member OF the
81 committee, filed a minority report in
= which he opposed the Recommendation
5 calling for the creation of an admin
III fstrative committee, on the ground that
Il such plan would add another wheel
#fo the governmental machinery and
81 create four new positions at largo sal
aries without materially concentrating
Fl all the force Of administration under
Il one head.
- As q substitute for the Committee
= plan, Mr.. Gunst recommended re-
duced bicatneral Council. charged with
the same general duties given to il
Under the plan outlined by Alderman
Powers last week. Tho following re-
81 print OF excerpts from Alderman
Il Gunsts minority report, describing his
plan. Is Interesting chiefly as Indicating
- his prophetic eye In outlinint; four
years ago scheme OF government
which Is receiving wide discussion to-
r day:
i II favor a bicameral Council, but
: with smaller number of members to
compose the same than at present.
these members 10 be paid a salary not
less than $4,000, nor more than So
= GOO each per annum.
Council of Thirteen.
favor reduction OF the number
Il OF wards in the city from seven TO
-FOUR. and tho election OF one member
OF the Common Council and one mem
Der of the Board of Aldermen from
each ward and one Alderman and tho.
president OF the Board of Aldermen
from the city at large. and two mem
a. hers OF the Common Council and tho
president OF the Common Council from
the city at large, making the total
number in both branches thirteen--six
members OF the Board or Aldermen and
seven members OF the Common Council.
II favor that tho heads OF each de-
partment shall be advisory to each
branch of the Council. shall be per-
united to take part In the proceedings,
u but shall not have the right 10 vote.
Abolish Committees.
Under my plan favor tho abolition
OF standing committees OF the Council
The Council, having small member
ship In each branch. can act with de-
alteration, and at the Same time with
sufficient promptness and dispatch on
all matters requiring their attention
without the aid of such committees,
and this. in my opinion. will be help
full In securing the harmony and CO.
operation In the several departments of
the city. which. under committee su-
pervision and control, in the past, has
often been sadly lacking. And while
opposed to standing committees under
s,dlu plbIs VIII state Inat l am not
opposed to, but favor the appointment
of special committees for the consid-
Grafton OF emergency and other spe-
cial matters. when necessary.
II believe that purchasing agent
for the city whose actions will be sub
aect TO the approval of the Council at
all times Will result in great saving
and benefit 10 the city. Under the new
plan favor the creation of this Office
'"fhe above conclusions, although
roughly outlined. can be effectualiy
worked out and, in my Judgment, If
adopted, will bc to the best interests
OF the city of Richmond"
Plans Much Alike.
The plan sketched by Alderman Pow
crs, while 1t differs from the Gunst plan
in point of the size Of the paid Coun-
ell. and further in the creation OF
boards OF public safety, public works,
and finance, resembles 1t closely enough
to afford a striking instance Of two
members OF the same body pursuing in
dependent lines of thought and ar
irving practically at the same con-
clueions.
Alderman Gunsts scheme, as we'll
as the administrative committee plan
of the Cutchins committee, were both
/, laid on the table by the City Council
and have resposed side by side peace
fully for four years in the City Hall
archives. During the year following
the agitation was begun for the Gre
4 alton OF an Administrative Board, with
result that Is contemporary history.