The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-15
SAYS CITY GAINS
NOBENEF|T FROM
BOARDS SERVICE
Blair Would Abolish It
and Give Department
Heads Power.
MAKE MAYOR REAL
CHIEF OF AFFAIRS
Former Councilman Outlines
New Government Plan Before
Committee on Charter Changes,
Transferring Boards Func-
tons to d Public Utili-
ties Committee.

lnc creation OF the toNlnletratlvc
Board was wrong In the beginning;
events since have proved that II was
wrong. and IN ,iine IL will be abolish
cd" said A Bclrno Blair, former
incmhor or the Council speaking last
night before tho Council Committee on
Charter Changes.
Mr Blair spoke in response to the
general invitation OF Chairman Fuller
10 tn, citizens assembled in the coun-
t'l Chamber 10 come forward with
suggestions for changes to tho city
charter. He addressed himself point
edly TO tho Administrative boards
usefulness az part OF tire city's ma
chinery Of government. and found
.cthing In the service performed hv IL
since It's creation 10 justify its further
retention
= speak without personal feeling
toward amy member or the board" said
Nr. Blair. Il voted for three of thcm,
and two are my warm personal friends
What say applies 10 the board a. an
administrative body, for | have n high
respect for its personnel contend
mat wo have given the plan fair
trial The Administrative Board waa
only an experiment, and. 80 far. have
hten not one iota OF return tor the
$4,000 which 1t has cost"
Would Abolish Donrd.
The Charter Changes Committee
sad Mr. Blair has !; in It's power 10
perform q valuable service for The
cry The time is ripe. he said for a
'hanse. and the committee would do
Wisely 10 recommend system of city
government more in Keeping with the
most advanced thought on the subject
friehy stated Mr.. Blairs plan in 10
arolish the Administrative Board ana
cchtralizc tho functions now uerfaro.d
oY ~ III tin heads of departments. He
would greatly increase The powers or
Inc MAJOR and make him the real work
surate salary.
Instead Of paving salaries 10 mem
n.fs OF an Administrative Board. Mr.
h'nir would create /, Public t,tillrlas
'on'niitee. 10 BE- com posed OF public
spiftcd citizens. who would servo
without pay THIS committee woiiI
nave supervision over the water pns
cIecti' Il dcpartmcnts, as well ne mar
he's an~t.ecrn etcrics. Tie business ~
each depate-1ent would be admits
ltFea by the respective heads under
'he supervision OF the Public Utilities
Committee The Mayor would tn
member Of all departments
street Cleaning and Health.
hc street Cleaning and Health De
n",''h'hts' whose activities have an
in.poita taht reiation 10 one another. be-
irhg, logically. under one rnanarr,ra,,
ma should he united, thought MIR Elair
iho CITY Engineer. under bts Mn
"cuih have charg. or streets n,rt,
Hih the Building Inspectors office vrt,h
W. power 10 hire md discharge an
npioEes. lie would report only TO the
street Committee, The arraneemanta
outlined. thought Mr.. Blair wolild cav,
i"ll@c responsibility and eli,nin,ts
1ilction between departments now indo-
pohuently operated. though kindred n
."u.'ioh. Inc Fire and Police Do
h11,,
dcpcndent IN
Seventy-t've citizens were on hand
Witness the committees delihera
''ohs Those who expected scnsatIonaI
nsVeiop'nents went away disappoint-
"a. Mi. Blair picked no quarrel with
'ne board, confinng himself merely 10
'he aketchinE or Il more or lcss tboo-
retical form OF city government wbict,
~ mis- opinion. would serve the city
"cttct. The committee listened with
our comment. and took no action
City Attorney Reports.
~ Rrcater part OF the evening was
consumed In the report OF the CITY At
~, On suggested changes in the
CITY charter Nest of these seek "a
dchne more clearly the relations ho
'"ecn the Administrative Ro,rd and
tho city Council u
fhe amendment designed to relieve
Wv council from the duty or passin.-
-" s'idIN increases authorized nv
'no administrative hoard. leaving thc
n., "oiiS !" me board, aroused Il
C,,. 't7'"Ssioii' According 10 the
'iS Attorney. tho arncnded .ac,to,
No"id give the ioard the right 10 in
taS' salaries III the departments mn
"cr rs control I'D iibitum. ana ~,
'ouhcIi could, by mandumus he can,-
nciicd TO pay them. Several coo,mi,
'ec members expressed tnetr dt.,,
pIoNai of such n plan. hut this ,rnnna
ni'nt' together with All others u.os
i'iu on the table for considerotion -,
future meeting .''
=, To Meet November Fl.
ne committee voted to moot ,.oi
On The evening of Monday Nnvc,,t,d. ~,
- 10 take action on the nmend,na,,ts
PIoPosed and to formulate ul,ns fa
"'hcf amendments. Amon.. thoe. ~
UT consideration are changes to Mac.
.ne fire. Police and Health DEPART
,mehts under the Administrative Eonrd
o .ity Attorney has deferred draw
!ns up amendments to cover those
changcs until the committee docidas
10 recommend them
councilman Mills questioned CITY
attorney Pollard to the coinmittec's
right to ask for Il charter amendment
mat would enable the Council at any
.imc In the future 1t saw ut, TO reduce
me membership OF the Administra-
ttSc board from Ave to three or even
a smaller number Mr. Pollard thought
the charter could be amended to give
the council that right. and upon Mr.
Miiiss request. was asked by Chair
man RULER to draw up an amendment
10 that end.
Tho CITY Attorney presented model
bills to be introduced in the Lcgisla-
turc, exempting from State taxation