Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-13
BOARD DEFEATS MOTION
TO MERGE DEPARTMENTS
'otes Down Plan to Consolidate
Street Cleaning and Engineer
ing Services.
HIRsCHBsRG FOR MERG
Says Union of Two Departments
would Make for More Economical
Administration Than Is Possible
Under Separate Management.

Expressing his belief that a CON
soiidation of the Engineering and
street Cleaning Departments would
make for better administration of the
duties now performed by these two de-
partments under separate management.
Vice Chairman John lIirschberG. of the
Ndmihistrative Board. yesterday Of
tered 4 resolution merging the two
Herartments on April /. II was de-
fcated by vote OF to |, Commits
si"ners Beck. Folkes and Mccarthy
voting against it.
While the proposed reform was
promptly voted down the motion made
by Mr.. liirschbcrg is Significant in so
TAR a IL indicates in the board n drift,
towards further consolidation and CEN
'rali"ation OF authority. The vote was
'akeh without debate. While ii dis
poses, Tor the present, Of the likcli-
hoo" OF an early mcrsin;; OF the two
departments il by no means places
such consolidation beyond the pale
OF probability.
HEIIENES CONSOIIDt TI0N
WOULD BE ECONOMIC
1T is my belief that the street Clean
ing Department would fare better
under consolidation with the Enei-
nccrinc division" said Mr. Hirschbcrc
discussing the matter after adjourn
ment. The work of the two depart
mcnts are closely enough related to
make Joint management practicable
and economic. l believe most cities
have engineers at the head of their
street cleaning departments.
I'm proposing the consolidation had
In mind also the disposition of the
hands and carts force. This division
Of the Engineering Department goes
out Of existence on April l. Under
Il consolidation such as | proposed the
carts and mules could have been APP
portioncd in the engineering and street
cleaning service. and most OF the men
now employed in the hands and carts
!orcc retained
The board yesterday called upon the
city Engineer to prepare an invcn-
tory OF the hands and carts force equip
mcnt and TO submit II. together with
a list Of all the employees this divi-
sion. Ii Is the intention Of the board
To assign the most efficient members Of
the force 10 work In the Street Clean
ing and Engineering departments. 1t
may be round possible to retain all
of the loo or more mon that are now
employed in the hands and carts force
CITY WILL. STILL. NEED
EMERGENCY REPAIR FORCE
While the hands and carts will he
abolished as "a distinct force, It will
he necessary to maintain an emergency
repair force for miscellaneous small jobs
on the city streets. Small repairs OF
this character, the hoard believes. can
he carried out most economically under
the direction OF the Street Cleaning
Department.
"If your motion to consolidate the
Street Cleaning and Engineering De-
partmcntS would have been adopted,
would Mr. Boiling have been made head
Of the joint scrvice?" Mr.. IIirschbcrg
was asked.
II cannot speak for the board" re-
piled Mr.. IIirschberg. "If my opinion
on this subject had Prevailed that
would have been the arrangement. Mr..
COIN under the same arrangement.
would probably have been retained as
Mr. .BollinE's lieutenant as regards the
street cleaning work"