Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17
City Delegation Can Help

w HATEVER else the Civic Association and
w other agencies of better government
shall do or try to do they ought not to
neglect the Richmond delegation in the next
General Assembly. The movement to obtain
a share Of home rule for this city by placing
1t within the power Of tho citizens to estab-
lish their own organic law, must depend for
its success in large measure the good will
OF that delegation.
Backed by its united influence. the pro-
posed measures are certain to be enacted
into law, while If the delegation be actively
hostile sharply divided. or even passively
indifferent, there is very great danger that
Richmond will be left in its present uncom-
Portable position and denied liberty Of ac-
ton that Norfolk, Lynchburg and Roanoke
now enjoy.
. How the city's Democratic nominees for
Senate and House stand on this question is
not known. We assume they favor It, be-
cause it would be difficult for them to oppose
a measure so obviously fair and Just and so
clearly designed to promote the best inter
ests of their constituency If there are
doubtful spirits among them, however they
should be wrestled with nightly, to the end
that they may become strong in the faith
and promising of good works.
or the Council Charter Change Committee
we expect very little-certainly not enough
to still the insstent popular demand for
more simple and workable form Of city gov
and Police Boards is all we'll enough in it's
way and whatever increased power is con-
ferred on the Mayor highly commendable
but that is only beginning.
The two principal aims of the modern
theory of municipal government are to CEN
tralize authority and responsibility and to
place the direction OF departments in the
hands Of men manifestly competent to dis
charge these duties. This is not dream or
an impossibility, but in many cities an ac-
complished and benevolent fact
Dayton's experience under the commission
manager plan offers striking illustration
Of the difference between the old system and
the new Dayton pays It's department heads
$4,000 year and one OF these offices was
vacant. City Manager Waite, looking abroad
over the country to find a man to head this
department, was not successful in his search
so that for sixteen months the Office remained
vacant, its duties were discharged by the city
manager himself, and Dayton was saved more
than $4,000. Not until the right man was
found the position filled
Try hard and see If you can imagine any
thing like this happening in the city Of
Richmond.
The explanation is not hard to find Mr.
Waite is not afraid of being turned out of
office, except for ncompetency. In the first
place, he does not owe his office to political
popularity or astuteness. and. In the second
place, he can make much or more money
practcing his profession. He was chosen
because the commission believed he could do
the work, and when he hires a subordinate
it is on exactly the same theory. Subordinate
inefiicency reflects on his administration and
he Will have none Of It, That is ALL
Richmond will attain ultimately to this
exact condition, but there is no use in wait
ing lifetime. The first step in the march
or reform is the repeal Of the law limiting
charter changes and placing an undue and
unwise share of power in the hands Of the
Council. That change must come from the
Legislature. Let us look to it,