Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-06
Noted Expert Against Transfer of
Control of Plant to Private
Hands.
SPEAKS TO BUSINESS MEN
Believes Solution of Problem Lies
in More Efficient Municipal
Administration.


organization" declared Arthur Glas-
gov before the Business Mems Club
yesterday in an address on CITY Gov
ernment and It's Problems"
Mr.. Glasgow thought that the proper
solution OF the gas situation, as we'll
as other problems important to the
larger life of the city. lay rather in the
establishment OF n permanent city gov
ernment, founded upon the same fun
damental principles as are the govern
ments of the best administered munich
palities of the world. than upon
change in administration. There are so
many public utilities and SO many
purely municipal enterprises, said Mr..
Glasgow, that must always in the
nature OF things remain under city
control that there is no necessity OF
shifting the responsibility of the gas
supply, but a necessity rather of max
ing more efficien, the administration OF
all affairs touching the public welfare.
GLASGow'S STATEMENT
COMES AT CRUCIAL TINE
This statement OF Mr.. Glasgow, who
is at the head Of the London Gas
Works, and gas expert of interna-
tional standing, was regarded as par
ticularlT significant at this time when
plant to the Southern Gas and Elec-
trio Corporation Of Baltimore is under
consideration by the city authorities.
and will probably be decided within
the next two weeks.
The Administrative Board, which is
now considering the offer of the BaIti-
more company, has been instructed by
the Public Utilities Committee of the
Council, to which the matter was re-
ferred. to make n report of it's findings
TO the committee at its next meeting on
May is, when a definite recommenda-
ton with reference to the leasing offer
Will be made to the Council.
Mr.. Glasgow. who made compre-
hensive investigation of the Gas
Works about two years ago, and made
numerous suggestions as to the more
efficient and scientific administration
OF the plant is in a position to speak
with peculiar authority on all matters
touching the city gas supply. His in
innate knowledge of local conditions.
coupled with the fact that he is n for
mer resident of this city and has many
interests here. gives ground for the be-
lief that his opinion as regards the
Council is based upon mature judg-
mcnt.
BELIEVES LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MAY BE IMPROVED
Mr.. Glasgow told the business men
that the form OF government now on
trial in Richmond had not been an un-
qualified success. and might with bcne-
III be replaced by some form of munich
pal administration which had stood the
test Of time and had proven It's effi-
cheney.
After two years OF experience with
the present character in Richmond, ask
yourselves" he said, ''if it offers the
widest opportunity. or even the barest
possibility OF securing the best men to
administer municipal enterprises and
development. for. after all. it is the
men that put the scheme OF government
into successful operation. and not the
scheme itself that the city needs most
mo scheme can automatically govern
a city, and that charter is always best
which gives the widest opportunity of
obtaining the hest men TO be found
anywhere TO make the scheme of gov
ernment the effective agent i'm pro-
noting the best interests of the body
polite"
COMMENDS GERMAN
~
Though municipal government is still
n failure in America, said Mr.. Glasgow,
there are countries. such as Germany.
where il is highly successful. The
Municipalities of America, he said
might. If so disposed be guided in the
formation of their government bv tho
light OF experience. The great trouble
he said, was that this was an age of
action. not of thought, and that the
unwillingncss of nations and cities to
follow the lamp of experience was their
greatest source of waste.
On the eve Of building a Greater
Richmond. said Mr.. Glasgow, n prompt
change of the government of the CITY
was essential. 1t was high time. he
thought. that a survey Of the field were
made and n form OF administration
fixed upon that had proven it's efn-
cheney. Experience has shown, he said.
that permanent government. with
specialists in their respective fields at
the head of its departments, have.
wherever tried. given the best results.
WOULD GIVE MAYOR
WIDE APPOINTIvE POWERS
Elections Of public officials at fire.
quent intervals said the speaker, have
proven the impossibility OF Keeping the
public interest sustained to a degree
necessary for an intelligent selection
of officials to administer properly tho
complex affairs of government. The
power of appointing permanent officials,
men of the very highest qualifications
wherever they might be found, as heads
Of the various departments he said.
should be vested In the Mayor. The
Council, he said, should hold the purse
strings and supervise the expenditures.
E-e cited tho British empire as an ex-
ample OF the eminently successful form
of government. which had permanent
department heads. men selected be-
cause Of their wide experience and
marked ability in administering the af-
fairs of government.
Mr.. Glasgow said that such a form
Continued on Second Page.)