Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-24
SHOULD Be NO POLITICS
IN CITY GOVERNMENT
tive Proposition, Says Wynd-
ham II. Meredith.
WOULD GIVE MAYOR AUTHORITY
All Big Private Corporations Conduct
Their Affairs Through Central
Authority With Full Administra-
tive Powers, He Tells T. T.. 4.

tive Powers, He Tells Il. Il. a.
"a municipality is essentially a bust
ness organization, and its affairs should
be conducted in just the same manner
as those OF any other great corpora
ton" said Wyndham r. Meredith last
night. addressing tho members of Post
\. Travellers Protective Association.
Contrary TO the general belief that n
city is, OF necessity. hotbed of poll
ties. there can be nothing political in
the government of municipality.
Matters of policy such the prcser>a
ton Of order and the guarding of life
and limb. are essentially state func-
tons. and can in no w. enter the
life of Il city. \ charter. then. that is
the best charter. will place the gcv-
eminent of Richmond on Il strictly bust
nesslikc basis, removing it,. rs far "a
possible. from the bane Of politics"
Mr. Mcredith's address before tho
post was the first Of n series to be de-
livcrcd during tho fall and winter
months by men prominent In the civic
life of the city and state. In view of
Mr.. Mcredith's prominent connection
with the charter change movement in
Richmond. as a member OF the board
mittec of the Civic Association. he was
invited to explain to tho post the asso-
ciation's plan OF city government. y
large and representative body of The
travelling men met the speaker and
accorded him IN cnthusia site reception
At the conclusion OF the address the
post gave Mr. Meredith n rising vote OF
thanks.
EVERY CORPORATION
HAS CENTRAL. AUTHORITY
Continuing his address. Mr. Meredith
said. in part: las business men. YOU
are all perfectly familiar with tho way
in which all big private corporations
conduct their business You know that
every corporation has a head--a CEN
trail authority--in whom is vested ad-
ministrativc power. and who Is held
strictly accounta bile for the proper ad-
ministration of the affairs of the cor
poration This head, or president. is
elected by the stockholders. and to Vim
falls the responsibility of appointing
heads for the management of the "a
rious departments. The board of d-
rectors control the policy of the organ
ization.
Now, n city is in no wise different
from private corporation. 1t. too, is
a big business, the proper and most
efficient administration of which call
ing for the very best. most modern
a
central authority to whom we may look
for efficient government. and whom we
can hold accountable for the proper
administration OF municipal affairs
What we need is government by eX-
pcrts as opposed TO a government by
politicians. When we get this. we will
have 4 minimum of expenditure and
receive in return maximum of cfici-
ency. The organization | represent is
working faithfully toward that end
MAN or SMALL. MEANS
HAS MOST At STAKE
One remarkable thing about the
city corporation is that the man of
small means. the stockh Older who has
little invested. has the biggest interest
in the corporation. The man of anu
cnCe. the rlan who has the means to
procure pleasure and comfort at almost
any price. is not so vitality Interested
in tho every day problems of city gov
eminent as tho poor man, to whom
these things. of necessity, mean so
much. For instance. when the intense
heat OF the summer comes the rich man
NAV take his family and seek summer
resorts. but the poor man must depend
upon the parks. the lungs of the city,
Tor his recreation ana fresh air Or
IL the man OF aftincncc tires of muddy
James River water. he may become
eXtraragant and buy the bottled kind.
"itre'S Tue small means fellow must
continue TO drink the free supply
I'm our present form of government
we have no central authority If you
would FIX responsibility. YOU must see
thirty-eiEht men "a Mayor, twenty
Councilman, twelve Aldermen and hve
members of the Administrative Board
WOULD GIVE MAYOR
EXECUTIVE Authority
I'm the plan OF the Civic Association
sole responsibility for the proper adj
minietration OF municipal affairs Is
vested IN q Mayor who has the selcc
tion OF expert department heads To
prevent the possibility OF this official
building UP political machine, we Of
Ter an Efficiency Board. 10 be appointed
by board consisting OF three Judges
the superintendent of tho Richmond
public school system and the president
OF the Virginia Mechanics Institute
which shall pass on all appointments by
the Mayor. In addition to this tho
people may recall the Mayor after Two
years OF service by voting at the gen
cral election TO elect Mayor at the
next municipal election. This vote Will
be provided for on the ballot at tho
general election.
I'm conclusion, l will say that no
system Of government, however good
can be effective If there is Indifference
on the part Of tho electorate You must
take nm interest In your government if
YOU would have good government. II
seems to me that there is more apathy
in public affairs now than there was
when ] was a young man we nust
nond the beautiful, well-governcd CITY
that she deserves to be"
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ell RERC0M PEcIcNc