Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-17
Not Particularly Radical


Nj OW that the net results of the Council
~ Charter Change Committees activities
have been reduced TO form. through the skill
Of City Attorney Pollard, the public will have
an opportunity OF understanding what they
amount TO. Certainly they are no, revolu-
tonary.
In essence the reforms the committee plans
To accomplish are limited TO the abolition of
the Police. Fire and Health Boards and the
concentration of authority over these depart
ments in the hands OF the Mayor. /; il he
assumed that the Mayors authority is in
creased over other departments-as is the
obvious intention--this can only be through Il
decrease in the authority of the Administra
tive Board. There will he an inevitable con
dict Of authority as we'll OF responsibility
and il would be difficult to look forward to
enhanced efficiency.
In this view OF the case authority is not
centralized by the proposed charter changes
save as they affect the Police. Fire and Health
Departments. but is rendered even more UNI
certain--at least in practice. AS matters
stand. responsibility is frequently in issue
between the department head and the Admin
istrative Board; when the changes made
the issue will rest among department head
Administrative Board and Mayor.
Furthermore. the Mayors authority will be
what il is to-day an enlarged scale
negative and punitive merely. With the eX
captions noted, he will endeavor. ii OPP
tinist to control the actions OF men with
whose appointment he has had nothing TO do
He can suspend these persons from Office but
he cannot name their successors. even tenn
porarily.
Fortunately for the public understa nding
the essentials OF successful Administered ion
are not particularly mysterious. Most of us
who have any knowledge of affairs know in a
broad way what they They include a
with such authority in the executive as will
make the subordnates really subordinate
We all know that this applies to the business
i'll which we are engaged, whatever that bust
ness may be. and we know, too. that il must
apply 10 the business OF city government. 1t
does.
The change whereby the Mayor becomes
directly responsible for the Police. Fire ana
Health Departments is eXcelen, one. 1t
should coordinate the activities OF three de-
partmcnts that are closely allied with one
another and remove some OF the occasions OF
criticism. IL ought not to be forgotten. how
ever, that these three departments. as The
Times Dispatch has pointed out on an earlier
occasion, are generally conceded TO be the best
in the city government Controlled by Sepa-
rate boards, they have been. the Health
and Fire Departments have won unrestrancd
public approval. while the Police Department
has been seriously attacked only because of
its failure TO deal adequately with the soca
evil. AS civilization for some thousands OF
years has made similar failure it would not
be fair TO say that the Police Department
however serious its derelctiOn. thus had
signed its own death warrant.
The changes the Council committee has
found il in its heart TO approve are not rcv0-
lut;onary. as we have said. Provision for
the appointment OF officers and members Of
the Police Department for life or good be
harior. rather than for three years. il not
made, but il is, nevertheless demanded. Per
haps the Council will improve TO this extent
the recommendations OF its committee
4 Denver health officer says that The way