The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-22
GLASGOW ADVOCATES
0NE-MAN GOVERNMENT
Says Efficiency should Receive It's
Own Reward BY Endless Tenure
of Once.
PLAN MUCH DISCUSSED
More Than Ono Hundred People Hear
Arthur Glasgow In South Richmond
Courthouse On Municipal Govern
mcnt.

Arthur Glasgow last right held more
than hundred voters of the South
side closely for several hours. in cx-
pounding his idea of one man govern
nent. with council to regulate mat
ters as they might arise.
He argued. as he has done at num-
erous meetings recently. that efficiency
should mark the policy of the cleo
torate. and that a Iaan chosen by the
people should be a man with all the
quaiincations of business man in
conducting his private affairs. He
urged the voters to consider the fact
that all public utilities should be con-
Quoted as private corporations con-
duct their affairs
permanent Office, said Mr.. Glas-
gov. is the thing to be desired. Ii
the charter and constitution are to
remain as they are the people may
elect man for office, and that man
my not prove efficient. But IL an 'cf-
ficient man is chosen he should be
continued in office and that man may
name the heads of all the departments
of the municipal government. If he
prove capable, the electorate will con-
tinue him, but IL he prove incapable,
another man may be chosen in his
place. If. however. his appointees.
who are to head the various depart
ments. prove good men, they should
be retained.
Mayor Starts 1t.
Under Mr.. Glasgow's scheme, the
mayor may name the first officers, but
II he is defeated at the following cleo
tion, his successor may not remove
the appointees of the former mayor.
'All ] suggest" said Mr.. Glasgow,
lis that we have a permanent governs
ment. Elect q man for the position,
and II he proves valuable and faith
full. let him stay"
In reference 10 the Gas Department.
Mr.. Glasgow said that department had
little need of change. 1t Is not the
administration of the department, but
the service, he said. He then said
that If the people would take ad-
vantage of the utilities offered by
either the gas works. or those who
offer utilities, which may curtail ex,
penses. the public would derive the
benefits
He emphasized the point that in
order to gain efficiency and per-
manency. there should bC no objec.
ton to anyone. from anywhere, be-
ing offered the positions of heads OF
city departments.
The statutes require that all holders
of city or State Offices shall be voters
in the State. Mr. Glasgow would
amend this, and give the officials the
right to hire men, just as a private
corporation does.
Keep Good Man In.
IF man is good, keep him." said
Mr.. Glasgow.
Some of the citizens present at the
meeting argued that If that theory of
Mr. Giasgow's prevailed, it would be O
President, and keep him in Of
fee.
| President Jones brought out that
point. He said that in a democratic
government the only thing that the
people had was the right Of elector-
ate If this right we're cut off. by the
election of one man to control things
indefinitely. this government would be-
come similar to that of the European
nations from which this country split
on the very question of one-man gov
eminent
MIR. Glasgow's theories were prac-
tically agreed to by number of lead
/ ing citizens. including Ben p. Owen.
Ernest Neblett. NJ. A. Campbell,
! Alderman Christian. John B. Light
| foot, Jr.. Albert o. Boschen and
others
All agreed that there would be some
dvantages TO the city by tonsolida
ton of the official forces which means
the abolition of the Administrative
! Board and the institution of a one
man government