Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-08
CAME TO VIRGINIA
FOR! CITY MANAGER
Charles E. Ashburner, of Staun-
ton, Is Making Good in
Springfield.
HOW MANAGER-PLAN WORKS
Places Direct Responsibility, and
Keeps City Within Its
Income.
low MANAGER-PLAN WORKS
BY EDGAR NORRIS.
or the Springfield Daily News.

with the commission manager form Of
government. Following period of
unrest existing in the city, in which
1t was declared that the old Federal
form of government I'm which a Mayor
and Council of ten rulers was obsolete.
the voters adopted the new charter
August 2e. 1918. 1t became effective
January l, 1914.
Tho commission manager form of
government. which seeks to have the
city's business operated just like that
Of large corporation. is now being
given a thorough tryout. commits
sion Of fve men is elected by the peo-
pie, and this commission, which is the
Legislative end Of the government,
selects the city manager. who is the
executive head. The salary of the
manager is fixed by the commission.
The manager serves at the will of the
commission.
The chief feature Of the new form of
government Is that Of small legisla-
tive body. Formerly Springfield had
Council OF ten men, elected three at
large and seven from wards Under
that plan. no voter had a hand in the
selection of more than three Council
men. Under the new plan, every voter
may take part in the selection Of all
the commissioners.
SEPARATES LEGISLATIVE AND
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
Another striking feature of the new
plan is the entire separation Of the
Legislative and executive departments.
Each commissioner has an equal voice
In determining the policy of the city.
irrespective of the department that may
be affected, but the commissioner can
not individually interfere in the man
agement OF any executive department.
1t is the duty of the city manager, with
his assistants, to take care Of the
executive end. The city commission is
the brain that conceives, and the city
manager is the arm that executes.
The aim is to have the city operated
just like any big business is operated.
that is. have a board OF directors who
select their manager. Every person is
familiar with the operation OF a large
manufacturing institution.
Concerning the duty Of the commits
sion. the charter says:
"All OF the powers of the city, ex-
cept such as are vested in the board
OF education and the Judge of the
police court. and except rs otherwise
provided by this charter or by the
Constitution of the State. are hereby
vested in the city commission: and. ex-
cept as otherwise prescribed by this
charter or by the Constitution of the
State, the city commission may by
ordinance or resolution prescribe the
manner in which any power Of the city
shall be exercised. In the absence OF
any such provision rs to power, such
power shall be exercised in the man.
ner now or hereafter prescribed by the
general laws of the State applicable
to municipalities"
COMMISSIONER CHOSEN
ON NONPARTISAN BALLOT
The city commissioners are elected
on a nonpartisan ballot. Every effort
possible has been made to eliminate
politics. The candidates are chosen at
primary 10 be held in August, every
two years. and the elections are held
in November. 1t is provided In the
charter that no candidate for office of
city commission shall make any per-
sonal canvass among the voters to
secure either nomination or election
He may cause notice Of his candidacy
to be published in newspapers. Names
are placed on the ballots by petition
The candidate may not personally cir
culate petition or by writing or
otherwise solicit any one to support
him or vote for him. Promises in or
der to secure election are prohibited.
Any violation of these provisions dis
qualities the candidate.
The members of the commission re-
ceive salaries of $500 a year each, and
arc required to give bond in the sum
of $4,000 each.
The commissioners are required to
meet once each week. After election
they organize by electing one of their
members president. and he is also
known as the Mayor. The Mayor Is
SO designated for the purpose of sign
ing ordinances.
The city commission appropriates
moneys and directs the expenditures.
TAX BUDGET COMMISSION
FIXES CITY's INCOME
The taxes OF the city are levied by
n tax budget commission. which is COM
posed of the county auditor, the county
treasurer and the county prosecutor
No city official has any hand in the
final fixing of the levy. The city COM
mission arranges the budget, making
known the amount of money that will
be required to operate the city for
tho coming year, and the tax budget
commission, basing Its work on this
proposed budget. fixes the levy. Some
times the city gets what it asks and
sometimes 1t does not
The city commission determines tie
character of improvements. and it is
up to the city manager to see that they
are carried out properly.
The old party primary system has
been cast aside. Under the old plan
OF government, nominations were made
at party primaries. and every two
years the city had to go through
heated political campaigns, in which
charges Of corruption and the like were
made. This was one of tho reasons