Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
GLASGOW OUTLINES PLAN
FOR CIVIC RETIREMENT
Wants Mayor Made Chief Executive
in Fact us Well as in
Name.
BOUND BY OBSOLETE CHARTER
Would Select Best Men to BE Had to
Manage City's Public Utilities in
Eusfnesslike Way-Speaks to Citi-
ZenS OF North Richmond.


zens OF North Richmond.
Arthur Glasgow. the noted gas ex-
! pert of London. and former resident
! OF Richmond, who has recently de-
| livercd number of addresses before
! the people OF Richmond in the interest
OF change in municipal government.
addressed the citizens Of North Rich
mond on that subject last night in the
auditorium OF the Barton Heights
High School Mr.. Glasgow, in his
wide experience as builder of gas
works for hundreds of foreign cities,
/ has come I'm close contact with the
best governed municipalities of the
, world. This. coupled with the fact
| that he is vitality interested in the well
fare of this, his native city. peculiarly
/! fits him for n discussion OF Richmonds
| veXed problem.
Mr.. Glasgows idea is that municipal
business is just like any other business,
and. to he successful. must be admin
istered in businesslike way. The
present city charter. he said. is in
ehicient for the reason that it pre-
cludes the possibility of securing the
best men who would place the govern
ment on the highest basis Of efficiency.
Mr.. Glasgow said. would open up new
and freer channels Of usefulness ac-
crung to the benefit OF every class Of
citizen.
ARGUES FOR BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT by BUSINESS MEN
Mr.. Glnsgow's address was. in part,
as follows:
Business is business" Municipal
q
and, to DO successful. municipal ad-
ministration must be like other sue
ccssful business administration.
Every corporation engaged in the
business of supplying private necessi-
ties has charter, just as every city
! engaged in the business of supplying
public necessities has a charter: but
corporation charters leave us free TO
choose the best men, whereas our pres
ent city charter and Constitution bind
us hand and foot!
What we need. and what we must
now achieve, Is substantially the same
freedom and opportunities for eff
fCiency in the administration of our
city, which are essential to the sue
ccssful administration OF all other
/ forms OF business.
! We are on the eve OF building n
/
tho expenditure of huge sums of money,
but committing us for all time to the
! plans of development which we now
/ adopt. We must place in charge of
this great work experts who have fully
demonstrated that they will frame the
most advantageous plans. and insure
! the wisest expenditure of this money
! Otherwise. we swindle not only our
! selves, but posterity; we are false
| trustees for our own children.
MUST CONCENTRATE ATTENTION
on CERTAIN ELECTIONS
| To do this we must concentrate pub
! lie interest long enough TO select and
elect a Mayor and Council charged
with the definite purpose OF creating n
permanent organization of maximum.
efficiency for the administration and
development OF our city.
This Mayor would he the man among
rs possessing the highest qualifications
for this particular task; with the
ability, the determination and the un-
Outstanding 10 advance the broadcast
interests of our citizens, not only of
to-day but of Tomorrow With pains
/ taking care. he would select and NOM
| mate 10 tho Council the best men any
where ohtainab!e, nj home or abroad;
and. upon tho approval of the Council,
ne would employ them as commits
! sioncrs OF our various municipal de-
I partments.
| This does not mean the displacement
| OF single honest man now employed
by the city whether a head official or
private in the ranks It simply
means that new and free channels of
/ maximum usefulness will be opened TO
3
scientific direction. each mans service
Will attain maximum efficiency.
I We should then have, as result of
this plan. a board OF commissioners,
I consisting of five or more members
| representing the highest scientific
technical and administrative skill in
their respective departments, under
the presidency OF a Mayor capable Of
developing. for the common good, their
utmost individual and combined no
tentialties.
COUNCIL. WOULD REMAIN
LEGISLATIVE DODY
The Council remains the legislative
BODY also. az trustee for the people,
II holds the purse and veto power, and
judges by results
Let mo now briefly illustrate, by COM
parison with the methods OF all sue
eessfui corporations. this Mayor and
Council plan In efficient local operation:
The community represents the share
holders In corporation; the Council,
besides It's legislative functions repre-
s"nts the hoard Of directors: the Mayor
represents the president. and each sep
arate department of the work, whether
municipal or corporation, has at its
mead a man possessing the highest sci
tniiic. technical and administrative
skill in that work or profession. The
Mayor and heads OF the municipal de
$ partnents form board of commits
sioners. like the executive committee
Of "a mi COMMUNICATION