The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-12

slant tearing, up of the streets. or in
terteeanee lay aaa~ officer with another
the Mayors ca binef il created BY
conference of the various heads be-
fore any particular work is under
taken, obstacles can be removed and
the criticism so often made of the
present method OF carrying on city
work avoided
To Guard Treasury.
To guard the treasury, the Coun-
Gil is given authority for the first
year TO fix the salaries of the officers
After that. all expenditures, including
these salaries, together with a state
inent of the expected revenue of the
city is set OUT in the budget, prepared
by the Mayor and his assistants with
the aid OF the three disinterested citl-
Zens constituting the public efficiency
board, In this way it ia expected
THAI no one department and no one
iS1Ea OF faass. 81 81 aaE ere tina n
'rs falr snare. Any effort of one de-
partment To overshadow another will
be restrained and prevented by the
presence and assistance in making up
the budget of these disinterested citi-
zens.
/ To avoid adding to the numerous
elections. OF which the citizen now
justly complains, and yet to secure
the right OF recall of the Mayor, your
committee has changed the time of
lefty elections from June To January.
and made the term of the Mayor and
the Council to commence on the first
/ day of February OF the same year.
The fiscal year of the city shall begin
/ on the first day OF July.
! An Aid to Efficiency.
In further aid OF efficiency, your
committee relies greatly upon that
part OF its suggestion which allows the
Mayor to create boards for any and
all objects of municipal interest and
progress, BY these means your COM
mitfee believes the training and ex-
perience OF our best citizens will be
identified with the administration OF
city affairs. If, as your committee
hopes, the system of government sug-
gested will diminish political contro-
versies and spols, professional men
merchants, mechanics, ard all classes
OF citizens will look upon such ap-
pointments only as a revenue OF Of
fetal distinction. No possible objec-
ton, IL would seem, can be urged
against the scheme of associating a
merely advisory council or board with
the various executive divisions Such
strength and wisdom to the executive
departments.
We further desire to make the fol.
lowing recommendations;
In regard to the subject of city
finances. your committee would sur-
gest that hereafter a careful scrutin,
of the financial system of the cit,
should be had to the end that II Il
should prove inferior 10 that OF tht
most advanced cities. the most eff
ficient system OF municipal accounting
that experience and expert advice car
suggest may be adopted We are
making this suggestion with no inten,
ton of rejecting on any city depart
by the great care with which thi.
phase of city operation is worked on
in recent charters.
A City Purchasing Agent.
The establishment of city pur
chasing agent ~ suggested to super
wise the buying on the part of the
municipal authorities to the end tina
the city may purchase in the best com
perittve markets according to system
of naturalization. This is really i'm
piled in the right given the Mayor tt
add other departments necessary fol
proper control of the eity's affairs bu
Is or SUCH Importance as TO call fol
particular emphasis.
1t also seems wise to your commit
tee to recommend that the provision!
OF the acts approved March 49, 1914
and February Is, 1915, be amended
by the next General Assembly so as. &c
include the city Of Richmond in theil
provisions. This would enable the eiti.
zens by proper petition OF fifteen pei
cent OF its vote to move for the adop-
ton of a charter in harmony with
modern thought and recent experience
and suitable to the needs Of the popu.
lous and wealthy city of Richmond OF
i1915 and of the coming years.
Also seetion 81 Rearing TO offices
that cannot be held by members o1
the Council.
1t Will be necessary to amend Sec
ton 80 Of the State Constitution. This
section limits the field of appointment
of municipal officers to the qualified
voters and residents of the city. Like
wise section lf0 should be amended
| so as to authorize the establishment
OF a proper system OF local assessments
| for streets and like public improve
ments. The adoption of new charter
however. should not await the result
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