Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-06
For a Richmond Transformed

TT is probably true. Arthur Glasgow said
| Yesterday in his talk before the Business
Mems Club that there is such wide margin
between ideal municipal government and the
variety Of government provided for the in
habitants of American municipalities, that
any plan that seems to approximate or even
to approach efficiency appears Utopian and
oh merical.
However dissatisfied intelligent public
sentiment may be with Richmonds govern
ment--and it is delightful to feel that this
dissatisfaction exists and grows acute--Rich
nand is not worse off than most other cities
OF her class in this country, and is good
deal better of than that might be
named
American cities troubles. as Mr.. Glasgow
suggested, have basis which is part ignorant
self-suficiency and part indifference We
declined to use the lamp of experimental
in fact. as though an instrument of this char
acter. especially designed for municipal pur
poses. had never been invented. Enthralled
by the eloquence of the doctrinaire we con-
clude the only way to cure our ills is TO
swallow the latest nostrum from the political
laboratories Of the New Thought.
II man has shown himself to be a pretty
good lawyer. or banker. or plumber. we con-
clude he must have equal talent for the diff
hcult and complex problems of municipal ad-
ministration. We refuse to perceive what
English and Continental cities perceived long
ago--that municipal administration is pro-
fesson in Itself, wherein, as in other profess
sions high proficiency is attained only in
practice
Mr.. Gasgow's conception OF city charter
is simple enough. Its constituents are these:
/. A Mayor with large appontive powers
authorized to select all department heads
?. Department heads of proved efficiency
brought to Richmond from wherever they
may be found, and nearly supreme within
their separate fields
3. A City Council which shall hold the
purse strings and supervise expenditures
There is no completely there The germ
Of the whole plan is the principle of perma-
nent administration Mayor and Council
would be elected at intervals, but depart
mental heads who produced results would
also hold their Jobs. Running city depart
ment would be career here as it is in
Europe. attracting talent of high type and
offering commensurate rewards
After all, Of course the success OF this
system of government would depend on the
kind of men chosen to administer it, It's
special merit is that it encourages. rather
than discourages, the selection and retention
of the right kind of men.
Perhaps we are Utopan as his critics
say Mr.. Glasgow is. but we confess we can
see no reason why the brand OF municipal
government he advocates may not be OBJ
tanned. 1t will not come in a day certainly
nor without almost consecrated effort It
means, perhaps long and tireess campaign
OF education, conducted through the news
papers. through public speakers and through
individuals mngling with other individual Is
in church, lodge and club. 1t means also
constitutional amendment and legislative
sanction
1t is sound sense. nevertheless 1t should
make popular appeal, for its purpose is ser
vice to the whole people and bigger, better
healthier, cleaner and happier Richmond