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

L
either elect one who Is called the
MAYOR. or the one WAa has seeaip we'd
the highest number of votes becomes
by law the Mayor. The Mayor has no
greater power than the other COM
missioners, but Is simply the official
head of the city government Under
this plan he is denied the veto power,
Willis, this scheme has only been in
operation less than fifteen years, as
far AS study, Investigation and per-
sonal interviews have enabled this
committee to form an opinion. they
are of the opinion that II is more eff
ficient. freer from political influence
and administers the various interests
of the city in more business-iike way
than the old Federal plan However.
there Is much diversity of opinion as
to its unqualified success and several
DEFICIENCIES are pointed out by pro-
fessional and practical experts N
municipal government Admitting
that its merits are conspicuoussyet we
cannot commend ii as the final form
of city government Thus DR.. H q.
James. the director of Municipal Re-
search in the University of Texas
calls attention to these DEFICIENCIES In
+ the following words; THAT the evils
resulting from the lack OF administra-
tive Capitalization lin commission gov
erned citieSl are not purely theoretf-
cal is evidenced by the complaint
voiced by persons actively engaged in
the administration Of cities as COM
missioners. The log railing tactics
working at cross purposes. duplica-
/ ton of work. gaps in the distribution
of functions are features of commits
sion government that are actually en-
eountered and against which those
most directly concerned have raised
a voice in protest" Your committee
does not think that II can add any
thing TO this criticism of the commits
sion plan for governing cities, at least
on its administrative side
Cit, Manager plan.
The third form, that of the commits
sion plus the city manager Is the most
recent plan for municipal government.
BY this method the Legislative powers
are still retained in the hands of a
commission generally consisting of FIVE
members. They perform the duties Of
( legislation which were formerly in
trusted under the old Federal plan to
councils. In addition. the commits
sioners elect the clerk Of the commits
sion and the city manager. and at that
point their executive or administrative
duties usually cease. The whole
weight of these administrative duties
IL placed upon he shoulders Of the
city manager, Such general man
ager does for municipal administra-
tion what the business manager does
for business administration 1t is
claimed that analogy between the
business administered by munich
pality and that carried on by any
Igreat corporation Is close, and the APP
pointment of "A general manager tt
supervise all departments of a city
government Is rs necessary as the ap.
pointment of general manager te
supervise all the business departments
OF n private Industrial corporation.
Important Changes Needed.
Your committee has studied this
/ plan with great care: the opinion
OF your committee is that 1t would
he unwisc, because of its brief
history and the peculiar condf-
tons existing i'm this city To
recommend this form for adop-
ton, without important changes.
We think. however. that most
that Is essential In this commission
nanager form Is admirable. T}ut.
according to our judgment, and
wiser for this community to chose
by popular election an official with
] such extensive powers as the gen
cral manager. would possess.
The Plan Submitted BY Your Com.
mittee:
The chief reasons for adopting the
changes suggested by your committee
as outlined in their plan are:
/. To concentrate authority SO that
the voter may know who should be
held responsible for any failure OF
successful administration.
2. To arouse the voter from his
! present indifference as far as possible
by the elimination of ward lines in
! the choice OF councilmen and BY the
location of all administrative respon-
sibilty in the hands of an elected
: afayor .=S9 3's5is7-s-.5
3. To secure efficiency, both in the
heads Of departments and in the mass
tof administrative servants by reqnir-
ing the Mayor in the first case, and
] the ether officers. in the other cases.
TO merit alone the controlling reaNon
for appointments.
In addition to giving these three
great reasons behind the work of your
committee they think IL advisable 10
explain various portions OF the plan
they submit, in order that you may
understand why such provisions were
inserted.
To avoid duplication Of work. con