Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-29

inc enactment OF ordinances expressly
comforting upon the Mayor duties and
powers which the Constitution plainly
intended him TO exercise. but which he
has failed TO exercise because no plain
statement of his authority has ever
been made.
a. Bcirnc Blair. q former member of
the Board Of Aldermen. spoke at tho
invitation Of the committee. He said
that tn" present system failed most
sisnally In tho matter OF preparing tho
annual budget. The weakness. he said.
lies in tho fact that the framing of
this most important instrument Is en-
trusted 70 - committee Of councilmcn
in no way associated with tho admin
.strhtion and unacquaintcd with the
practical needs OF the departments.
WOULD REFORM METHOD
OF PREPARING BUDGET
blair urged the committee to make
provision for a Board of Apportion-
ncnt and Estimate which shall make
up tho annual budget and pass on all
expenditures OF certain amount and
over. This board. he said should con-
SYST OF tho Mayor. the CITY Auditor
TIA" president OF tho two branches Of
the Council. and tn" members OF tho
Administrative Board. lie preferred :,
reduced Administrative Board of three
members. The Board OF Apportipn-
mcnt so constituted. he said. would
be composed Of mon Immediately i'm
touch with every department OF the
government. and qualified to judge in
the light Of their own knowledge OF
each departments needs.
Mr.. Blair was IN favor Of making tho
Mayor q voting member of tho Admin
isirativc Board. and Of placiu. the
f"li"c Department inncdiatclv under
tho Ma OT'S control
Shortly after the meeting MAS called
to order, Alderman Christian offered
Two amendments TO the resolution Of
tered hy him ut tho last meeting, en-
iarginE the Mayors powers OF removal
ana otherwise increasing his author
ity. Tn" first amendment struck out
the provision which limited the Nav
or 8 salary TO not more than 5000
year. leaving the salary to be fixed
oy the Council. The other amendment
extended his powers Of appointment 10
Snch offices which he may be exDrcsslv
authorized to i'll. The original rcsolu-
ton limited the Mayors appointments
10 his office staff. The committee voted
unanimously to allow Mr. Christian 10
amend his original resolution II, tho
manner indicated.
MAYOR AINSL1E DISCUSSES
POWERS or Ills OFFICE
Mayor Ainsl!c, who took the stand
uohcd by the committee for more than
AN hour.
While felt the invitation Of this
committee to appear before II to be
equal TO command" said the Navor
NJ the outset, my appearance here to-
night is not without an element q,
EN- ohrrassment. This arises from the
proneness OF people TO ascribe an ul-
terror motive 10 any public Official who
draws attention to the limitations that
are placed on his authority. have
neither lust for power nor n fear Of
additional responsibility. Speaking in
personal sense. however / should
like 10 be spared as much rs possible
requests to sugges, changes looking
TO the enlargement of the powers OF
the Mayor. The ahvisa bility of that
is FOR the committee TO determine for
Itself. Will be glad 10 describe what
! interpret TO be the status OF the
Mayors powers nj present"
MAYOR ARSOLUTI:t.N WITHOUT
ADMINISTRArIVE AUTHORITY
Mr.. Ainsl!e was asked by Charles V.
Meredith If he could suggest any way
OF increasing the authoritv of m.
Mayor and at the same time without
material change 10 the present form
OF government.
The Mayer replied tina, he could moi,
sec how that could be done The
Mayor. he said. was at present abso-
.NielT without administrative author
ltE OF any kind. The charter has dele
gated all authority to various boards
Va order TO increase the Mayors adj
mlnistrativc power. he said, IL was
quite evident that the power OF certain
boards must. 10 c.actly The same ex
tent, be abridged
Replying 10 questions from various
members OF The committed Mr. Aims
ne indicated his conviction that the
Mayor should be given the power of
final removal over every officer in the
city government. not ONLY for mai
lcasancc. but for the reasons under
which the controlling boards would
Under the present system he justified
IN removing subordinate officer
RESPONSIBLE FOR ORDER
But WITH NO WAY TO ENFORCE Ir
alderman Adams asked II he would
think II wise 10 put the Police and Fir.
Departments under the Mayors cxcln-
slNe control. Mr. Ainslie replied that
under the present system the Mayor
was charged with maintaining order
out was given no control whatever
over the single agency with which il
Is possible to maintain order-thc Po-
nee department. Either the RESPONSE
nifty for maintaining order, he said
should be taken from the Mayor and
shifted TO the Police Board. or the con-
troll OF the Police Department shifted
" Wv 'htN oI. mere should he
Sponsibility. he SAID. without cores
pondinS authority
MI Meredith suggested that the
MAYOR might be given the right of
veto over resolutions and measures of
the Administrative Board involving
certain amounts o. over. Mr.. Ainsiie
was inclined to the belief that viii.
Such an Arrangement would give tho
Mayor slight voice in administration
wherc he has none now. without tn.
r'Sht 10 SIT with the board and take
part IN It's proceedings, It would prov.
oi small practical value. The idea OF
swing inc Mayor the right to veto
administrative acts. he said was new
TO him. and he had not had lima r.
give IL much thought
MctARI1Il FANORS PLACING:
MAYOR At HEAD OF POLICE,
Mr. Mccarthy agreed that il would
De wise to make the Mayor the chief
Monty or the Police Department.
hoard should manage the fiscal affairs
Of the department. leaving to tho Mnva