Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-05
Councilman PoiloclS's Plan

THE trouble with Councilman Pollock's plan
1 for electng the Administrative Board by
the City Council as at present constituted, is
twofold In the first place. the Council Is
much too large, and too carelessly chosen to
justify the hope that its selections will be the
wisest possible, and, in the second place, the
Administrative Board as means of eXercs-
ing executive and administrative functions, Is
subject itself to grave and manifest objec-
tons.
Nevertheless. the Pollock plan, as modified
in its authors latest announcement, has
good deal to commend it. Under it, the
Mayor Will become, in very real sense the
head of the city government, because he will
make the nominations from which the Coun-
Gil must elect the members Of the board. He
is to submit the names Of two men for each
board vacancy and the Council is supposed to
select one. What would happen in the event
the Council refused to confirm either nomina-
ton, Mr.. Pollock does not appear to have con-
sidered, and we confess we do not know.
Submit two others, perhaps.
The prime difficulty is that the Council is
too numerous and its exercise Of practical
veto power over the Mayors nominations Of
fers too many opportunities for political
trading. The new organic law for the State
of New York, framed by the recent Consttu-
tional Convention, is attacked from many
quarters, but one feature of it meets with
universal approval. This is the clause pro.
viding for the appointment by the Governor,
without the concurrence of the Senate, of al
most every department head Sound stu
dents of politics declare that this will fix and
centralize authority and add greatly to the
efficiency of the State government.
Why should we In Richmond think that our
people and our problems are essentially diff
ferent from those of every other community.
ND hot VIZ nOfh tlo
perience of other cities and States?
The Administrative Board itself is mis-
take. Saying this seek to dsparage
neither the personnel OF the board nor it's
considerable accomplishments but merely to
insist that better results could be achieved
in another manner. What the city needs is
what every great corporation needs-able and
expert direction OF its several departments
Some Of tho members of the present Admins
trative Board in our Judgment, would serve
admirably as department heads, but they
would do better work II each operated direct
ly on the forces under his charge and was
able TO give undivided attention to a single
branch Of the administration
The Administrative Board costs the city in
salaries of its members alone, $25 600 year
Richmond would get far more for it's money
if it divided this $4,000 among the chiefs
and principal assistants of the departments
1t goes without saying that a one-man
executive is more efficient than fve-man
executive. That is another trouble with the
Administrative Board. 1t is the trouble with
the straight commission plan of city govern
ment. which has been responsible for the in
PRODUCTION of the city manager.
We believe the commission manager plan
offers the best hope Of efficiency and economy
but II we must retain the substance Of the
present form let us It least concentrate execu-
tive power and function in the Mayor and
give him the right to select his own help
Then. when we have police scandal or any
other sort of scandal we shall know where
the responsibility lies, and what must do
to be saved.