The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-24
TINE TO GET DOWN
TO ROCK BOTTOM FACTS
That Is Reason Why Many Other
Cities Have Awaited Themselves
Of Research Bureau.
BENEFIT TO BE ANTICIPATED
Only Rational Objection Is That the
Work VIII COST, but Quite Well
Established Money So Expended
VIII Be Wen Invested.

Considerable Interest Is being man
ifested In the proposed municipal sur
vey agttated by the Civic Association,
as a result OF similar work in San
Francisco whereby 1t has been shown
that the city may save a million dol
lara each year by expanding $4,000
for this survey. The Municipal Re-
search BUR- eau. OF New York. has been
carrying On the work. and It In pro-
posed that they DO the Same work in
Richmond. pointing out changes In city
government that can be made to great
beneht. DR.. D. r. Anderson. of the
Civic Association. has given an ex-
planation Of the work OF thu bureau
and statement OF what II means for
Richmond The statement follows:
Not An Investigation.
The Administrative survey now be-
ing discussed 10 not what IL offensive
ly called an investigation. Its meth
DDS are open and frank. There is
nothing sensational about tho idea.
any more than an expert examination
of the AFFAIRS of q bank or a corpora
ton 10 sensational Men in the bus
mess world expect q frank scrutiny
of their affairs from time to time, for
their own benefit and for the beneft
of their stockholders and do not feel
that It Is anything alarming and re-
markable. 1t would seem that from
time 10 time also there should be a
sympathetic opening up of the man,
ner in which departm ents of gov
eminent are being conducted.
From such n survey great benefit
might be expected for all concerned.
The wall meaning and ambitious pub
lie official would have an understand
Ing of how his manner of dotnO thtnrs
looks to competent examiners and
would enjoy the benefit Of q program
OF next steps forward.
Some Of the BeneftM
Tho Council would be able TO form
better conception OF the actual state
OF affairs and tho needs Of various
offices. The citizen would have the
information that is due him and would
find his interest growing. Normal
methods of economy and OF increasing
revenues in the most satisfactory
manner are usually suggested BY the
experts conducting the survey, The
only rationahls objection that can be
urged against snoh an enterprise is
that 1t costs; but X It will accom- piish
for us what we have reason to believe
II will. and what 1t has done for other
cities. the expense Will prove q profit
able investment.
Something like ono hundred CITIES
have enjoyed the benefit of these sur
veys- Among them are Atlanta. SYRIA
cuse, Toronto. Dayton. Buffalo. Dem
yer. Pittsburs. Reading. Springfield,
(Mass). and Norfolk State, govern
, ments including the State of North
Carolina. and tho Federal government
have employed tho services of men
from the New York Bureau With the
discussion OF city affairs which has
been going on fpr several years in
Richmond. II would seem that city Of
fcials in particular and citizens in
general likewise should be glad to
find the truth as asoertained by a non
partisan expert body whose work is
so highly comm ended.
Time to Hit Rock Bottom.
Tho board Of directors OF the Civic
Association and the citizens who an
dorscd the survey for Richmond rep
resent practical men Of affairs, who
have only the good OF Richmond at
heart. They feel that the time has
como when we should go down to a
rock bottom foundation of undeniabie
truth. We have the best experts to
help us in every thing else When we
want business examined, when we
want An armor plat factory and tho
like, we get the best advice available.
and now 1t is felt that II liz time we
are calling In recognised experts to
help us In government.
However, the board of the Civic As
ISOLATION and the citizens present
would not care for even so commenda-
BILE an enterprise as this unless It ap-
pealed to the general body Of our
population. We think It does. 1udg-
ing from the attitude OF our papers
and the expressions Of many in pri-
vate conversation,
The office Of the Civic Association
would be glad to answer such ques-
tions on the nature and methods of
the proposed survey a. citizens desire
tor ask. and will issue at once a bulIe-
tin explaining the situation clearly;
this bulletin viii be sent to all who
desire to receive II as well as to all
who are on our regular mailing list.
"One principle we may build upon In
government Is, that information and
experience can 40 only good. and that
concealment and ignorance beret
apathy and distrust among citizens and
sluggtshness and petulance among Of
cials. We wish neither: and II we
have either we must remove II speed
fly"