The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-23
Charter Reform in Other Cities.

Charter Reform in Other Cities.
Editor The Richmond Virginian,
, Dear Sir,-In answer to your in
curry as to the recent progress OF the
more efficient forms of city govern
ment, l wish to tell you about a very
interesting case-aS interesting as
that of Dayton. And that is Grand
Rapids Michigan, which on August
20 adopted the commission manager
form. Grand Rapids Is the second
largest city thus far to adopt this ex-
cellent plan. The new plan becomes
effective May /, 1917.
| have before me a personal letter
OF the secretary of the Grand Rapids
Association of Commerce. He says:
"A little over two years ago the Grand
Rapids Association of Commerce was
instrumental In starting a survey of
one of the most important city de-
partments. We believe this was the
beginning of activity towards the new
charter. Our efforts were supple
mented with the interest of many of
our leading business and professional
men and a charter commission was
elected to formulate the new charter
About six weeks prior to the adoption
OF the charter we conducted an edu-
cational campaign of publicity. We
propose to also do something along
to acquaiuting our voters with the
need of selecting good, capable ad-
minIstrntors."
Grand Rapids in 1910 had a popu-
lation of l12, 571-about 1000 less
than the figures put down for Dayton
You may be interested in brief
outline of their new charter. 1t pro-
vldes for a commission of seven men,
two selected from each ward and one
h.
are TWO years and they receive sal
aries of $1,000 each, with $500 ad-
ditional for that one of their number
whom they designate as Mayor The
commission legislates for the city and
chooses the city manager, who is in
charge of the administration. He APP
points heads of departments. super
vises and controls executive work
All officers and employees whose
qualifications can be determined by
examination are selected on the rec
ommendation Of the Civil Service
Board which is the commission act
ing in an eX ofHcio capacity.
Initiative and referendum on legis-
latton are provided for with percent
ages of / , per cent Of the registered
voters in each case.
Recall proceedings may be insti-
tuted on petition of twenty-five per
cent of the voters.
The charter in all essential points
is OF the city manager type, though
in some important points it deviates
from the charter Of Dayton.
1t should be added that protective
restrictions are thrown around the
financial acts OF the commission. par
ticularly in the direction of protect
Ing the credit of the city Bond is
sues are carefully safeguarded. The
careful and modern financial pro-
visions are in marked contrast vita
the provisions in the charter of Rich
mond in these particulars.
Several further illustrations of the
progress of the idea Of the city man.
ager government may be given:
A committee of the Real Estate
BOARD of Cleveland. after an elaborate
investigate both of the merits Of the
plan and of public sentiment in Cleve-
land recommends the adoption of this
plan
They ind that the com mission man
aEer plan 'Centers responsibility in
one administrative head and appoint
ments are actually made without con-
Sidcraton for partisan politics." and
further that this plan is more demo-
cratic as II is more responsive to pub
lie opinion ana will enable munich
pahties TO conduct their business more
ethclently end economically. | am
further informed that former Mayor
Rlaukenbure, Of Philadelphia, en-
dorSes the city manager plan: and
that the president of the City Coun-
ell Of Boston has declared in favor
or II Tor that city. Springfield, Mass,
/ is preparing through a vigorous cam
paign in which the issue is Federal
or city manager government. In
either case they would secure a gov
eminent concentrating administrative
authority III one head. About that
principle there is no dispute among
/ the students of the subject.
1t Will be seen. therefore. that the
agitation for the newer form of city
government proceeds from long head
ed, practical men and experienced
municipal statesmen as well as from
theorists and idealists"
The point for us in Richmond to
have in mind is that no informed per-
son endorses the scheme under which
Richmond is governed. 1t is unspeak-
ably bad. And that whatever plan
may be proposed or adopted in the
! future. Richmond owes itself the
thorough sitting of the matter of a
charter, through a charter commits
sion made possible by the efforts OF
the Civic Association
Very truly yours.
ID. r. ANDERSON.