Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-09
Suggestion. Arc Invited.

1,t .,r,-ih the editorial In The Times
GARD TO the plan presented by me to
me council committee. the writer OBJ
the &C m" by 1f STATE msaers
ana THIS statement is made: Until this
feature Of the proposed system is
to discuss its other details" Now. II
'the other details" are worthy and
s sned h be retaned or at least consid
me only way to reach Il true and per-
rect conclusion as to our municipal
system is TO consider some system, and
this system affords at least "a starting
point for consideration; and should not
be discarded merely because some ono
OF these commissioners The election
OF these commissioners Is the very crux
ou me neW system, 1t matters not who
fore. IT ought to be discussed, and il
bound TO be discussed.
NO one has made any other sugEes.
ton as TO the manner OF the election
or appointment OF these commissioners,
not even the editor in this editorial.
| II can be evolved? None OF ny are so
Welded to our views that. when the
s%ou w 81 our city ,o And PEOPLE Il at stake.
| complishment of tho desired end We
are all seeking fc- the trucst and best
IT is not judicious to merely criticize,
aud not offer something better than
he thing rriticized. We cour, susges-
,
presented to the committee Bring
them forward and let comparisons be
rational way. be had. until the real
value of respective systems and auI-
eestions be evolved and determined in
The forum OF reason and justice.
Should these commissioners be elect
cd by the people? This has been tried
and found unsatisfactory In a number
OF cities in this country. Shall we make
another costly experiment, ana then
find I'm, we have made another mistake:
commissioners should be elected or APP
pointed in some way that renders them
independent OF. and tree from. politics
elected By the people, would he one OF
the mos, influential members of tho
G ,nnn, and in he ,cc,,y's govern
would be removed from politics and
political influence. as far as IL is prac
what all OF the advocates OF re-
modelled System for our city seem 10
suggest ana desire. and this also seems
to bc consonant With the thought and
practice OF tho best and most prominent
thinkers and writer's upon municipal
government. Can you offer any other
why not present il? i it liz better II
can he easily put in the plan offered
ann tnen we nc, can i move on to consd
system. We have thought OF other
plans. to.wit: ppointrent Ivy the five
judges Of the Virginia supreme Court
mated by tho Council of The city. or
appointment made oy tho Governor OF
state and the president OF the Supreme
Court o. Appeals Of the states or sim
liar, nomination Either OF these three
modes OF election or appointment would
be effective and satisfactory. Il an
pears to US and would accomplish the
deS,r%h eng; What other plan , can DO
be elected by tic people Certainty no
one. will ADVOCATE. their appointment
will CLAIM, that At is cxpedicnt for
them to be appointed ~ the Mayor.
Ought they to be nppointed hy. any
officials! The universal voice we APP
prehend would be opposed to such a
mocs BY the ABORTION Of any of these
the existing evils. and the whole idea.
ayste IS deemed to be ,h
best that can be formulated for the
execution OF the purposes contcm-
We do not. and cannot. share the dis
trust in the State senate, expressed In
the editorial. The Senate would have
sclf-same Senate. with the House, elects
our judges. who perform some of the
gravest and most imrertant functions
Their appointeos in this city have been
most worthy aud cficient. If the SEN
appointments. why not Trustworthy in
other kinds? Then, it should be re-
membered. that the Senate only elects
the first two commissioners under this
system. as tho plan provides for the
perpetuation of this commission by the
election to III ~ vacancy by the Mayor
aud the remaining commissioner. These
arguments would appear to he conclu-
sive, IL we I'm all sincerity are work
ing together to establish an efficient,
economical and well-roundcd govern
mcnt for our city.
a clos, study and presentation OF
this system offered. would disclose n
full discussion OF these and other inn
portant and paramount matters in con-
nection with tho entire system: and.
therefore, this study and presentation
before oar people is invited Let the
whole system, and the '-easons to sus-
tain It, az presented by me be printed,
AS whole. and not part. by the pa perS.
and thus go before the people, so that
they can 'ntelligently consider II. You
will do me Il great favor by printing
w. w. WORKMAN.
Richmond. Va. November Z, 1917.