Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-16
FORECAST INDICATES
MANY DRASTIC CHANGES
Report of Recent Survey OF City
Government Will BE Issued
Shortly.
TO BE Filled WITH CITY CLERK
Proposes Capitalization of Adminis-
trative Affairs Under Commission
er Of Public Works and Abolition
Of Several Boards.

An unofficial forecast yesterday Of
the recommendations to be contained
in the report of the New York Bureau
of Municipal Research, as a result OF
Its recent survey of the Richmond
municipal government, which is cX-
pected to be made public within the
next three weeks, indicated that many
radical changes would be suggested.
including the abolition of the Admins
trative Board, the Board of Fire Com
missioners and many individual Offices.
and Capitalization and concentration of
all executive power and leadership In
the Mayor.
Dr. d. r. Anderson, executive secre-
tary OF the Civic Association Of Rich
mond, said last night that he knew
nothing whatever of the unofficial fore
cast made yesterday. and that he did
not believe the research bureau had
authorized any statement in connec-
ton with Its survey. He pointed out
the proviso in the agreement under
which the survey was conducted, which
prohibited the bureau furnishing tho
civic Association or any one copies of
its report before an official COPY was
filed with City Clerk Ben r. August
1t is understood that the vast bulk Of
the bureaus work has been completed.
Its field directors completed their sur
rey work In Richmond several weeks
ago. and returned to New York n
compile the data and draft the official
report to be made to the Charter
Change Committee through the City
Council 1t was stated yesterday that
tho report might be expected v"1tn
the next two weeks, but nothing o,.icial
has been announced by the bureau.
RECOMMENDS COMPLETE
OVERLAPPING OF MUNICIPALITY
The unofficial forecast asse-. that
the report will recommend a c..plete
overhaulinE of the city's municipal ma
chinery. in every branch and depart-
inent; the abolition Of the Administra-
tive Board; the reduction OF the mem
bership OF the City Council, and the
election OF members according to popu-
iation; the concentration of power in
one Official, preferably the Mayor; the
organization of all departments under
a commissioners of pubiic works. into
four operating bureaus controlled by
two administrative groups, each headed
by deputy commissioner.
1t is declared that the re. ort will
subStantiate the charges made at vari-
Gus times that there is little IL any re-
sponsibilty Tor leadership in the pres
cnt city Sovernm snt; that the system
is entirely too complex, and that there
is too great division of authority,
tive. The abolition of the Offices of
City Sergeant. Building Inspector, City
Engineer, Coroner and other Offices will
be recommended, it is said, and these
departments reclassified so as to bring
them under the four operating bu-
reaus.
PROPOSES COMMISSIONER
Of PUBLIC WORKS
The proposed department of public
works would be headed by Il commits
sioner having supreme control Of the
administrative affairs of the city and
having under him two administrative |
groups, each headed by "A deputy com |
missioner, and containing the four |
operating bureaus Practically every |
detail in the operation of the city gov |
ernment would be under the supervi- |
sion of one of these four bureaus
Recommendations will be made that |
all employees Of the city. except the |
department heads. should he selected |