Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
Putting Richmond ON WAR Basis


CTRIPPED OF details. tho subcommittee
~ OF the Council Committee OH Charter
Changes has presented report which, IL
adopted, Will put the city on war basis Of
economy. In abolishing the Administrative
Board the committee does not propose 10
assume the responsibility that the Council
took in creating it, but provision is made for
the submission Of the charter changes to
popular vote as soon as the General Assembly
shall have given its approval. To large
extent this provision cuts the ground from
under those who have been circulating a
petition for a charter commission. Petition
circulators close to the Administrative
Board, however, are claiming enough sigma
lures to compel the submission of the ques-
ton OF new charter to the people, and in
such election city employees under the
Administrative Board might prove tho bal
ance of power against any charter changes.
The Council, in submitting this matter
proposed by the subcommittee. saves the
delay Of charter commission, which could
not mako it's report before the 1920 session
OF the Legislature, thus saving in salaries
alone greater sum than the city is now
expanding annually in the Improvement OF
streets
1t is clear that the city has too much
administrative machinery-pays out too
much in overhead charges. Advocates of
manager plan would throw both the Council
and the Administrative Board over and set
up single unit Of government such as has
been adopted in Norfolk and other cities.
Objection is raised by those who fear 'one-
man government" or who would not intrust
TO small group the legislative functions Of
lcvyins taxes, appropriating money, enacting
ordinances and granting franchises Under
the committee plan these four functions are
reserved in tho hands Of two-branch coun-
Gil, constituted as at present from four wards
Administrative functions are placed in the
hands OF a council OF department heads,
supervised by the Mayor.
No argument, other than political has been
advanced for retaining the Fire Board, when
volunteer Police and Health Boards have
been abolished. No valid argument can be
advanced for separate South Richmond Off
Gals. The duplication of financial and tax
collecting Offices is Obvious and the COM
mittee plan Of grouping them under a comp
troller is in line with the best CORPORATION
and municipal practice
1t is high time for the city TO put itself
on war basis OF economy. With Federal
taxes increasing constantly, any increase in
the city rate would be burdensome. Recourse
10 frequent bond issues puts the city in COM
petition with the sale OF Liberty bonds. The
plan advocated by the subcommittee may not
be the final word in city government, but it
seems to be as great advance over the
present complicated and expensive methods
as the creation Of the Administrative Board
and the reduction OF the size of the Council
were over the former still more clumsy COM
mittea system.
FROM the standpoint OF the Council it is
seeking to save itself in cutting away all the
dcadwood and giving the citizen better
return Tor his money If the Council rejects
us own committees report, it faces the
alternative or charter commission, which
may report as it has done in Norfolk, in
favor OF abolishing the Council
FROM the standpoint Of the individual citi
zen. the choice to be presented at tho polls
is between reduction of the city's paw roll
by the elimination of all Offices not abso-
luteiE needed. or an increase in the tax on
houses ana lots. with the increase in rents
which follows.