The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-30
MUNICIPAL Survey
MAY Be READY soon
New York Experts Making Rapid Pro.
gress in Work of scrutinizing
Modus Operandi.
COMPARED WITH COLUMBUS.
Many Changes Recommended For
That City Already Effective Here
Cost May Not Reach Maximum OF
Fund.

While the various experts of the
New York bureau of municipal re-
search will give no intimation of when
they will complete the work of sur
iveying the city. It is rumored around
City Hall that within a few weeks the
work will have been completed and
that by the middle of September the
report will be in the hands of the
mayor. The researchers have been in
dustriously at work for several weeks,
and have accom- plished great amount
of work Their report will embody
criticisms and suggestions, all de-
signed to give the city a more econom-
ical as we'll as more efficient form OF
government. Their criticisms will be
made in the best of spirit, not as COM
! Ing from men who are engaged to
! find fault necessarily. Their wide ex-
perience in municipal matters gives
/ them knowledge of ways and means
| by which shorter and more perfect
cuts may be made, with better results
attained.
| This bureau recently completed a
survey of Columbus, o.. city in the
same class with Richmond. In that
report 1855 changes were proposed. 700
tof which can be made effective by
councilmanic action. while the remain
ling recommendations require charter
amendments, Included in these recon-
mendations are such items as these:
The Standardization of salaries for
the departments of public safety and
public service (police, fire. water and
gas departments3; transpositions and
examinations In the departments of fire
and police, and organization OF en-
cheering and construction. The re-
port also suggests purchasing de-
partment, and 1t recommends the APP
pointment of a vice commission to
study the question of commercialized
vice. The police department Is warned
to keep its men out Of politics and
have them strictly observe the laws
regarding prostitution.
Columbus places much value in the
report, looking upon 1t as a textbook
for city employees. containing many
items OF value and interest.
Richmond has already accompltshed
some of the things suggested in the
Columbus report 1t has establishe ed
a centralized accounting department
eliminated the police board: taken po-
, lcemen out of politics, by prohibiting
!, them from engaging in active support
of any candidate; has CENTRALIZED con.
troll OF the park system, and has
placed more power in the street clean.
ing department
board, has also recommended to thu
council upon occasions the establish
ment of a purchasing department
lCommercialized vice under nomina
, police protection has been abolished
and there has been something of cen.
tralization in the engineering depart
ment The administrative board ha,
} recommended to council the consoli
dation of the clerical departments O.
the water ana gas departments, ane
there has been much discussion as Il
the abolition Of the fire board.
1t Is believed the Forthcoming re
: port will go into the smallest of details
in its recommendations concerning
the conduct of the departments.
Columbus appropriated $4,000 To-
the research, $500 of which remained
unexpended. The cost of printing tn,
81 report was $500, so that the total cos
| to the city was just $4,000. Richmond
citizens, representing the Civic asso
citation, have collected $4,000 to pa,
for the survey here.