Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08
Our Municipal Defects Exposed

Our Municipal Defects Exposed
\ SEVERE indictment OF Richmond's head
a less" and 'shittless' government is
drawn in the report of the survey made by
the New York Bureau OF Municipal Research.
While the arraignment of our governmental
iEellicicncy contains nothing not already
known to many OF us, it is here presented i'll
concrete form by commission Of experts, and
must command attention. 1t brings home
to most forcibly the shortcomings and
failures of the system under which Rich
mond is at present governed. and. while II
Of the recommendations and some of the
criticisms will not be approved by the great
body of citiZenry. it should arouse the people
to the urgency of the citys needs and serve
basis upon which to build q structure
in keeping with modern demands. If it does
that the survey Will prove worth many times
more than it's cost.
In the indictment of Richmond's present
orga nization there are three counts: There
is no responsibility for leadership" THE or
eaniZation is too complex" and There is in
sufficient correlation Of related functions"
But Richmond is not held altogether respon-
siblc for it's own miSmanagement, for the
survey points out that the statutory law OF
the State, which forces "inequitable repre-
sentation Of the electorate in the city leg
stature" and the State Constitution. which
requires that too many OF the executive Of
ficials shall he elected by the people," are
partly to blame. and constitute defects which
should DO wiped out.
If the recommendations of the survey be
carried out, it will mean complete and
radical change in the whole system OF gov
crnmcnt--from the present cumbersome
method with its numerous departments, lost
motion and wasted public funds. to the bust
nesslike Capitalization of modern corpora
ton with its responsible executive head and
its administrative affairs in the hands Of ex-
perts in their various lines. Chief among
tho defects found by the survey is the lack
OF executive leadership. The board would
have the Mayor be such in fact as we'll as in
name. and 1t would establish central de-
partmcnt OF public works under which the
various departments would be administered
Reduction of the Council to membership
OF nine. with the adjustment OF the Board
OF Aldermen, the Administrative Board and
various minor officials is depended on to rid
the city C its surplus accouterment and bring
It's management under responsible heads
while Inauguration Of civil service among
tho cisy's employees should result in dollars
worth Of returns for each dollar expended
referendum provision. whereby tie people
may have a direct voice in the management
OF their own affairs. is also recommended
and doubtless will be received with approval
by the electorate.
IhcSe arc only a few OF the more sweeping
changes which the board believes to be neces-
sary before Richmond can take its proper
rank among wcl-governed American cities
AS an alternative, il suggests adoption of the
city-lnanagcr or commission form OF govern
Hcnt. With its 1907 pages, including
ninety pages OF recommendations, the report
Is full OF food for civic thought, much of it
startling in its revelations. Now that il has
bcch made public, it should be studied care
lully ana dlspassionateiy. with eye single
10 INC city S bcttermcnt. and not pigeon-holed
and forgotten rs has been the case in certain
other cities where surveys we're made.