Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-22
Civic Survey In Great Danger

EN- weeks have passed since the resolution
OF Councilman Jones, appropriating S1o,-
600 for civic survey Of Richmond by the
New York Bureau OF Municipal Research, was
introduced in the Common Council Since
that night OF March the resolution entitled
on every ground Of good government 10
prompt consideration and favorable action
has been shunted about from pillar to post
Whatever motive inspired this policy. the
result is a disagreeable and menacing delay
The principal good expected to be derived
from the survey Is the reform of our city
charter. That instrument admittedly needs
revision. Unless the survey is begun within
the next two or three weeks, it will be nearly
or quite impossible to obtain from the next
General Assembly the reforms which shall
be shown to be necessary or desirable For
this reason it is most repreh ensibe that timo
should be frttered away in the splitting OF
hairs and the mpassioned discussion OF
moot cases.
The history OF the Jones resolution is
rather interesting. Introduced on March 5.
II read and referred to the Charter
Change Committee where for two weeks It
slumbered peacefully. On March 10 the COM
mittee held meeting. considered the resolu-
tion mildly and fixed hearing for March 80.
On March % representatives of the Civic AS
ISOLATION appeared and agreed to obtain from
the New York Bureau of Municipal Research
written specifications Of what the survey
would undertake to accomplish Adjourn
ment taken subject to the call OF the
chair.
On April Councilman Jones introduced
a second resolution, carrying the Civic AS
sociations guarantee OF the expenses OF the
survey, money for which had been subscribed
by large number OF public-spirited citizens.
On April ~ the Charter Change Committee
held another meeting at which II. r. Sands.
assistant director OF the New York Bureau OF
cd
Information the committee had requested
The bureau was attacked by the director of
rival organization OF similar character.
Councilman Mills insisted on formal, writ
ten proposition.
On April &c such propositions were sub
mltted by the New York Bureau Of Municipal
Research and by the Institute for Public Ser
vice. resolution adopted asking
Council TO appropriate $4,000 for survey
and inviting bids the job. On May 7 the
Common Council met, heard the report OF
the Charter Change Committee and referred
the resolution to appropriate $4,000 TO the
Finance Committee. On May 9 and May IA
there were meetings OF the Finance Commit
tee, but action was taken on this i'm
portant matter. That brings the moving
the highly moving-tale down TO tonight
when the Finance Committee is to meet again
There is something pathetic, however
irritating, in these persistent efforts to de-
fea, the will of the people of Richmond 1t
is not as though the question was novel when
ii was presented to Council, for in the public
prints and at many public gatherings it had
been debated for months Not member of
Council but understood what the Civic Asso-
citation hoped to accomplish and what reasons
mpelled it to select the New York Bureau
of Municipal Research to make the survey.
And yet ten weeks have been wholly
wasted
The Civic Association should not permit
itself to be triHed with longer If Council
cannot be made TO see its duty the association
must conduct the survey under it's own aus
piccs--and do 1t promptly. Under the i'm
petus supplied by the very practical jokers
Of the Council, the movement Is in danger
OF descending from the sublime to the
ridiculous.