The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-23
Resolution Giving $4,000 to
City to Pay N. Y. Bureau
Recommended to Council
CONTRACT TO BE MADE
In TRIPLICATE FORM
Mills Opposes Measure, Stat
ing That He Thinks 1t Use
less, But Committee Votes to
Adopt. Six to One

The council committee on
finance last night, with one dis
, sentfng vote. recommended for
adoption a resolution giving tn the
New York Bureau of Municipal
Research n contract for making n
survey of all departments of
RirhInond's city government, and
To accept from the Civic AssaH,ia-
ton OF Richmond a gift of $4,000
raised by popular subscription to
defray the expenses of the survey.
This resolution. offered by Coun-
Gilman Carter {. Jones, was a sub
.titutc to similar resolution Of
Tered by him at n meeting OF tho
common council April 2 and to
RESOLUTION presented by II. l.. Pc
tors. president of the common
council. on April 20, appropriat-
Ing $4,000 for the survey, but
leaving the appointment of men
to do the work To the discretion of
the joint committee on charter
changes
} The resolution adopted, and which
will be sent TO the council for approval
lat its next regular meeting. gives the
New York bureau contract for making
comp ehensive survey OF all city
departments OF government. accord
ing To Il plan admitted by their rep
:esentatiVe, o j. Sands to the charter
change committee several weeks ago.
Tho ctty agrees 80 turn over to the
surveyors all books. records and other
data used in governmental affairs and
10 assist in the survey in any pos
slhls way. The city binds itself to
nothing. and does not agree to any
changes whatever in case they arc
recommended bv the bureau after the
work is completed.
Draw Tri-Parry Contract
A tri- party contract, TO be drawn
by the city attorney. is TO be signed
by the New York bureau Of Munich
pal Research. by the individual mem
hers OF the executive committee OF
the Civic association. and by Mayor
George Ainslie in behalf OF the city
OF Richmond wherein the Civic as
ISOLATION. through its executive COM
mittee, binds itself TO pay the $4,000
charged BY the bureau and 70 relieve
the cry or aff -poss4hse cost IN csSr
nectton with the survey,
Seven members OF the committee
were Messrs. Grundy, Sea-
ton. Haddon, Jones, Powell. Mills and
Gilman. Mr. Mills voted against the
adoption Of the resolution he de.
clared that ne was not in favor OF
s survey because he didn't believe the
city needed it. and didn't feel that Il
would do any good Il hope the sur
yey will do the city much good" he
said, but I am afraid il VIII not"
He declared that he didn't believe
any set OF citizens should come IN
and give the city money with which
70 carry on its affairs. and that II a
survey is needed he felt that the city
mid take money from It's own treas
f,iA E 81
stated that although he was opposed
70 A survey, he would vote for the
resolution, since 1t didn't cost'the city
ANYTHING. He insisted that the COM
trect 70 be signed should he in triple
cate and that no burden should be
ieft on the city of Richmond for pay
men, Of the surveyors price.
Mr.. Seaton, before voting for the
resolution, stated that he resented
1he criticism heaned upon the finance
nommittee because of their supposed
ally dallying" with the survey reso-
hutton In executive session. He de-
Jared that the paper was receiving
the same treatment in open session
mat IL would have received in a pri-
rate session of that body, and that
sven II IL had been taken up in execu-
live session it could not have gone to
The council until a month after. He
impressed upon the committee una
Inc citizens present that the finance
,ommittee was sincere. and that they
ala not aim to hide any OF their deal
inrs behind closed doors. Executive
sessions are necessary. he pointed out.
merely for the sake Of expediency.
Herause IL all matters the finance COM
rnittee has to deal with were conduct
81 in public session, the time con-
smmed would be more than the mem
hsrs of the committee could spare.
History of Survey.
The survey proposition. which has
attracted widespread interest and COM
want since ii was first presented to
M council, has been under concrete
a AGITATION since March 5, when the
rrst resolution was offered by Coun-
c,,man Jones. This provided for the
appropriation by the city of $4,000
rnr the survey. the work to be done
hv +he New York bureau. No definite
action was taken. and on April 2
Mr Jones offered a second resolution
~ the council This provided for the
snryey at the hands of the New York
bureau, but promised, ON behalf Of
the Civic association, to pay the sl0.-
900 for the work, the money to be