Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-28
Charter Subcommittee Fa-
vors Abolition of Admin
istrativc Board.
PUT CITYS AFFAIRS ON
WARTIME ECONOMY BASIS
Reorganization for All City FL
nancial Offices - Southsidc
Sinccures Abolished.
ALL GOES TO POPULAR VOTE
General Assembly to BE Asked TO
Make Charter Changes, Sub
jcct to Referendum.


Abolition Of the Administrative Board
/ and the Eoard of Fire Commissioners.
/ with the administration Of tho city'5
affairs placed under the supervision
OF six general departments, four ot
which will bc controlled by the Mayor.
was recommended last night by the
subcommittee OF the Council Commit
tee on Charter Changes. Many re-
/ forms arc contained in tho report.
which is a wartime measure and de-
signed to eliminate all Unnecessary
expense and coordinate all branches
/ of the municipal government into one
Scneral admin niStrativc body. No ac-
/ tion on the report was taken, all con-
sidcration being postponed until Mon
day night, that members of the COM
mittee may Study the suggested plan
of government.
Featuring the subcommittce's report
is the fact that all changes recommend
cd in the report shall be approved by
vote of the people before becoming er-
! fcctivc. All amendments will be present.
Cd to the General Assembly, and at
ter being adopted by that body must
first he approved by the voters o:
| Richmond. y special election for this
purpose will be called and IL tho
changes arc adopted will then become
effective. City Attorney Pollard sat
with the subcommittee. and assisted
in drafting the suggested amendments
TO the City Charter.
REPORT MAKES
/ PROFOUND IMPRESSION
Despite tho fact that many recon,-
mcndations made by the subcommittee
arc directly contrary 10 tho expressed
views of many members Of the Council,
the report made profound impress
sion in official circles last night. strong
opposition to many changes arc cx-
pectcd to develop in the committee
and probably on the floor OF the Coun-
ell For this reason, immcd late Sos
"'ons have been planned for the Com
mittco on Charter Changes All in
tercstcd parties will be invited to ct.
tend these meetings, and all details
quickly whipped into shape for pres.
cntation to the General Assembly on
January q.
Adoption OF the subcommittec's roc
concentrations would mean a vast i'm
pr"N"mcnt over tho existing system
OF municipal government" declared d..
-. X Anderson, executive secretary
ot the civic Associa ton, last night.
l'r. Anderson attended the meeting Of
the Charter Change Committee, bur
would make no further statement nm
I'll he had considered tho subcommit.
tees report.
PROVIDES CONVENIENT AND
ECONOMICAL SUBSTITUTE
After recommending the abolition OF
the Administrative Board, the subcom-
1hit'rc provides Tor tho administration
oil the city's affairs by six general de-
partmcntS. which it believes would
PROVIDE nvencnt and economical
substitute or tho board These de-
partmcnf re classed as: department.
OF law artmcnt OF finance depart
mcnt of ublc works. department. OF
pubic welfare. department OF public.
utilities and dcpart tmcnt of publ.
safety
Each or these departments shall he
under the general supervision OF an
individual head, all such heads. with
1he exception of those directing the
Id" and finance departments, 70 be
! appointed by the Mayor for terms @.
I Wv" years. The heads OF the two other
departments shall lie selected h,. ~.
council. Department heads are an.
, 'hor'zcd to employ and remove ali a.
rom the four general department
heads the Mayor shall annoint ,hro.
TO compose an advisory board. Thi,
board. headed by the Mayor. will bs
vested with general powers OF sun.r.
Fisior over the management and adj
hlhiSiration OF the departments
HEoRGANiHATION Or CITY,s
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
General reorganization of tho ci.,,..
financial department is rcconn,ard.d
IN order taat all the duties in c,r
hection with the collection and distri-
hution of the city's revenues ava ,b,
auditing Of all accounts may be placed
under one head. To carry out ms
idea the duties OF collecting ccrtai,
revenues. now imposed upon the CIV.
treasurer. arc conferred upon tho CO..
!cctor of City Taxes ana this or..r
Hl"cto under the supervision Of III.
rompiroiler who heads the proposc,
department OF finance.
The present Board of Fire Co,r,j~
sioncra Is abolished and the Five ,,l
foiic" Departments placed under ,h,.
department OF public safety. while m,
dutieS of the Mayor arc vastly en-
iarsed and wider discretion .iycr
MN IN supervising the official con.luc,
OF all city officers. Al powcra ana
outieS o; tho present CITY Auditor ar,
conferred upon the comptroller. and the
powers OF this officer enlarged and in
inc opinion Of the subcommittee. made
more workable than at present"
Under the department. OF public utiii.
tica Is placed the control Of the ex.
istinE departments OF water. Eas and
electricity. which arc consolidated into