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

stipulnte that neither the Council, nor
amy of It's committees may perform any
administrative functions. This WAS the
most serious defect in the government
prior to the establishment Of the Ad-
ministratirc Board, and in fact. was
the reason for bringing the latter into
existence. The charter should restrict
the incidents thereof, ana assign all
administrative work to the executive
departments. The duties of Council
at present and the salaries Of the
councilmen. If any. can be nominal.
and dhe qi,ses OF slsTk Should s
the auditor should be cx-ohicio city
vantageous because the auditor has
much Information of current value to
Council which would he readily avail
clerk. 1t would also keep the audi.
tor Informed as to Council action and
fact is that in most cities the ciiy
Council and auditor each RECOGNIZES the
need for. the lattcr's presence at Coun-
ell meetings to such an extent that he
usually attends anyway. In SO large
u city as Portland. oregon tpopuiation
.I3,000). the charter provides that the
it is suggested that the department;
organization comprise seven groups.
S wth aeslsd mGaf oyer Se
reduced to five groups. For en-
ample. the Department of Pub
lie Works might, with some advantage,
be expanded to include the department
of sanitation (Strect- Cleaning Depart
menD. Similarly, if desired Depart,
ment of Parks and Recreation could
be placed under the Department of
Public Welfare with the Department
of Public Works doing the park. road
and other construction work and Still
preserve good working organization.
AS the city grows the Police aud Fire
Departments might we'll be correlated
in department of Public Safety, under
n single commissioner. 1t is not be-
lievcd that the need is sufficient 10
justify creating the additional position
ut this time.
seven. five or four administrative heads.
they should be appointed and removed
by the Mayor without any reference
to Council. and without appeal in case
OF removal. 1t is to be noted that these
administrative heads would constitute
in effect an administrative board. In
meetings, as such. Thus. the advan-
tagcs of the Administrative Board
would be obtained without any of is
Disadvantages
In order that the Mayor may at all
times be kept informed as to the citys
financial condition and have complete
ing time. the central accounting and
bookkeeping office of tho city should
be under his supervision; i. G.. he
should ch nnpoint ,,sro city aSsnun,ant to
Mayor should at all times have .ho
fullest cooperation and assistance OF
ne City Accountant. the City Auditor
Mayor and of the executive Offices. so
that he can act as an independent check
thereon. Hence the Auditor should be
appointed by the Council
lnasmuch as close cooperation is
essential between the police force and
The Police Court. the judges of the lat
.Iayo-. He should he given power 20
select the city Attorney and, if tho con-
siitui,on permits: also appoint the
/ try' IT is now generally recognized
that better men can be secured by an
po!ntment for members of schools
boards than by election. even though
Such election be by a councilma nj G
body. Moreover. when a single Of
iicial, such as the Mayor. is charged
,cnt school trustees. and the eyes OF
the entire community arc on him. ho
rs more liable TO make good appoint
over the membership of Council or any
other appointing group
Lnd"r the proposed plan the inspec-
be placed in the Department OF We'll
fHr" and the other minor departments
dlStrlbuted 20 the large groups ac-
corning 10 the nature Of their duties
The Observation-Disclosures PInn.
This plan is shown graphically on
mart c. II should need little explana-
non. because IL is practically the same
FORM OF organization as is used by
ever large successful private corpora
'ion in III" country. The five commits
s!oners who would be elected by the
peopse ar" comparable TO the directors
OF private corporation, and the city
manager who would be employed ~
'his board OF five commissioners is
comparable 10 the general manager
or other central executive head c,n
p.oEcd by the directors Of the private
corporation The commission manager
pan is now in successful oDrratjon
in more than hfty cities in the tinted
states, and the number and sjZc NJ tho
lies is constantly increasing
The five commissioners should h..
! ciecled at large and receive hut :,
| nominal SALARY. They should have
tho|er 20 select as city manager the