Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08
I-TERNATE FORMS OF
GOVERNMENTS SUGGESTED
Small Council, Commission Manager or Straight Com
missions Preferable to Citys Present Triple Headed
Divided Responsibility System of Government.

ministrative responsibility between the
Mayor, the Administrative Board and
the City Council, the positions of spo-
cial accountant and tho clerk of spe-
c!ai assessment" are made subordinate
TO the hinnnSe Eomm ,ti OF Council
organization and lack of correlation
various important administrative Of
G iiSsrE such such. as the High SGons,able
commissioenr of revenue. etc. by. con.
stitutional requirements, arc elected
directly by the people.
judge of the Hastings Court. although
their duties might better be dis
tributcd between the Commemorative
attorney and medical inspector Of the
| Health Department.
The school trustees are appointed
by H the CITY Council, but the Superin-
tendcnt of Schools is appointed by the
| state Board of Education.
Three Alternative Plans Recommended.
The Bureau Of Municipal Research
Eanization of the citys government.
any one of which should be conducive
TO better government than can be OBJ
| of the plans proposed is DESIGNED ex-
| actly as it should be because of the re-
strictions in the State constitution. In
! stead OF recommending a plan which
would require constitutional amend :
mcnt. the bureau believes il more prac-
ticao!e TO suggest corrective measures
! Nhi'ii CohIoIHl WIN the constitution.
If subseGuenly constitutional revision
! can be secured SO as TO reduce the num-
! Der OF elective offices by making them
| appointive by the central executive
oihccr OF the city. so much the better
| Thereby the full advantages OF what
is commonly known as the short bal
lot can he obtained. Meanwhile. in
stead of marking time until such revi-
| sion is secured. II behooves the voters
OF the city to adopt such remedy ms is
available through legislative revision
- n
The three plans herein recommended
are set forth in what is believed TO he
the sequence of their individual merit
and their relative fitness to local con-
ditions in the city OF Richmond. They
provide respectively for plan of gov
eminent. by
/. Mayor and small Council.
:. Commission manager
B. Commission.
Representative Government.
When revising the city charter serI-
making the local government more tru-
~ representative. Under the prcsen,
pan OF eleGting members of the local
each ward has in point Of fact no rep
resentation. Such conditions are un
democratic and un-American They
hearts of the minority voters. The
!deal in civic progress, civic interns,
ana loyalty cannot be attained under
SuGh conditions. Ashtabula. Ohio has
crnment in this country by adopting in
It's new charter what is commonly
known as proportional representation.
That the plan is entirely practicabie
mas already been demonstrated by
cities and nations in various parts Of
inc world. It is unnecessary to de-
scribe II IN this report, because album
dant literature thereon may be secur-
ed from the Proportional Representa-
non nor h ph5 a:, S SS2 Franklin Bank Build
among it's members many of the lead
ing statesmen and economists OF the
United states. 1t is recognized that the
by the city OF Richmond might require
constitutional amendment but the
subject is of sufficient Importance to
J ,n its Inclusion among the recon-
inendations of this survey.
II me ward system is continued In
Richnond. then charter revision should
provide FOR the election of such num-
Der OF Councilmen at large as will
exceed the number elected by wards
for example. If four wards are retain
sh, then FIVE Councilmen should be
II proportional representation is not
adop'ed, the revised charter should at
least provide for voting on what is
known as the preferential method.
Under such a plan each voter indicates
irst. second and third choice for
each candidate. 0'
Moreover. provision should he made
!9r rotation of names on the ballots so
th-t Inc same name will not appcar
1irsi , on al ballots. simply because it
'vi . . Win ~. or because a particu-
tti person was fortunate in getting his
petition filed first ''''
There should be no overlappine ~,
rims c,i IN any ordinance body
ne Guys government should come
hack 10 the people at least every fn,,r
Years and afford opportunity for them
Sire ~ .''"E Tho clean sweep if they so de.
overlapping terms is TO preserves a con-
,,,nuiiy y OF policy, The fact is. however Yer
which is continued. With resnect ~
the continuation of policies which ara
lHr me guhlic good. II is usually pos
port them and thus preserve ali esscn.
tiaI continuity. overlapping terms are
Unnecessary. "
n,nt in Richmond would not yet favor
aaontns such plan, the Bureau OF
Municipal Research would call atten.
CITY CHARTER should enable either the
Mayor or the City Council ito 20 TO Inc
peohie at any time deadlock arises
oH an important issue between these
Two pra nches OF the government The
i,'r"c'ical result of such plan would
oil merely recall OF man
Mayor and SmnlI Council pl,n.
This plan as proposed for Ricbmo,d
Is SHOWN graphically on chart Il here.
wan. IT centraiizcs executive authori-
~ and thereby fixes responsibiii,v I'm
the Mayor, except in so far as the con
st;tational officers must he retained
IN me latter connection IL is recon-
mehdcd that tho Office OF city tax col
iecior he abolished. and the duties
( thereof transferred to the CITY treas
urcr. ''''-
The city Council would he reduced
10 single body of nine members. Thai
~ enough TO insure adequate represent
TALON IN city the size OF Richmond
"hd sui keen the Council small enough
10 enable II to act a unit Every
standing committee should consist or
me entire membership Of Council This
would not only facilitate a thorough
undcrstahdinG by every member, of all
business coming before the CommIt-
tees. but ii would greatly cxnedit.
committee work in general Under
such method all committees could
meet on tho same evening and trans
act their business at Il single sitting
! hE the SlfnpI" process Of having the
various chairmcn succeed one another
/ 81 Ia" head Of the Council table as the
respective committee adjourned.
Tho revised or new charter should