Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-07
CIVIC SURVEY REPORT
3. IS TO Be FILED TO-DAY
s.s,,. Clerk August for Transmission
:.fs" 10 City Council.
WILL RECOMMEND CHANGES
Chief Interest Lies in Attitude of Sur
4. vcyors to Administrative Board
Z. and What Plan of Government Is
Proposed to Supplant It,

Having completed the compilation of
the report yesterday afternoon, an
nouncement was made that the survey
recently made of the Richmond munich
pal government by the New York Blu
teau of Municipal Research Will be
filed this morning with City Clerk Ben
II. August. The survey. which is said
to be a voluminouS document, Will be
brought to Richmond by a representa-
tive of the bureau and filed at once.
From unofficial sources il was learned
last night that many sweeping changes
in the present city government will be
Recommended.
Under the provisions of the contract
Under which the survey was made the
bureau cannot anticipate or furnish to
any one advance copies of its report.
Only one exception to this proviso was
made, and that was for the co-opera-
ton of the bureau with the Council
Committee on Charter Changes. This
committee, however. has obtained no
Information from the bureau since the
survey began.
rI'or this reason the nature of the bu-
reau's recommendations has been
guarded. Certain suggestions in the
various departments that will be made
in the report however. are known.
Numerous changes IN the Police De-
partment system will be recommended,
chief OF which is the abolition of the
Third District The station-house
would be put to other uses. and the of
fcers required TO report TO the First
and Second Stations on the north side
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
ARE OPPOSED TO CHANGE
But because of the vast territory on
the Southside that must be policed, 1t
is known that both Chief Werner and
Mayor George Ainslic are opposed 20
sNl, .,t,,, II.
event the change was made j: would
be short time before conditions
forced the rc-establishmont of the pre-
cinct station. and there are many adj
Tantagcs in continuing the separate
police force south of the James River.
Numerous changes al headquarters and
the district stations. togethe: with a
mere efficient system in the detective
bureau. VII be recommended, il is un-
dErstood
No comparatively drastic changes in
the operation of the Fire Department
VIII be recommended, it is understood
The bureau will suggest the continue
ton of the unit-cost system of the
departments APPARATUS, while in Ger
tain circles last night it was generally
believed that the abolition of the
Board of Fire Commissioners would
be recommended
Great interest is attached to the Of
fetal repor; OF the bureau, because re-
Gently numerous rumors OF sweeping
cnhurcs TO he recommended have been
circulated. These have been invariably
denied. but have left the municipal
situation i'll a state OF chaos. Interest
ccntcrs around the survey report on
the Administrative Board which Will
be recommended for abolition, it is said
WHAT IS TO BE SUBSTITUTED
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDs
Developments in tho city political
situation are largely dependent upon
the tate of the Administrative Boa I'd
according 10 gossip among political fol-
lowers. Should the board be abolished
IL is certain that John HrschberC will
become candidate for Congress in
opposition TO Andrew Jackson Mon
tasue. 1t is admitted however, that
some ether solution OF the city's prob
lem must he found if the board is 10
be abolished. and members of the board
are expected TO figure prominently in
any movement in this direction
The survey Of the municipal govern,
ment came as the result OF AN .r.or
sive charter change movement. s.ar,cd
by the Civic Association of Richmond
AFTER considerable opposition. the
c0uncii agreed. TO permit tho inquiry
in connection with a special charter
committee or that body The si,rvav
represents an expenditure of $40 noG
which was provided by the civic AZ
sociation.