The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08
I'll. auditor should be ex-onicio city

CicIk.
Consist OF Seven Groups.
Tt is suggested that the depart
mental organization comprise seven
groups with an administrative head
over each If desired 1t might be re-
duced to five groups. For example.
the department of pdblic works might
with some advantage be expanded to
include the department of sanitation
(Etreet cleaning Department.. Similar
ly, II desired, department 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 a good work
ing organization. AS the city grows
the police and fire departments might
viii be correlated in a department Of
public safety under a single commits
sioner. 1t is not believed that the
need is sufficient to justify creating the
additional position at this time.
Irrespective of whether there be
seven, five or four administrative
heads, they should be appointed and
reference to council and without APP
peal in case of removal.
'Tnasmuch as close cooperation is
essential between the police force and
the poles courts, the judges of the lat
ter should also be appointed by the
mayor. He should be given power to
select the city attorney and, IL the con-
stftution permits. also appoint the
school trustees. Throughout the coun-
try, Il is now generally recognized that
better men can be secured by appoint
ment for members of school boards
than by election, even though such
election be by councilmanic body.
Moreover, when q single official, such
as the mayor, is charged with re-
sponsibility for selecting competent
school trustees. and the eyes of the
entire community are on him, he is
more liable TO make good appoint
ments than II responsibility is diffused
over the membership of council or any
other appointing group.
Under the proposed plan the in
spection of weights and measures
should be placed in the department of
welfare and the other minor. depart
ments distributed to the large groups
according to the nature of their duties.
The Commission Manager Plan.
This plan is shown graphically on
Chart G. The five commission
ers who would be elected by the PEG
pie are comparable to the directors of
a private corporation. and the city
manager who would be employed by
this board of five commissioners is
comparable to the general manager
or other central executive head en-
ployed by the directors of the private
corporation. The commission man
ager plan In now in successful opera
ton in more than fifty cities in the
United States and the number and
s'Se OF the cities is constantly fncreas-
ting.
The five commissioners should be
inai salary They should have power
to select as city manager the best man
available for the salary that liz offered.
irrespective of his place of residence.
The departmental organization here
In suggested IN the same as that out
lined under plan No. I and could If
1t seemed desirable be readjusted as
suggested therein The afninfstra
tive head of each department should
De appointed by and directly regponsi
Die to the city manager. The latter
would be charged with the preparation
and submittai OF the annual budget to
the commission -
The commission-manager plan has
almost the same advantage of keeping
separation between the legislative
branch Of the government (the com
nflssionp and the executive branch as
has plan No. ].
The Ccmmisxfen Plan.
me thiFd alternative lis shown
graphically In chart D. The commits
sion form Of government has been de-
Veieped generally throughout the
United States since the establishments
Of the original commission In Galves-
ton. Tex. AT the present time over
~" cities are operating under this
plan. 1t Is to be noted. however. that
II possesses certain fundamental de-
fects such as vesting legislative and
Administrative authority in the same
men. Also that the administrative
READS Of the various departments are
elected instead of being appointed.
thereby laying 1t open to the ohtec-
tons already noted herein concerning
the selection of administrative officials
by popular election.
In connection with commission MAN
1t is also well TO remember that the
departments 'of Richmond's govern
ment fall logically into only four
sroups; ltinties, public works public
safety, public welfare. A commission
OF four members would have difficulty
IN maintaining majority. Three is
not enough and hence I'VE has come
TO be the generally accepted number
Tor this form of government In event
IL De decided TO adopt commission gov
eminent. ii IL recommended that the
nith commissioner be placed at the
head OF a department known as the
department of commerce In fact snrh
department might with advantage be
included in either plan No OF plan
NO. =. This suggestion Is based on the
theory that the development of the
commercial industries now in the city
of Richmond and the securing of aa-
ditionAi Industries lis important to the
welfare OF the people and hence logical
undertaking for the government The
duties of a commissioner of commerce.
would be to effect and maintain
closer relation between the govern
nent and the commercial organization
OF the city. The department would
function somewhat as a chamber OF