Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-28

: Five commissioners a. 5000
each 10000
, One chief clerk .............. 400
i Two clerks at $500 each. 5000
one clerk LOO
( one chauffeur Observation-Disclosures. lose
I Total s$:,Gso
. Misc:
one boohkeeper Cpaymaster)... ",1eo
one bookkeepcr (paymaster) 49,. loo
/ Total ......... $50, ESQ
/ In that chapter OF this report on
} Organization OF the government" it
crShip Is an attribute which can be
/ exercised by but single individual
/ and tina, therefore Il Is fundamentally
7 imposs iblc for the city to secure en-
ecutive leadership through it's Admin
istrative Board irrespective OF whether
the members thereof bc appointed or
elected.
/ Board. il is specifically not the inten-
ton TO cast any reelection on the per-
sonnet o: the board The organization
and is methods have been studied
N!thou; reference 10 the personal quail
iicat,ons OF persons. II is understood
tina; the original Administrative Board
began lis work by dividing the de-
each member assuming TO administer
some particular department or group
OF Departments. That plan did not
work satisfactorily and was changed
SO thai tor some time past the mem
bers have been acting joint? on Al.
business over which the board has
jurisdiction.
SIT IN STATE TO HEAR
MATTERS or SMALL DETAIL
The men engaged on this survey at
tended .arious sessions Of the board
which are held daily at 10 o'clock in
a room which has setting similar To
that OF high court Of jus,ice-the
desks OF the five commissioners bcin:
arranged in seniicircle facing the
clerk OF the court, witness chair and
/ audience benches. Here the commits
sioncrs sit each day for from one 10
/ three hours, and sometimes longer,
! transacting what is mostly mere rou-
! tine business such as could be Fer
formed as effectively and more eXpc-
ditiously by a single executive. These
five commissioners sit i'll formal state
and listen 10 their secretary (chieT
clerk) read over the details OF Pur-
chase acquisitions. vendors bills and
similar routine matters which no Elf
cient commercial organization in the
country would think OF bringing be-
,
plants such should be handled
through a central complaint otice are
given a hearing before the fun board.
Detailed minutes are kept by the see
B rotary, written UP in M Itch detail each
day in various large volumes and form
ally submitted at the board meeting
the following day.
Not only is the time Q! these Eve Of
hc!als thus occupied on matters which
- y. lod Ia. inn In
but the board has provided itself with
a large automobile and chauffeur. and
;he entire board as body motors a bout
the city inspecting paVements. cUrbs
and various physical conditions Incl
dent TO the work OF the departments
under the boards supervision. An ad-
! ditionul automobile runabout had been
acquired for the use OF the chairman
just prior TO the survey
( CLERICAL. WORK NOT NECESSARY
1T BOARD is ABOLISHED
careful! examination was made of the
character OF work performed by the
four clerical employees in the board Of
fees and even as described by them
selves in writing. il consists almost
entirely Of writing up minutes. CORE
spondence. filing. etc. tho need for
which would entirely disappear IL the
board were abolished. The work OF
formed, and there vas plenty %. H.
but tho cxistcncc 81 the force is no,
justified.
With rcspcc; - n, Two hooIkcrncrs
who serve a. pas masters. most Of tho
auditing work duplicates that Of the
Auditors oncc. The accounting work
although We'll done. could either b.
transferred 10 the central accounting
Office al the city or 70 the various de-
rArttncntS. The psyniastcr functions
should l'c transferred 10 the city Treas
uIcF. purchasing agent should lie
sppo!n'cd 10 bay. not only the supplies.
materials and equipment OF the depart
ments now under the Administrative
BOARD but his duties should extend TO
thc entire city government.
As shown above. the salary coy,
alone OF the board and its staff is over
s"o.oco. Assuming year OF 800 work.
IN: days. although there are not tina,
many efter eliminating SATURDAY half
days and holidays. II is 10 be noted tina
,ne COST 10 the city Is approx imately
Sl@o per day throughout the wear
whatever advantage there may be
IN having the administrative iudr
incnt OF joint minds as members of In.
BOARD can be obtained Su5t a. readily
ana al no extra cost by having the de-
partment head. Csee plan No. ! On
ORE dniIation OF the xovernmcrtD ST,
from time TO time hoard or cabinc,
/, 10 c!scusa matters concerning the civ,
welfare and the administration OF IL.
current business.
u should, Of course, So without saw
inS that IN aboliahing the Admins
t'auNe Board, the City Council should
nov return 10 its former practice Of
! performing administrative work. THO
'"lle: should be restricted by charter
exclusively TO the administrative no.
partmehts. and the City Counc! should