Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-14
DIR. Williams and the Council

\ CTlON Of the Common Council in unani-
a mously overriding the Mayors veto of
the salary ordinance is based on peculiar,
not to say illogical, grounds. 1t assumes
that because DR.. Ennion Williams has re-
fused to have his name considered further
for the dictatorship of public welfare-and
what self-respecting physician could do other
wise after he had been made the center OF
such a controversy?-it no longer is neces-
sary to fix salaries that will prove attrac-
tive to capable men. 1t is unfortunate that
the discussion, pro and con, has ragged around
DR.. Williams. His name was suggested as
the type OF man Richmond demands for its
service under the amended charter, the kind
OF a man the Mayor had in mind for the
four directorships, and as a guide to the
Council as to what would be necessary In set
Ting the salary question Success failure
OF the new system of government does not
depend on whether or not he accepts or de-
cines, but it does depend on whether >or
not men Of similar character and attain
ments can be secured. Herein his case Is
typical, for men of the required ability can
not be reached by the $5,0O0-a-year figure
the Council has named That fact seems
to have been lost sight OF in the debate, which
has degenerated to the plane of personality.
Disregarding this truth, the Council, fail
ing to obtain the services Of the one typi-
whose fitness no member OF Council ques-
lions, apparently throws up it's hands and
exclaims: There YOU are; we can't get him,
so why bother further about higher sala-
ries? Well stick TO the $4,000 and take
what we can get regardless Of fitness"
What Council can get for what 1t says it
is willing to pay remains TO be seen. There
is reason to believe that it's low-priced ma
terial will not be satisfactory to the people.
For instance, what man in Richmond can
qualify for the responsibilities of the direc-
torship of public safety and at the same
time can afford to accept the position at
the Councils figures? Perhaps not one. The
right man may be named and he may &C
cept, but it will be at personal sacrifice
which for the city's own self-respect, should
not be demanded of him.
Council it is feared, is making grave
mistake, one which threatens the whole new
system of government, in thus arbitrarily
putting up the bars against bis-calibered
men by its refusal to offer adequate re-
muneratfon. Nor can it shift the blame for
the present unfortunate situation to the
shoulders of the Mayor, who has been placed
in the unenviable position OF an employer
who has to go into the labor field and employ
men without knowledge Of the scale he can
pay Now that the scale has been fixed for
him, and over his protest, he must do one
OF two things. He must make his appoint
ments with an eye single to efficiency, or Sc
lect his material with the money restriction
in mind If he does the former the burden
Of their probable refusal to serve will be on
the Council; if he does the latter, he will not
be able to escape the odium that will attach
to the failure Of men who hold office at his
hands and the city itself will suffer the eff
fects OF administration The former
seems to be his only wise course
There still Is chance that the Council
will reconsider its action, which the public
believes to have been illadvised Only by so
doing can it remedy situation which does
not bode we'll for Richmond