Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-11
WARD Distribution PLAN
VIOLATES NEW CHARTER
0. A. Hawkins Declares General AS
sembly Ought Enact Laws
Strengthening Present System.
Former President of Civic Association
Asserts Mayor May Now Be En-
barrassed by Predecessors An
pointed Directors.

barrassed by Predecessors An
pointed Directors.
0. A. Hawkins. who. as president
OF the Civic Association. was champion
Of the amendments revising the City
Charter. yesterday stated tina, the
Common Council, in adopting the ward
plan Of distribution OF road funds, Is
violating the expressed purpoge OF the
charter changes. and to the end that
no further inroads be made on the
spirit Of the new form OF government
he suggests that application be made
TO the General Assembly for further
laws strengthening those already en-
acted.
Mr.. Hawkins further declared that
under the presen, law Mayor has the
right TO name directors who will ad-
minister the affairs of the city for
nearly TWO years of his successors
term. He says that this is manifest
rected by the General Assembly when
II meets in 1920.
Discussing the matter yesterday, Mr..
Hawkins said
"Wnrd System" Renra Head.
The effort TO arouse interest in
favor of the passage of the 'Roden'
ordinance providing for a bond issue.
the proceeds TO be used for Improving
ms new ones. has been successful
apparently. The public is met. however,
by two peculiar conditions In connec-
,ion with said ordinance: the old evil
OF ward system rears It's head. and
the City Council refuses to credit tho
Director OF Public Works. confirmed 10
MS position by the vote of said Coun-
cii with the Judgment and integrity
10 properly expend the funds SO pro-
lided. notwithstanding the fact that
must be approved by the Advisory
Beard composed. with the exception
OF OF The s,,; Mayor. Of others who were also
same Council. The policy evidenced
by this action violates the understood
ernment under the new charter. II the
Council has the power TO say what
proportion OF a bond issue for street
particular ward. then /, also has the
power TO prescribe what proportion OF
the appropriation for public utilities
torts AT the gas. works and what re-
pairs to the roofs OF the buildings at
these works II also would have the
shall be provided with same number of
fire engine houses regardless of the
needs OF the situation.
People Should Take Action.
The whole idea is at variance with
fully demonstrated by operations at
Dayton and Springfield. Ohio: Norfolk.
Va; Bethlehem. Pa. and other cities,
burg and Iynchburg. Va. with efforts
neing direcied along the same lines in
Philadelphia. Pa. Neither the repre-
the most ardent advocate of the amend
meDts adopted In 1918 claimed for the
present pnan charter idealism !! is looked
way for the ideal. Within six months h
after the beginning of the operation of
the new charter. that great majority
N Al 10
changes are confronted with council
manic action never contemplated. II
further amendments are necessary to
putably the responsibility for the con-
duct OF the city's management on the
directors OF the various departments.
with the Mayor at their head, then it
| is time for the citizens of Richmond to
get into action quickly and create SEN
timent for such amendments.
Let Candidates Know.
let the candidates for the General
Assembly now before. the people know
their wishes. To delay the effort to-
ward attaining better plans for. our
municipal government is to hazard the
loss of whatever was gained by the
recent amendments. The action of our
Council IN the matter Of the bond
Board was brought into service. with
the hope Of curing the then intolerable
Acknowledgements by the then Council tina t
previous governmental plans had
failed. The present Council was re-
ministrative Board. after it had pro-
nounced said governmental plan a fall
ure. Does not this, combination OF
testing and failure admonish our citi-
zens that radical changes are neces-
sary? There Is another amendment to
the present charter which is urgent.
as matter of justice to the Mayor of
| Richmond, whoever he may be, as well
] as to the policy embodied in our char
ter.
General Assembly Should Act.
"The charter provides that terms Of
| the present directors expire on July l,
1920. The Injustice, of this Will be ap--
parent when 1T is known that at that
nominations of persons to fill these
| positions for two years: that is to say
| a Mayor who may retire from the
office is permitted to to name the prin- d,
| lister the affairs of the city, In large
part, for nearly two years Of his sue.
| cessor's term. This provision should
be corrected as soon as the general
! the terms of the present directors ex.
pire on December 81. 1920. or when
their successors are appointed.
The wisdom ON OF rs suSh nrossion he,
| 1920 assumes the Office on September
! 1st OF that year, he Will have the adj.
vantage OF association with the de-
partment. heads and observing their
months. thus affording opportunity fol-
Intelligent action should he desire to
retain the services OF of them.
adopted in the spring Of 1920. as ar an
| emergency act, the succeeding
Mayor will have to accept the services
OF those chosen by another. unles.
| Continued on Third Pagc.)