Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-04-12


addresses at mass meeting IN thc
Opera House under auspices Of the
Chamber .cf Commerce in the interest
of a change in the city forms Of g1v~
ernnrent after which a permanent CT
Eanization was effected to arrange
for submitting the matter to the ela:-
torate of the city in the near future.
Officers chosen were James r. Cat3n,
chairman: William P. Woolls, sac":2-
tary.
Executive committee-Howard y.
Smith, Hon. c. c. Carlin, E. E. Down
ham, J. T. Harrison, DR.. W. NJ. SIN: n,
Carroll Pierce. Capt. ". H. Sween2y,
Harry Hammond, L. Ruben, w. \.
smoot and Robert l.. Payne.
The nominations for permanent Ct
ficers were named by nominating
committee appointed by James :
Caion, who was temporary chairman,
as follows: Claude w. Fletcher, {. =.
Dare, Gardner L. Boothe, Richard u.
Green and E. E. D.cwnham.
James r. Cation Presides
The meeting was called to order by
James r. Catcn, who expressed e.
probation at the large attendance &C.
spite weather conditions. At the c u
clus:on of the addresses Claude F'.
Fletcher offered resolution thas a
permanent organization be affected ~
The election Of an executive COMMIT.
tee cf eleven and a chairman and :
retary. and that this committee -
r:.roc to have the matter Of secur g
fo. he city a change Of governa:@rt
to the city manager plan.
Leo P. Harlow moved that the =.
solution he amended so as to read or
some other suitable plan, by st..H-
ing out the word city manager p. =
HIS n,ction was carried and the re
latisn adopted. This committee n y
recommend whatever form of gcv".1-
mert. they may deem best when ':H
petitions arc circulated.
Compliments Chamber of Commerce
The first speaker was II. Il. Run
blc, Norfolk. Va, The speaker sad
that two agreeable surprises we
oiven him on his first arrival h2"e.
One was the remarkable growth =
the city and ;ie other was the =
os the audience despite weather c.
d:.i3as. lie congratulated the city -
having an ur-:o date Chamber o.
Commerce. Such ar institution he So
j absolutely cascntia:. 1t furnis 30
an organization Tor carrying forw~:d Il
and putting oyer any measure for p ,
lie advancement.
Continuing he said in part: Il IN
here to talk to you in an inform :!
way. have found that the chief ~.
nositicn to the city manager pm
comes from lack of reformation rs
what it IS and what it can do. IN
not familiar with conditions here hn;
assume that it IS neither better o.
verse than the old form of city gcT'
cynrent.
Defects Of Old System
shall deal only with the defects ol
the old zyztem, and defects it surely
has. Municipal government has io"&
been recognized as q weak spot.
Failure does not, however, neces
sarily mean that the governments ar
corrupt. l don't believe the puO.l
gets al! it could under the system
Aside from matters pretaining to c..
ordinances etc, the time Of coun
is expended in comparatively trivia
matters. The best form Of governme1
is that which provides for han!lin
its administrative features.
The city manager plan provides Il,
hest system in existence. The c,
svsten, IS founded or distrust and 81:
n;cion, resulting in an interlacing al
overlapping Of responsibility that
is well nigh impossible to put /!
hand on one solely responsible for 4:
particular thing.
The speaker then explained the co?
mission form of government.