Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-18
Milking n Fresh Start

It VICE tho City Council has said by its
votes that il did not believe the depart
mcnt heads should receive so much as
$1,000 year i'll salaries. Twice it has re-
fused to pass the ordinance designed 10
enable the Mayor to secure and hold com
potent men as directors OF the city's vast
and rapidly growing interests with par
ticuar and immediate reference to the De-
partment of Public Works the dictatorship
OF which is vacant.
Individually. certain members OF the
Council. who on both occasions helped 10
Kill the salary ordinance, have said that
while they disapproved the fiat increase Tor
all directors. they would heartily approve
paying salary to the Director OF Public
WORKS that would make it attractive TO
Such an engineer as tho municipal welfare
requires, even If that salary be as high rs
$4,000 or $4,000
They are 10 have the opportunity TO regis
ter their approval. The slate is wiped clean.
but Richmond cannot, will not, stand still.
me Mayor has taken the Councimen at
their word. and in doing so he has listened
! TO the advice Of some of Richmonds ablest
men Of affairs. On Friday evening he will
present, or cause TO be presented, an ordi-
nance asking that Council fix the salary for
the Department OF Public Works at $4,000
or $4,000 or. If the Council prefers. tina,
Il name the salary ii believes the position
10 be worth.
The Mayors attitude is fair His mind
: open. He has accepted the cdict of the
Council as voiced by its two ballots. and
the statements OF individual Councilmen as
!" Their wishes. He has no man in mind
Tor the position. That manifcstly is impos-
Sble wien he doesn't know what the salary
j. 10 be. The whole matter is uD TO the
s1i Z
Tor the place. II must say now last how
hif Il believes the place 10 be- and in regis
tcrlnS It's opinion il will have 10 be done
III terms of dollars and cents
Names OF other directors will br sen, 10
council on the present salary basis. The
Times Dispatch still is OF Tho opillion mn.
IN" figures are parsmonious. that Rich
mond wrongs itself in refusing H. give them
something nearer what their services ar.
worth, ana eventually this Council. or an
other one. WI see ii in this light THAT.
however. must res, for The moment Thosc
places are aCccpiably filled
with the Department OF Public Marx.
NE Sltuat!o;; + different. The place l.; va
/, cant and Richmond is about TO enter upon
u program OF street and sewer building
That means hundreds Of thousands or dol
!.is big man Il needed lie canno, h.
secured Tor H",pv" tn" year. The Cou,cil
.'"7 '''i ~ WI! Ia! what may b" necessary
! I" SECURE him. The figures named by the
Mayor are not too biz for the type of cnri.
heer that is demanded! In the long run
Il" viii say" many times his salary 10 III.
! 'ity II The Connc.l ,otca as il has talked
| " VIII name Il salary figure commensurate
( WIN the Importance Of the position
In ihis connection. Councilman Seaton
explains that when he presented tho Inport
OF the Finance Committee IN the Councl
the words of praise for two department
h"acS and the reasons given for raising
salaries, were not his, but the words Of a
report signed by the Mayor. Further. ne
believes in graded salaries. Il growing con-
Eicton OF which was responsible for mo
chang" IN his vote on ,he ordinance He
has said. however that he would he Will
| ING 10 vote for salary OF 10000 for
! competent Director Of Public WORKS u.
! J" - nave That opportunity
! Mayor Ainslic has taken Il most commend
/ an" attitude in "ipine the slate clean and
I starting over again. The future OF Rich
| inond IS at stake. and il Will require on
! citht service TO make that future whit n
| should he. The market for that Kind or
| labor j. active and high. and Richmond can
! not b" cheap and progressive at The same
\ time