The Washington times., 1934-01-16
REFORM n EE D
PHAS|ZED
BY SP|CER
Course Followed in Economic
Depression Is "Suicide VS..
Economy" He Says
BY JOHN E. TAYLOR
Times staff Correspondent

government in Virginia is now a.
the crossroads and unless 1t is en-
larged and reorganized, local self
government soon will be but 8
memory, with all government Gen.
,ered in Richmond, George w
Spicer. chairman of the Virginis
commission on county government
said today in a summary OF the
commissions work.
The course followed by the
counties in the economic depres-
sion has been governmental sui
eide versus economy" he said
adding:
"In the name of economy we
have witnessed a drastic and
unreasonable crippling Of such
important local functions as
public education, public health
and public welfare. Adequate
performance Of these functions
Is as important in a time Of
economic adversely as in q time
Of prosperity.
"They should. of course, be
required to effect every reason
able economy, but this is quite
q different step from a blind,
indiscriminatc slaShing of essen
tial governmental services be-
fore any effort is made to eIimi-
nate waste resulting from an
obsolete and inefficient govern
mental organization and the
failure to establish a local gov
ernmental unit of sufficient size
and wealth to support economic
ally these essential services"
CALLS 1T SUICIDE
'It is an easy task requiring
little courage or ingenuity to
reduce important community
services to the point of penury,
but that is not economy; it is
governmental suicide.
Economy devOteS the expen-
diture of money for only neces-
Sary or desirable purposes in
such a manner as to realize the
greatest return on the amount
expended. 1t eliminates nom
essentials and waste and per-
mitS, without serious handicap,
the continued performance of
important governmental func-
tiOnS.
Zone of the most important,
as well as one of the most diff
ficult tasks confronting the ad-
vOcateS Of better county govern
ment is to convince the county
citiZenry that reduction in
county expenditures through
the mercileSs and indiScrimi-
nate slashing of essential cul-
tural and social services is not
economy, but reckless waste
for which they and their chill
dren will pay dearly in the
future"
INVOLVES VITAL LOSSES
Safe Capitalization involves
VltNl losses to the local com
mr7ity with no necessary gains
ChG cannot be effected through
the enlargement of the counties
an the reorganization of their
governments in accordance with
'2ermlssive legislation now on the
books, Spicer said.
Reviewing the Act of 1892
winch gives the counties the right
TO hold referendums on changing
their form of government to either
the county manager or county ex-
ecutlVe: form and also to merge on
q majority vote of the people in
: e counties involved. Spicer
pointed out that five counties al
iteady have acted.
Albemarle, Princess Anne and
Roanoke voted on the county ex-
2cut1ve form and only Albemarle
adopted it. The others voted il
down with substantial maiorities
northampton and Henrico voted
on the county manager form and
u was adopted in the latter county
Results Are ENCOURAGING
Considering the strength OF
those opposed to the change and
the reluctance of rural citizens to
change the order of things, the re-
Sul.S achieved to date are encour-
aging, the chairman said.
However, when considered from
the point of view of the present
in county government
and the opportunity afforded
under the 1882 legislation to con-
vert these emergencies into perma-
nent improvements, the results to
Date are disappointing, if not
Spicer declared.
The major objective of the COM
mission for the next two years will
be to intensity and extend its edu-
cational work.