The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-01
The Committee EakeS q Report 10 th5
Chamber Of Commerce.
ACTION OF The RICHMOND DELEGATION.
Resolution Adopted Conveying the ihanss
ofthe Chamber to Messrs. Bryant, Reddy
and Sands, hut No others Action of
Chambers Committee Sustained.

The following gentlemen were present:
$. II. Hawes, president, r.. ". Powers
second vicc-presdent, ii. 5. BinswanSer'
T.. Jctcr Bo,her, i. 4. Catiin, K. ,.
Christian, W ;. Donnan. j. Taylor Ely
son. Ware Is. Gay, Jackson Guy, }. }.
Hickol. J. j.. Hill. /. Ii. Kaufman. a.
d. Landerxin, >. II. Puliam, y. T.
Savage. Charles straus. j. Nj. Taylor. and
W. NJ. Woodward. directors and George
l.. Christian, j. .. Purcell and William
H. Palmer, of the committee on charter
changes, in addition 10 members OF the
committee on the board.
The object OF the meeting being TO re-
celve d report from the aforementioned
committee It's chairman. lion. j. Taylor
Eliyson, submitted the following:
THE REPORT.
Richmond, Va, Feb. %, 1896.
$. II. Hawes, Esq. President Chamber
OF Commerce.
Sir.-Your committee on charter changes
would respectfully report that IA eoihNl-
ance with a resolution adopted uy the
Chamber in Us general meeting, held on
the 18th dav of February, lsJO, they SUB
mltted the bills amending the CITY chai-
ter. which WfIe approved Dy the thain'
bcr. and at our request they were miro
duCed ia the House OF Deiesates py non
w r.. Reddy and by him referred 10 lhe
House Committee on Counties, Clles, anu
Towns. OF which Hon. ". l.. keddy anu
Hon T. B. Murphy are members A
hearing was granted all interested IN the
measures. ana members OF your com
mittee presented the views IN regard 10
tie amendments which are entertained
by the Chamber and urged faloranie
report by the committee. during the dlo-
cussiOns before the committee objections
were made 10 the number OF toiA-.ii7-
slOners and 10 the time and manner OF
holding the election. 10 was Thought INA,
the number of commissioners mentioned
in the u4l was too small, ana thdt thc
time of holding the election was SO near
that Of the presidential election IN tht
faH that 81 would he better 90 have some
other day. IL was also maintained tnat
it was very desirable that the democratic
voters OF the city should pass upon tht1e
amendments before they were voted Oh
In general election 10 be held Tor tnat
purpose. We agreed, on behalf OF the
Chamber that the number OF colninla-
sioners shOuld be- Increased 20 HNe, ahd
that We were perfectly Wiling 70 submit
H.. question 10 Il Democratic primary, 10
Dee held al some day preceding the daie
nxed Tor the special election, ana that A
some other time than the bth OF OctOpei,
1S.b which was named in our D,ht Mfr
considered as IL better time Tor nold-nB
tie election on these charter amendments,
that sHch. change OF time Nou.d Iit -'tt
fccfiy agreeable to us, since we uellefeb
that the Chamber of Commerce sln-lN
desired that the people should nave ah
onpOrtnnify 90 pass upon these matters
on such day as might bee most Sail1ia
tory &c the citizens OF THIS community.
! These changes Mr. heddy' as tis pa'iet
of the BILL was authorized 10 nave IN
serted in the bill You VIII douuuc-s re-
can that when this committee presented
10 the boa I'd OF directors their recon-
mendations in regard 10 the changes IN
the charter lt was stated by us that We
had the unanimous support or the sen
ators and members 0t the House from
Richmond. ana tnlt before snDmttihs
these amendments for your con1idffatloh
we had held several interviews with our
senator's and members. ana we had lnc't
assurance that they would UNANIMOUSLY
and cordially support these measures.
We were very much surprised, Iheftlole'
10 read a few days ialef an Hi.iih' 'iIi'
iu our daily papers that the city deie-
cation was not as united as we reported
! Them to be in the support OF these
[ measures But not wishing 10 40 ahy
| fnfuctice to any member by quoting MN
as Holding any position other thau that
TO which we had considered MN dlItaus
| uledeed. we sought on Tuesday ana Wed
! nesday of this week an interview WIN
the members OF the deiesa,lon. XIV "95i' "97,i',-
| tained that the rumors 20 Which aIu-
| sions had been made In the papers con-
| ceruiug their position We're not Wltno.l
| foundation.
POSITION OF THE MEMBERS.
As a result OF this last interview with
| the members, we ascerldlned lAeH posi-
ton 10 be as follows:
Senator William LOvensfeln said tnat
! he was satisfied, after hearing statements :
from both friends and opponents or ~
| charter amendments, mat IL Wouln De-
very unWise and lmpoiiuc 10 pass tAeae
measures al this time.
senator Conway X. Sands assured the
| committee that ne Wo9id toN.irvt' "a
| give the measures his cordial support ana
would vote for them.
Hon Julian Bryant assured the COM
| mittee that he would continue 10 give
| the measures his cordial support, ana
would vote Tor them.
lion. ]. Alstoh Cabell said that whilst
he would vote Tor the measures, as ne
| had promised TO do, he would De COM
peued II asked bv members OF the House
| 10 say that he regarded the passage OF
| the bills az this time as un"ise ana
/ iuOpp0ftUne.
! non John :. HarWo0d first Informed
| vour committee that he could not support
! the proposed amendments, because ne
| regarded Tie vote al the Democratic yil-
mary last fall on charter amendments a.
! in the nature of instructions rom ms
| CONSTITUENCIES 10 oppose any changes IN
| the charter. tie Informed US udy OF
| TWO afterwards. however. that II We
| would agree 10 submit these amendments
TO a vote Of the people he would support
them. and We reported this 70 the tham-
I her lie subsequently. however said thdt
| he meant Ly submission 10 vote OF the
pcOplo that they should be submitted 10
4 a Democratic primary. and for that rea-
/ son he asked permission 10 WITHDRAW MS
| assurance that ne would support the biiis
Iu our last interview with him he INFORM
| ed us that whilst he personally cordially
/ apuroved the proposed changes III thc
| charter, he could not vote Tor them al
Hon. II. B. Murphy, when asked
whether he would keep his promise ana
! support the measures declined 10 answer
| the question saying that ne would fe-
serve the right TO decide that matter
| when the measures came up TOR consid-
! Grafton before the House committee. OF
which he was member.
| Hon w. f. Keddy, who presented the
| bills in the House. said that ne would
| give them his cordial and hearty support,
| ana that he woGld vote FOR them. both
| in the committee and when they were
presented In the House.
THE WITHDRAWAL.
| We beg leave respectfully 10 submit this
| reporf feeling that In justice both 10
! ot,-selv.s ana the board OF directors they
shotld Know the position OF the delega-
| tion in regard to the amendments recon-
mended by the Chamber OF Commerce.
| w. repeat what we reported to you when
these amendments were nrst presented
! for your consideration. that We wouic
| not have recommended them AT th's
time nor urged their presentation 10
| the Chamber. but for the unanimous as
| snrance OF our city delegation that they
| would give them their cordial support.
| nroVided we would adopt their suggestion
| 10 submit the amendments to vote or
| the people for their ratification. This we
| cheerfully consented y 10.
| our lsst interview with our senators ard
| 1~t..atas having disclose the fact that