Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-14
Three Good Ken 10 Have CnafSe Oh
This Important Department.
TO MANAGE TEE CITY FINANCES.
prODOsitiOn TO Create a Board fOr Tbs
Responsible Duty.
~. provision for EiectinE the
Members Of This Dody-The Amend
menfs Must Be Ratified by the feo-
,,tc uefore Becoming Effective.

-. uefore BceOming EnecttNc.
general meeting OF the Richmond
-,bsn,ber OF Commerce was held yester-
say afternoon al 6 o'clock 10 receive ana
act upon the report Of the special com
mittee appointed some time ago to re-
commend such changes as were deemed
necessary In the city charter, and plan
lor having the same adopted.
This committee consisted Of Hon. J.
TAYLOR Ellyson Judge George J.. Cnfls-
tan. and Messrs. jackson Guy, Nirginius
Newton. John B. Purcell, and william H.
Palmer. and their report was in the ma
ture OF two bills which the Chamber very
heartily approved one Of these amehoS
the charter with reference to the ap-
pointment Of the Board OF Public ln'e-
rests. and the other provides for boards
o. Light and Finance Commissioners
THE REPORT PRESENTED
A. soon as President Hawes had an
1ounced the object Of the meeting Chalr-
man Fllvson. Of the special committee
made a verbal statement Of the changes
aeo,ned most necessary and expedient by
the committee. explaining fully the essen
tlal features OF these changes, and ohering
to have the graft OF the bills emoodyins
them read TO the meeting If 1t was so
desired. lie went on TO 7ay that as the
committee were called upon also to report
q nlan. the majority Of them thought II
essential TO consult the city delegation
before reporting the amendments to the
Hoard Of Directors. which they accord
lrvlv had done, and ascertained that
majority OF the delegation so construed
the vote OF the people at the recent cleo
don. when certain charter changes were
ororosed. that they felt instructed by that
vote TO oppose all amendments to the
charter unless they were adopted by the
Legislature subject to ratification at a
special election by the people; but that
with the provision requiring ratlncauon
bv the people the amendments proposed
would receive the unanimous support OF
the deleeation Under these clrcum-
stances the majority OF the committee
favored the latter plan, had so reported
10 the Board of Directors, and the report
was approved by the board and ordered
to be submitted for the consideration OF
the Chamber in general meeting
JUDGE CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
Judge Christian said while he agreed
with his associates upon the committee
with respect 10 every amendment pro-
posed. he differed with them az TO the
best plan for carrying them into effect
and thought q mistake had been made
bv the committee In consulting the cfty
delegation prior to the submission of the
reporf 10 the Board Of Directors and TO
this meeting; that, notwithstanding TINS
mistake as ne considered IT, that every
representative Of the city acknowledged
that these changes met with their IN
dividual approval, and, In bis opinion
they were not in conflict at all with the
verdict Of the people. as expressed al
the last election. but. on the contrary,
were in the direction OF their decision,
which was favorable 70 the two existing
commissions. and he believed chat If pre-
scented 10 the Legislature properly and
forclbly the amendments could be carried
through i'm conclusion, Judge Christian
said while these were his convictions, and
he had felt obliged 10 differ with his as
sociates upon the question or yhe plan for
having these amendments adopted, any
decision reached by the meeting would
have his most hearty and cordial support.
Mr. Charles StraLs. as the author Of the
resolution under which This committee
report of the committee recommending
that the amer dments be proposed subject
g. tie ratification OF the people be adopt
ca. as he was satisfied. from his inter-
views with members Of the Richmond
delegation hat otherwise the bills would
not be passed
THE ONLY FEASIBLE PLAN.
Colonel Purcell said. while he would
much prefer the shorter method Of hay
ms the amendments carried Into effect
by the sim1le enactment OF the bills IN
.he legislature he feared with a divided
Delegation 70 would be impossible TO
accomplish that result He. therefore,
rlvocated the plan for their adoption.
subject 10 ratification by the 9eople. be
lleV.ng that ~ the people understood the
merits OF and the necessity for these
changes they would be approved Of IN
popular election. He then made a most
forcibe statement Of the condition Of our
municipal affairs. the absolute necessity
for reform in their administration, the
dangerous condition Of the public credit,
The high rate Of taxation and assessment
and described a condition OF things which
demanded the sctive interest Of every
citizen OF Richmond IN the success OF
these charter-changes, II submitted TO
vote Of the people.
endorsed the views Of Judge Christian,
while Messrs Roosevelt Page. Frank ID.
Glasgow, Jackson Guy, and r. c. Rem
nolds spoke earnestly IN favor OF the
plan OF the majority OF the committee.
Mr. Alex. Curtis was opposed to any
change OF the charter at this time.
ana his remarks on that point were an
s"ered by Mr.. A. ID. Landerisiu. who
considered that the question had now
become business question. rather than
political one.
Mr kennolds seconded the motion Of
stI S.raus I'm favor of the adoption OF
wy plan OF the majority Of the COM
i'n'tee and this motion, amended so
- authorize the special commit
ete 70 hN the time OF the vote on these
Snal'eI changes az special election. 10
such consequential amendments
the araft Of the bills as might
~, sS"fy and 10 have them when
perfected offered In tho I,eeislature
was pu, by the Chair, ana adopted by
the meeting -
BOARD or PUBLIC INTERESTS
appointment OF Members Provided
frra-