The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-14
CHANGES In THE CHARTER.
Draft Of The Bills Embodylng Them Adept
I'd by The Chamber.
PLAN Fer CARRYING THEM lhTOEPFECI
To be Adopted by the Legislature subject
to Subsequent H,tification by The
PcopIc-full Text of the Proposed
Views OF Members.


Pursuant to notice. a general meeting
OF the Richmond Chamber Of Commsrce
was held yesterday evening al o o'clock
to receive, the report OF ;ae special COM
mit;ce. consisting OF I'm. }. Taylor Ely
son. George l.. Christian. Jackson Guy,
Niiginius Newton John Il. Purcell. and
winiam H. Palmer. appointed TO recon-
mend such changes as were deemed
Necessary IN ihe city charter. ana plan
for having the same adopted.
THE PLAN PROPOSED.
President Halves having announced the
CbJect OF tne meeting. ZION. ). laylOf III
tyson. chairman. inst made verbal state
ment ca the cneugts deemed most nccts-
sary and cNr,utnt ny the committee. cN-
planning may tne essential features ~
these cGars,s anu onering TO nave the
araft OF The uiliS cmbonyiug them. when
Is printed below. read TO tine meeting II
Al was 50 desired. bc then went on 10
cay tnat a. the committee we're calltd
upon also 40 report - plan. the majority
OF them thought IL essential 10 consult me
city doi,gutlon before repofunr the
Amendments 10 the Board OF Directors,
which they accordingly mad done. ana as
ccrtaincd that majority on the deltsa-
fiOn 50 construed the vote Of the people
at the recent election. when certain
charter changes were proposed, that thty
felt instructed hN that vote TO oppose All
amendments 10 the charter. unless they
were adopted ~ the Legislature subject
to ratification AT special election ny
the people. nut that with the provision re-
curing ratification hy the people. the
amendments proposed would receive the
unanimous support Of the delegation.
Under these circumstances the majority
Of the committee favored the latter plan.
had so reported 10 the Board OF Directors,
= nod M.
OF Directors ana ordered 10 he. submit
ted for the consideration or the Chamber
IN general meeting.
JUDGE CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
Judge Christian. OF the committee, then
said that whine he agreed with his ASSOC
ciates upon me committee with respect
TO every Amendment proposed. he differed
with the committee as TO the best plan
for carrying them into effect, and thought
"A mistake mad been made by the commit
tee I'm consulting the city delegation prior
10 the submission of the report 20 the
Board of Directors and TO this meeting.
that Notwithstanding this mistake, as he
considered u. mat every representative OF
the city Acknowledged that these changes
met with their individual approval. and
in his opinion they were not In conflict
at all with the verdict OF the people at
the last election, but on the contrary were
I'm the direction Of their decision, which
was favorable 10 the two existing COM
missions and be believed that # pre-
scented 10 the Legislature. properly and
fOrcibly, the amendments could be car
Tied through.
In conclusion. Judge Christian said that
while these were his convictions. and he
had felt Obliged To- differ with his assoc
cibtes upon the question OF the plan for
having these amendments adopted, any
decision reached by the meeting would
have his most hearty and cordial support
MIR. STRAJS AND col. PURCELL.
Mr.. Charles Straus said as the author
Of the resolution in the Board of Dircc-
tors uDper which mis- committee was APP
pointed, he moved that the report of the
committee recommending that the amend
mcnts BE- proposed subject to the ratifica-
ton OF the people be adopted, az ne was
satisfied from his interviews with mem
bers OF the Richmond delegation that
otherwise the bills would not be- passed.
Colonel John Il. Purcell. OF the commit
tee. said that while he would much pre-
fer the shorter method of having the
amendments carried into effect by the
simple enactment OF the bills IN the IcglS-
iature. ne feared with "a divided delega-
ton II would he impossible to accomplish
that result. lie. therefore. advocated the
plan for their adoption subject 10 ratin-
cation 10y the people. believing that N the
people understood the merits OF and the
necessity for these changes they would
be approved of IN popular election lie
then made a most fOrcihle statement OF
The situation OF our municipal affairs
administration. the dangerous condition
of the public credit the high rate of tax
alton ana assessment. ana described a
condition Of things which demanded the
active interest OF every citizen of Rich
mond I'M the success Of these charter
changes If submitted 10 a vote Of the
people.
THE VIEWS or OTHERS
Messrs. y W. Bowc and James Lyons
endorsed the views Of Judge Christian.
Messrs. Roosevelt Page Frank -. Glas-
gov Jackson Guy. and Il. G.. RennOlds
spoEc earnestly in favor of the plan OF
The majority of the committee. and Mr..
Alex. Curtis was opposed TO any change
of the charter al this time. whose re-
marks on that point were answered by
Mr., A. u. Landerkin, who considered
that the question had now become a
business question rather than political
one.
Mr.. Reunolds then seconded the motion
Of Mr.. Straus IN favor of the adoption OF
the plan Of the majority OF the commit
zee. and this motion, amended so as 10
authorize the special committee to fix the
time of the vote on these charter changes
at special election TO make such COn-
sequential amendments TO the draft of
the bills as might he necessary. and 10
have them. when perfected. offered i'm the
Legislature. was put 10y the Chair and
adopted 10y the meeting.
The meeting then adjourned.