The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-22
OPPOSED TO ANY CHANGE
DEMOCRATS FfGHTfNG THE Pro
POSED COMMISSIONS.
The Ward Organizations Want the City
Charter to Stand a- IL is-Kesolusions
of the Old Dominion Club.

change the city charter do not strike a
snag In the LEGISLATURE IL will not be the
fault OF the Democratic ward organiza-
tons. a number Of members Of the City
Council. and many OF the prominent
Democratic leaders. Instead OF waiting
10 make the night at the polls they are
going to bring all their influence 10 bear
on the Lawmakers up IN the Capitol
building 10 get them to reject the bills.
The plan OF procedure now mapped out
can be briefly stated. The various ward
ORGANIZATIONS will send committees before
the seven Richmond representatives, VINO
have promised them an audience at the
Capitol next Monday night Then there
viii be presented 10y some OF the best
Democratic speakers the objections they
have to the charter changes The Rich
mOnd delegation viii be asked 10 oppose
the bills ON Tuesday morning the gen
tlemcn, If permitted, Will 90 before the
legislative Committee on Counties, cities,
ana Towns and urge an uniaVOraDie re-
port. II the cooperation OF the Ken
mOnd delegation Is secured the opposition
10 the proposed chai yer chahses .Ab.ct
plain sailing II not. they say that they
will not be- discouraged ana continue the
fight. even if they have 10 go beiore
the polls They anticipate mat their
arguments viii ha % weight AZ the Capt.
toll. and some expr, sed the opinion mat
ia. bills would never be passed.
Last night the old Dominion Demo
cratic club held a largely attended ana
Seventeenth and Main streets. President
w ". Wood was ia the chair. The fol-
lowing prominent Democrats were no
diced in the hall. Messrs. William NJ.
Turpin. William +. Knowles. George y.
Davis. John l.. Epps, John 4. curtis,
Samuel Stern. Sol. Bloomberg, ana J. W.
Redwood.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
After the meeting had been called TO
order the following resolution was read
bv Secretary Marshall T.. Ramos and
..se i, l,3solved ~ the Old Dominion
Democratic club OF jefferson ward. Inat
We ntartIy condemn thr cnahke 81
the city charter lroposed uy u' nam an.
h.f OF Commerce OF this city, and now
bending before the Legislature OF. VIZ
pinia. ass being anu-Den ocfauc. as TAX
ing away from the people of Richmond
the power OF local seli-gOvernment. ana
throwing discOrd into The RANKS OF lh'
Democratic party Of TINS city
THAT we condemn all attempts TO sub
nit any changes in our cnarter 10 an
election in which negroes are enlisted 10
vote and that we respectfully request
our representatives ia tho Senate and
House of Delegates TO oppose IN toto
these bills.
THAT a committee, consisting OF VII
liam NJ Turpin. W. ". Wood, John T..
Epps. George b. Davis. and s. Stern, be
appointed to take A copy of these reso-
lutiOns 20 our said representatives ana
urge upon them our views herein eN-
pressed. -
MR.. TCRpIN's OBJECTIONS.
Calls for a speech from President VIII
liam NJ. Turpin. of the Board OF Alder
men. brought that gentleman 10 his
feet. lie very tersely gave the meat OF
the bills roviding FOR the charter
changes. then pointed out what he
cOnsiderc.. % dangers lurking IN the
rharter changes. SAID hr. in Dart:
Gentlemen. / am a member OF the
Chamber Of Commerce. but / have never
attended but one meeting, and then they
had a lunch, but did not stay FOR
that am surprised that the body
should make so unwarranted an attack
on the present city government, as was
contained 10 the call for the general
meeting which voted favoraDly on the
bills. I do not believe That the mem
hers Of the Chamber OF Commerce or the
Grain and Cotton Exchange, which pass
ed resolutions I'm support Of the bills,
are as well acquainted with the pro-
posed measures as ! am.
Briefly / viii warn you Of the danger
Of placing two important branches OF
tho city government each in the hands
OF three men, two of whom would con-
troll. They can do whatever they please
reduce salaries and carry out any Whim
that takes possession 81 their minds, ana
The people cannot get al them
Mr. Turpn then discussed the pres
ent MANAGEMENT OF the city. Said he.
"'lhey talk of loose management. They
point 10 the gas loss. n r. true that
cities DO lose money. So 10 corporations.
ilas ACKNOWLEDGEMENT been the cry be-
cause certain local banks ana financial
INSTITUTIONS have lost money! ~ they
haVc2 No There are losses everywhere,
and the Chamber OF Commerce cannot
prevent leaks ia Iichmond's municipal
government"
Mr.. Turpin asserted that il was his be-
lief that AN election in October 10 PASS
on the charter changes would place Nir-
glnia in The Republican column at the
November national election.
OTHER SPEAKERS
Councilman john j.. Epps was the sec
ond speaker Fit. Lpps nrst pointed out
the tact mat the Chamber OF Commerce
Dlls would centrallze power 10 the peru
OF the people. lie SAID II might mean the
reduction OF salaries and the employment
or negroes instead OF white men as labor
ers ~ the city government to save money.
lie thought that such important matters
should never be submitted TO the negroes.
tie saw danger there, though II left to
the white people ne had 10 fears OF the
result.
Councilman George 3. Davis followed
Mr.. Lpps. lie said that there never could
be enaced from his memory OF recon
strucuOn days, when the negro was OH an
equality with a white man. he saw I'm
these bills the danger OF repetition OF
those days lie SAID, in conclusion, that
he considered It the duty Of every Demo- |
reseutauFes ana appeal 10 them 40 oppose
the Chamber OF Commerce meaSures lie |
did not believe in leaving IL to the ballot !
box, where the cOOred men could vote
upon 10. lie urged that every effort be
put forth 10 defeat the bills In the Legis- |
lature.
MIR. BLOOMBERG AND CAPT. CURTIS
The next speaker was Councilman Sol.
Blcomberg, who urged that every effort J
be made 10 defeat the bills In the Legis-
lature He thought that the people should !
rule, and not a select few. He held that |
the city was safer under the present char |
ter than 70 would be with the proposed
changes in operation. Mr.. Bloomberg
urged hald work before the Legislature
10 defeat the bills.
Iaptain John a. Curtis followed He |
said that ne was a member of the Cham |
Der OF Commerce. lie spoke highly OF
the members. but said they had made a !
mistake in offering the charter changes.
He urged that every one present do |
the bills before the legislature AT the |
conclusion Of his remarks some one |
moved that Captain Curtis, though a |
resident Of Marshall ward, be added 10 |
the jefferson Ward Committee. CAPTAIN |
Curtis stated that he was already on the |
committee Of his ward
Mr. Samuel Stern was the last speaker.
lie said:
If the charter changes prevail. We had |
better 20 10 Russia our government |
would be more despotic than the Cars
The speakers were frequently applauded |
President Cullingworth. OF the Union |
Democratic Club Of Marshall and Jack !
son wards, ha. appointed a committee of !