Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01

of the Committee on the Board.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Hon. ]. Taylor Ellyson, chairman OF
the Committee on Charter Changes. sub
mitted the following report:
Richmond, Va, February 20 1896.
s. II. Hawes, Esq, President Chamber
Sir.-Your Committee on Charter
Changes would respectfully report that;
in compliance with resolution adopted
by the Chamber In its general meeting
held on the 18th day of February, 1896,
they submitted the bills amending the city
charter which were approved by the
Chamber and at our request tney were
introduced In the House OF Delegates by
Hon; W.. F. Reddy, and by MN reierree
to the House Committee on Counties,
Cities, and Towns, OF which Hon. W. +.
Reddy and Hon. L. b. Murphy are mem-
bers. A hearing was granted all inter,
ested In the measures, ana members Oh
your committee presented the views IN
regard to the amendments which are en-
tertained by the Chamber, and urged
favorable report by the committee.
During the discussions before the COM
mittee objections were made TO the num-
ber OF commissioners, and to the time
and manner OF holding the election. IL
was thought that the number OF COM
missioners mentioned in the bill was TOO
small, and that the time OF holding the
tial election in the fall that II would be
better to have some other day. 1t was
also maintained that IL was very deslra-
BILE that the Democratic voters or the city
should pass upon these amendments De-
fore they were voted on In a general
election to be held for that purpose.
MADE THE CONCESSIONS.
We agreed, on behalf OF the Chamber.
that the number of commissioners should
be increased to five, and that we were
perfectly willing to submit the question
10 a Democratic primary TO be heid at
some day preceding the date fixed for the
special election. and that IL some other
time than the 9Th of October, 1896, which
was named In our bill, was considered
as a better time for holding the election
on these charter amendments, that sIcn
change of time would be perfectly agreea-
BILE to US, since we believed that the
Chamber OF Commerce simply desired that
the people should have an opportunity TO
pass upon these matters on such day
as might be most satisfactory 10 the
changes, Mr. Reddy, as the patron OF the
bill was authorized 70 have inserted in
the bill. You will doubtless recall that
when this committee presented 10 the
Board Of Directors their. reeommenda'
tions in regard to the changes In the
charter, Il was stated by US that we had
the unanimous support of the senators
and members of the House from Rich-
mond, and that before submitting these
amendments for your consideration we
has held several interviews with ou
senators and members. and we had tneir
assurance that they would unanimously
and cordially support these measures.
We were very much surprised, theretofe,
to read a few days later an intimation In
our daily papers that the city deiegation
was not as united as we reported them
to be in the support of these measures.
But not wishing TO do any injustice 10
F.,rr Il -
any position other than that to which
we had considered him already pledged.
we sought on Tuesday and wednesday
of this week an interview with the mem.
bers Of the delegation, and ascertained
that the rumors to which illusions had
been made I'm the papers concerning their
position were not without foundation.
HOW THE MEMBERS STOOD.
Senator William Lovenstein said tha
AS a result of this last interview with
the members, we ascertained their POSI-
ton TO be as follows:
he was satisfied, after hearing state
ments from both friends and opponent
OF the charter amendments, that II woul'
be very unwise and impolitic to pas
these measures at this time.
Senator Conway X. Sands assured IN
committee that he would continue to CIV
the measures his cordlal support, an
would vote for them. =.
Hon. Julian Bryant assured the commit
tee that he would continue to give tn
measures his cordial support, and woul'
vote for them.
Hon. ]. Aston Cabell said that willis
he would vote for the measures. as b
had promised 10 do, he would be compell
ed, If asked by members or the House
TO say that he regarded the passage o
the bills at this time as unwise and In
opportune.
Hon. John s. Harwood first informed
your committee that he could not sup
port the proposed amendments becaus
he regarded the vote at the Democrau
primary last fall on charter amendment
as In the nature OF instructions from hi
constituents to oppose any changes In IN
charter. He informed us day or tw'
afterwards, however, that II we woul'
agree to sumit these amendments 10
vote of the people he. would suppor
them, and we reported this TO the Cnam
ber. He subsequently, however, said tina
he meant by submission 70 vote or TN
people that they should be submitted 4
a Democratic primary, and for that rea
SON he asked permission to withdraw hi
assurance that he would support the bills
In our last interview with him he in
formed us that whilst he personally cor
daily, approved me proposed cnsanges IL j
the charter he could not vote 1Or lnen
at this time.
Hon. T. b. Murphy, when asked whethe
he would keep his promise and supper
the measures, declined to answer thu
question, saying tHtl nc WouiO icocts
the right 20 decide that matter when tn
measures came up for consideration be
fore the House committee, OF which h'
was a member.
Hon. W. F. Reddy. who presented tn
bills in the House. said that he woult
give them his cordial and hearty support
and that he would vote for them both II
committee and when they were presented
In the House.
THE BILL WAS PASSED BY.
We beg leave respectfully to submi,
this report, feeling that In justice both
to ourselves and the Board OF Directors
they should know the position or the
delegation in regard to the amendments
recommended by the Chamber OF Com
you when these amendments were nrsl
presented for your consideration. thal
we would not have recommended then
at this time. nor urged their presentation
10 the Chamber but for the unanimous
assurance OF our city delegation that the,
provided we would adopt their suggestion
TO submit the amendments 10 vote o
the people for their ratification. This We
cheerfully consented 10 do.
Our last interview with our Senator
and Delegates having disclosed the fac
that they were no longer united In theil
support OF the charter amendments. ant
believing that without such united suppor
we could not hope TO secure their pas5age
Mr. Reddy, as. the patron OF the bills
was requested by us TO have them .passec
by until next Tuesday, in. order that W,
ask your further instructions.
J. TAYLOR ELLYSoN.
JNO. B. PURCELL,
GEO 1. CHRISTIAN.
JACKSON GUY.
WM III. PALMER.