Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11
HIS HONOR SPOKE OUT
SAID THERE WAS AN ELEMENT
"THRowING orr on HsM.v
MEETING OF CLAY-WARD ACTIYES.
The Question OF Commissions Dis
cusscd by Mr.. Il A. Catiin and Mr..
Henry l.. Cartcr-RemnrlSs of the
Former bring the Mayor Out.

An exceedingly interesting and some
what spicy meeting Of the Clay Ward
Activos was held at Belvidere HaH last
night. and the question whether Il is
better that this city should be governed
by commissions or not was discussed by
Nsssrs. Henry l. Carter and l.. a. Cat
lin. Both speakers were pregnant with
loelc. and delivered in dignihed manner.
puring Mr.. Catlin's remarks he uncon-
s,iously trod upon the toes OF Mayor
TAYLOR. or the erstwhile amiabe official
ioaeined that his toes had been trod
upon At any rate. he grew rather ex-
cited when called upon for a speech, and
in a vigorous manner defended himself
aeainst the attacks OF a certain element,
which. he said. had attempted TO throw
or on him.
The little tint amounted TO naught.
es everything was satisfactorily explained
and the meeting adjourned amid great
harmony.
MR.. CARTER STARTS THE BALL.
Mr.. Henry L. carter first took the floor
when President Snead called the meet
,nr 10 order. and again took the negative
side Of the question as 70 the ACCESSIBILITY
OF having commissions. He talked at
considerable length against what he char
acterized as a Capitalization OF power,
and asserted that the city would not
prosper so we'll under commissions as
under the present form Of government.
lie said that all the rotten government
In this country was the outgrowth OF
commissions. and then asserted that
n was impossible to get rid Of a commits
sioner after he once got in. because as
ne explained. they learned how TO manipu-
late the wires 10 their own interest. In
conclusion. Mr.. Carter said he was OPP
rosed 20 commissions. because he be-
ueved they were m-Democratic. and be-
cause they were merely contradiction
OF powers.
MR.. CATrIN NOT FOR THEM.
Nr. T. A. Catlin was called upon by
che president to speak TO the subject. lie
rleaded indisposition. but consented to
make a speech. He said the subject
Was not one OF popular interest, so far
as he could learn; he declared that he
never heard commits salons discussed
outside Of the Actives meeting. lie
was not welded 20 the idea Of placing
the city under control Of commissions
and asserted that there We're reasons
why they should be maintained and
others why they should not be had. lie
thought the form OF government under
which this city was struggling was de-
fective. and alluded incidentally TO the
afiuous work that devolved on council
men. He thought the duties Of the Mayor
should be increased. and that he should
be given more power 1.-THE duties of
that Official" he said. "are exceedingly
insignificant. and he is almost devoid of
power"
NOT a POPULAR IDEA.
Returning 10 the subject of commits
sions. Mr.. Catln said he didn't believe
the people wanted them. He asserted
So as his belief that nothing was TO be
gained by drawing the issue now. He
thought the people should at least be
given a rest from the discussion of poll
tics He then said that the Good Gov
eminent League was at work on plan
whereby the city might be put under
better form of government He couldn't
say what that plan would be- but was
confident that the contamination Of the
scheme would be one devoutly 10 be wish
cd He spoke of the difficulty he had
experienced in the selection OF the COM
mittee 10 prepare such q new charter as
would give the city a perfect form OF
government. and said he had not yet con-
Guided his selections, because he desired
10 get the very wisest men in the city
Tor the committee. He said the league
proposed to submit their plan or charter
after it was formulated, TO the City
Council. and then submit IL to the peo
pie after which the Legislature would
be asked TO give us such a charter as
the majority Of our citizens desired.
Speaking for the league, be said there
was not man in II who was there to
prosecute his own selfish ends. So far as
he knew there was not a man in the
organization who wanted office. Speaking
for himself he said there was not an
Office in the city that he wanted or would
have. He didn't wish TO be understood
as not being appreciative of the honor
that would be thereby conferred upon
him. but he really didn't care for an
Office.
WASTED OVER $4,000.
Referring to the lack of method in the
management of the city's affairs, Mr.
Catlin said that more than 100000 had
been wasted I'm the last ten years, be-
cause there was no executive head 10
see that the various departments worked
on the streets in concert Mr.. Catln
then referred TO the speech that he made
some months ago when he quoted
workingman as expressing the belief that
the police and fremen should be paid
smaller salaries and said that though
those were not his views, they had been
attributed 10 him and he had heard
that a member Of the Fire Department
had asserted that because Of that
speech. he (Catlin) would be boycotted.
This, he said, was the reward ne got
for his labors, but nevertheless, he pur-
posed continuing TO do what he could FOR
the clty's best interests.
COLONEL HARDWOOD Is NEUTRAL.
Colonel John S. Barwood was next
called upon for q talk on commissions.
lie said SO far as commissions were con-
cerned, he occupied a neutral position.
lie opposed the bill introduced at the last
session OF the Legislature. because he
didn't believe 1t emanated from the peo-
ple. He didn't study the question then,
because IL didn't require study, ana he
hadn't studied Il since.
Colonel Harwood concluded with
strong plea for harmony in the party,
ana advocated earnestly the mainten-
ance OF peace between the clubs and the
league.
Mayor r. VI. Taylor was next called
upon. and saying that he was. accord
ing 10 Mr.. Catlin, only a mere figure
head, asked 10 be excused.
Mr.. Catlin, thereupon, disclaimed any
Intention Of rejecting on Mayor Taylor.
no said, though. that the duties and
powers OF the Mayor Of Richmond were
by no means what they should be.
THE MAYORS IRE AROUSED.
Mr. Taylor, again arising, said In loud
tones that ever since he was elected
Mayor certain element had attempted
10 throw of on him. Il didn't make