Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-05
SHOULD HAVE 4 BETTER CHARTER
Changes That Good-Government
Ieucue Think Should he Made.


The May meeting of the Good Govern
ment League, held at Laube's Han last
night. was well attended, and the pro-
ceedings were quite interesting. Colonel
John 3. Purcell presided.
A number of new members were elect
cd. and the chairman Of the Membership
Committee. MIR. jenkins, submitted n re
commentator that the clause in the APP
plication for membership obligating
every member OF the league to support
the candidates nominated by the organi-
cation be stricken out. Captain Maxwell
r. Clarke endorsed this recommendation
and the report. after some discussloh'
was referred TO the board.
ADDRESS on IDEAL CHARTER.
Under the call of committees, Mr.. Nlr-
glnius Newton introduced Mr.. John Il.
Minor Jr., to speak for the Commute
on Municipal Government. Mr.. Minor
discussed the subject of an Ideal Char-
for spealxing first Of the success or
universal suffrage. He then showed the
necessity for a change I'm this citys CHAR
fer nv explaining how impossible II
&c for a city of the size of Richmond 10
rim its machinery, complex as IL mas
become. under the same charter that II
had when a small town. Tnat the great
est possible freedom consistent WIN the
welfare of its people should be leit 10
municipalities was the hrst proposi,loh
laid down by the speaker. lie then
touched upon the evils of allowing mu-
nicipal authorities 10 grant indefinite
franchises. and dwelt somewhat on inc
necessity for maximum limit pelhs
placed TO the Oity'S debt.
Mr. Minor asserted it as his belief
that the Mayor should be elected LOT
not less than four years, and shouh
be paid such a salary as would JUSTIFY
him in deVOting his whole time 10 me
city's interest. He advocated giving the
Mayor the power Of appointing All lle
heads Of departments. who would be SUD-
iect 20 his win. and would serve as
cabinet council for him. with reference
IN the Legislative Department OF the
government. the speaker said thele
should be two chambers-the lower 10
no elected along ward lines, ana the
minor branch to be chosen on an entire
citv ticket The utopian idea OF having
unconditional or minority representation
~ tba councils was advanced, and ne
explained that if 5000 Democrats ana a.
600 Republicans voted IN the eieclloh'
two-thirds of the body should be Demo
Gratis, and the OlheI IiilAu -,
Ciyil-eervjce was then taken up' ana
Az nt,nor advocated earnestly the re-
tention in office Of all employees ana
heads of department, so long as they
shaved themselves capable of performing
tbo duties devolving upon them. lie con-
cluded with an appeal to the citlzehs 10
AZ all times take interest in the gov
eminent of the city, and as he took MS
seat was loudly applauded. A.
MIR. Vfrginius Newton followed Mr.
Minor and heartily endorsed ms views
CHANGES IN OUR CHARTER.
The special Committee on Charter
c,hanoes through Chairman Jackson
Guy. submitted report in whlch ihey
say: a.. - .,o,,+oa
"The special committee so appointed
have held three sessions, az which ~
subject of your resolution has been as
cnssed They have adopted unanimously
a resolution that the league ask the
LEGISLATURE to so amend the city
charter that the administrative ana
legislative functions of our municipdi
government shall be kept separate ana
they accordingly 50 report. Inc mann
reasons for this recommendation are the
consideration that a separation Oh the
administrative from the legislative ue-
nartments will discourage extravaganza
and will relieve the Council, as a purely
legislative body. from the burdens i'm
posed upon them by committee work,
where so much time IS taken In the
superintendence Of the departments
The good TO come, especially from me
last consideration, is that ii VIII not
mako service In the Council so onerous
as TO discourage our most competent eiti-
Gems from service in the Council Your
committee recommend that the work or
preuaring amendments 10 the charter
in conformity with the above resolution
be continued by the league under the
ausnices OF n special committee of five
10 be appointed for the purpose"
Mr. Guy spoke to the report ana Coi9-
mel Purcell discussed it at some length,
moving that it be laid on the table untii
a special meeting, to be called py the
president not later than the first Iues-
day in June. This was carried and the
meeting soon al iOurned.