The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-27
CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ALMOST
COMPLETED ITS LABORS.
The Question Of Recommending Names 10
the Board of Finance to Be TAKEN Up
Next Tuesday Evening

visibility OF recommending W @"o
eral Assembly certain amendments TO
the city charter held another session 'ast
evening. when Mr.. Meredith gave oriei
review NJ the various subjects which he
had been previously Instructed 10 en-
brace in these amendments.
The question of recommending 10 inc
civ Council one name from each ward
OF persons who are TO serve as the nist
members OF the Board of Finance to be
erected by one Of the proposed amend
ments to the city charter. was not u.s.
posed Of. II will come up for iiha' a0''o"
next Tuesday evening after the ihei"peis
of the committee have consulted 'heir
respective ward delegates on the sub
ject ,,.
II ua half an hour after the appoint
ed tine when the committee was called
to order by Chairman Rountree' De
sides him the following members were
then present. Messrs. Otway ,. Alleh'
Noble. Ryan and Jones.
The Chair stated that the meeting hau
originally been called for Tuesday even
ing, but at that time the Finance Noii-
mittee held its session. which was attend
ed by a large number OF citizens ana ne
had therefore postponed che meeting u"-
I'll Friday night.
TO RECOMMEND NAMES.
The Chair also stated that the first bus-
mess before the body was 10 agree upo"
names to be recommended 10 the 'i's
Council as the first members OF the b,Stu
of Finance. provided the bill creating
that body meets with the approVal vi
the body. 1t was deemed best, however
to postpone this matter until tuiler at
tendance can be obtained.
City Attorney Meredith then went over
the list of charter amendments, when
he had been instructed TO PROVIDE loi
in the bill to be drawn up by MIN.
The first amendment was that OF sec
ton I6, OF the charter providing that vice
presidents shall be elected for the TWO
branches Of the City Council
Section "a. Of the charter provides
that the City Council shall from time 10
time determine the boundaries of the
districts where frame structures may be
erected. An amendment to this section
provides that the Council Committee on
Fire Department shall have the power
of granting permits for the erection OF
such buildings with the approval or the
president Of the Board of Fire Commits
sioners ana the Chief of the Fire De-
partment. except i'm districts where by
direction of the Council such buildings
shall not be constructed.
Mr.. Allen thought the Council should
have the authority of granting such per-
mits exclusively. as 4, was at present
frame buildings were usually put up be-
fore the permits had been acted upon
Mr.. Jones was of the opinion, that II
should be obligatory for the president OF
the Board of Fire Commissioners and the
Chief Of the Fire Department 10 approve
the permits before they can be granted by
the committee.
TO CONFORM WITH OTHER DE-
PARTMENTS.
The CITY Attorney then mentioned the
amendment TO subdivision - Of section
90 Of the charter. which strikes out the
provision that for the maintenance and
support of the Fire Department not less
an amount shall be appropriated than
contained in the appropriation Of 1897 ~
Under the proposed amendment the City
Council is TO make such appropriations &c
the Fire Department as IL may deem ne
cessary. which places that department on
the same footing with the others In the
municipal government.
~ AiliS JhniAAAR %hN07A'F ~aA' t'AA'
CARRIER arrived.
The City Attorney has also been in
structed to prepare an amendment under
which the Board Of Public Interests IS 10
be abolished and the members OF the
Boards OF Police and fire Commissioners
are to be nominated and elected directly
by the City Council in joint session.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Jones a Sec
ton IS to be added. under which genera
provision IS to be made that no commits
sioner of the Boards Of Police. Fire and
Finance shall at the expiration Of his
term be reelected during the next con
secutlve six years The same provision is
to apply TO the members Of the Schoo
Board,
Mr.. Carter suggested that the members
OF the two branches OF the city Counct
also be included. and Mr.. Jones declare
himself with H. Mr.. Carter. however
dropped the subject saying that he feareC
quite a number Of the members Of the
Council would object 10 II.
THE MATTER POSTPONED.
The question OF recommending names
as first members OF the Board OF Finance
10 the CITY Council. was then taken mp
and Mr. Carter thought this matter haf
better be left 10 the Council. In order 4
avoid unnecessary competition.
Alter n tfOl Nffl VI fi~'uN'l'u III WIN
Messrs. Allen. Jones and Noble partici
pated. the vote was reconsJidered by
which Il had been decided AT the las
meeting that these recommendation be
made by the committee.
On motion Of Mr.. Allen. IT was also de-
termined TO postpone action on this mat
ter until the next meeting. and that thu
members OF the various wards represent
ed on the committee he asked TO confer
with their respective ward delegations II
the meantime on the subject In order &c
agree on one name from each ward. The
chairman was requested TO communicate
for a similar purpose with the delegation
Of Jefferson Ward. which is not repre-
sented on the committee.
The committee then adjourned Until
next Tuesday evening at o'clock. wher
this matter will be taken up. On that oc
casion Mr.. Meredith will also submit the
draft OF a bill amending the charter 81
that under certain conditions the city
shall be empowered 70 issue sewer bonrs
not exceeding $4,000. independent from
the present limit Of its bonded indebted
ness.