The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-23
TWO BR!.AIlNC HE'S OF
CITY COUNCILS
Convention Refuses to Adopt ADO
Amendment.
ELIGIBILlTYclTY TREASURES 4! ]. R
They May Not Be Re-eleeted After Two
Aldermen Need Not Be Free
hoIierb-Da, 8 Work in
the Convention.
.ELIGIBILlTYCITY TREASURES

CHS DC COTlpOSeCtS5Ol DhC olie III sthSlia -
stead of two, but it was finally rejected
by a large majority, and the section as
it came from the committee was adopted
with the exception that an amendment
prevailed striking out the provision OF
the report requiring that members OF
| Boards Of Aldermen be freeholders. There
was an effort TO strike out the provision
| making city. treasurerss ineligible TO once
after a second term, but it failed Inc
report will be further considered to-day.
THE DAY IN. DETAIL.
Dr. McIlwaine opened the convention
with prayer, sixty-three members belns
oresert.
Judge Harrison introduced a resolution,
request ting the Auditor to furnish number
of names of pension rolls by Special or
public act and the amount of money paid
out for such purposes by State, cites
and counties. Adopted.
On motion of Chairman Brooke, the
convention went into Committee of the
Whole to consider the report on cities
and towns.
The question wfs on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Wise, 10 strike out that
portion Of section S, making city treas
urcrs ineligible for q third term.
Mr. Nvysor made characteristic speech
in opposition to the amendment. he
brought fourth rounds of applause ana
laughter by his treatment of the ques-
ton. In turn he paid his respects 70
Messrs. NIcIlwaiue, Stebbins, Wise, Al
ten Ingram, r. w. Moore and BraAtoil'
who had advocated the amendment.
His ridicule of their position was per-
fectlv good natured and his description
Of them was humorous and witty. lie
com: ,stely- riddlcd the argument OF the
city :. amEers.
QUESTION OF TAXES.
Mr.. Barbour made very strong argu-
ment against the amendment and read
the returns of taxes collected from dit
ferent cities to show how unfair to the
counties they were He thought the
recommendation of the committee Woulu
bring about a great reform
Mr.. Lindsay also opposed the amend
ment. reading a long list of States that
made treasurers ineligible after four
wears, when the proposed law aAo"ed
eight years.
After further speeches in opposition .
making any distinction between the cou1-
ties and cities by Messrs. Z. 3. Jones,
James w Gordon and heezell. the No te
was taken and the amendment was over
whelmingly defeated, "ili'ouI q u $50
or roll-cal.
The remaining portion of section o. re-
Iatinn 10 the Manor, his power and du-,
ties was adopted without anenonient
and The whole section was adopted as
re.orted from the committee
MUCH DISCUSSION.
Section / was taken UP ana provo /"
Great deal of discussion 1t PROVIDES Aol
eIary civ a Council composed of two
1,r,nc,,cs having a different number, to
no elected by the Qualified voters; eacli
1,ord to have equal representation III
a,cl, hra,7ch of TIE Council in proper
tion to the population OF sucn "aro. n
1ees numerous branch of the Counc'i shdti
be comnosed of free-hoiders, VINO silsil
own real estate of an assessed value u
~ least one thousand dollars. members
of the Council are to be inei1slo.e 70 any
oaicc to be filled by the oouilch.
Judge Harrison strongly opposed re-
curing two branches of the 'Council 1or
q ~, ait;as he said this disposition to
ot,,nrn the old order of things was
Making the people everywhere FESTIVE
nd dissatisfied The city of Winchester
49, fnr 1s5 wears been accustomed to one
I,,.,,c,, for. its government. and did not
aa.;re (, change. They had held meet
Ing of protest against the proposed IN
noyation He moved to strike out the
words Two branches and insert ohe
or more.
OLD #FEUDAL IDEA.
| Judge Robertson earnestly opposed the
CrpnprtN Gi1illlCdllOli - -
| aI,irarent of two branches for every city
| so,.ernn,ent. He said the old feudal idea
| tb,t Tho ownership of land made men
| moro conservative than the ownershlp
| .of other kind of property had been eA-
| ploded a long time ago rms was
! commercial age and the business men
| most interested in the progress and pros
neritv of cities now, We're often those
! who did not own a foot OF lana, put III
vested their property IN mercnah 'l
| CORPORATIONS. bonds. or other secui i'Aes'
Tho Senate of the State Wtllch mao coi COZ
| troi of its revenues. was not REQUIRED 10
.,.eoe. these qualities which We're de-
| ,n,ndei Of the members of q pratich OF
nc Legislature of city having Only
| 5,oVo. population. t..;,-,
Judre Harrison then moved to STRIKE
o,,+ all Of section z relating 10 1--we
| branches Of City Councils ard the lres-
! hold qualification for the upper branch u.
! Nv. James NJ Gordon explained IN,
necessity FOR the provision recoillilie tlues
| i,y the committee and sttoilsiS oPsoa-N
| tI.e motion to strike out
| At. Meredith. i: opposing lle siitett''
,o,+ ,,,ade u fine argument on the iiiou
e,.n conception OF the best form OF mum mum
| ;>,1 Governments He said that IN ti.e
,as+ fortv.y years the very nature OF sucl
! .o,.,,o,ations had undergone q compete
! revolution. The best thought OF the ass
! had without exception, accepted the, .tneo
j ~ that all such corporations should o
conoucted along general lines and no
loft to individual systems For that rea
/ son a uniform planEof government was 2:
necessary for cities as for the counele:
of the State.
BEST PLAN YET.
! Tie dual council had been found every
where to be the best plan yet devised t
! protect cities from themselves. The Whoi'
| prosperity of the State often depend:
i upon the !esisitiona Of the cities
; Judge George *. Anderson also op
| posed the amendments saying that afte
| thoroughly investigating the question 9
municipal government, the committee hat
| come to the conclusion that the dual sys
tenn of councils for all cities was tn,
! best.
/ Mr.. Manly Barnes contenoed that cite
having one council had a much bette
record for good government than thos
having two branches. He took occasion
! to contrast Newport News with on
! branch with Richmond and Norfolk an
declared that Newport News made a m 9t