The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-02
The SENATE:
A'T {. /; ! / /:
Dragging Along With the City.
andSTOWn Measure. fiji
MANY MEMBERS ARE AWAY.
Not Enough on Hand to Attend TO The
Business for Which They We're
Sent Here Provisions of
the Bill.

Y Tho Senate Is not making very rapid
progress with the bill embracing statutes
relating to the government OF cities ard
towns. The delay Is owing chiefly to inn-
blllty to keep the bill before the Senate.
Mr. Halsey, chairman Of the subcomnlit-
tee which prepared tho measure. and who
has charge Of It on the floor, yesterday
made an earnest effort to have It disposed
of with no further delay. lie protested
against the proposition Of Mr. TYLER to
postpone the bill Until Tuesday. The
Senate has concluded the major portion
Of the bill and Is now working on the
pages of printed matter. Many OF these
were offered by Senators Anderson and
Bryant. while Mr.. Halsey himself con-
triLuted some. 81 n W. Il ~ E 2EB
At yesterdays session all the uncontest-
cd amendments were agreed upon and the
bill was laid aside for adjournment The
questions at issue are Of Interest to but
few Senators, hence the difficulty Of keep
Ing quorum. The Senate will take 5up
the amendments again to-day. It Is OF
imperative Importance that they should
be completed before adjournment
BILLS PROVISIONS.
The bill was prepar ed 4, BY subcom-
mittee OF the Senate Committee on Coun-
Etv city and Town Organization COM
posed Of Messrs. Halsey, Chapman and
Bruce, and deals with the Important sub
jjecti OF city and town government. It Is
well known that the new Constitution
makes many and far-reaching changes ~
tho laws OF this subject, and It Is the OBJ
jcct Of the aboye-mentloned bill. which
us entitled "a blu to amend and re-enact
chapter A Of the Code Of Virginia (1Ss7)
In relation}to cities and towns" to carry
out and putlnto complete effect the cons
stitutional provisions.
CHANGES MADE y
f The bill makes no changes In the exist
ing law except such as are necessitated
by the Constitution, and wher .'-t =
beer found practicable. .sttS language of
the Constitution ltsrlf has been used.
Practically 4. :: 81 chapter a has been re-
tanned ,as It IS found in the Code and Pol
land supplement-, and in addition to this
die existing statutes on the subject Of
city and town government, as found IN
the various acts Of assembl have been
Inserted Tho changes necessitatcdy by
the new Constitution are numerous and
Important. ,a Il. i
Much OF the bill Is taken up with pro-
visions concerning City Councils, and In
carryng out the constitu tional provision
that they shall consist Of two branches.
1t Is provided that one branch shall be
called the 2,fCO1n1HOHS UullCll,6 tiiiu sra ~
consist OF five members from each ward
the other branch to be called the Board
OF Aldermen. and to consist Of three
mcmbe from each ward. Provision Is
mc de for reapportionment OF representa-.
tiol. among the wards and for redlstrict-
Ing the cities into wards; members OF
councils are made ineligible to offices to
be filed by themselves; presiding officers
are provided for and their duties pre-
scribed, and in short the whole subject
OF city and town government rs con con
ta!ned in present statutes and N the Con- Con-
stitutlon, is gone over and an attempt
made to cover It. D.
Another important amendment, In which
every city and all the citizens are directly
Interested is that permitting assessments
OF property owners for paving and street
improvements. This is one yet to- be set
tied. IF there be quorum present, the
bill may be completed To-day IT VIII
come up as the special and continuing or
der until disposed Of or displaced by vote vote
of the Senate.