The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-14
NORFOLK PLAN
is SATISFACTORY
Hon. w. w. Old Writes Of the
Success OF Board OF
Control.
DEFENDS NORFOLK CHARTER
Advises That Number of Council
Be Not Reduced-Elect Board
by Popular Vote.

Hon. w. w. Old. of Norfolk. chairman
IF the committee which drafted the
ma nd.d charter of Norfolk placing
the executive affairs of that city IN
the hands of board of control. has
written The Times-Dispatch most
letter bearing on the le-
gality of the proposed charge of char
ter by the city Of Richmond as well
as pointing out the benefits which
Norfolk has derived from business
mana cement of municipal affairs
Mr.. Old writes from q practical
standpoint, and his remarks Will be
read with interest by all who favor
an economical and non-political man
agement of city affairs. 1t Will be
noted that Mr.. Old does not favor a
"smaller Council" but urges that the
body be unchanged. His let
ter follows.
The Norfolk Plan.
Editor of The es-Dispatch:
Sir-I see from your paper that
your people are agitating the ques-
ton of so amending your city
charter as to produce some change
and reform In the management of
your municipal affairs, and hope
slider 1t as intrusion II I say a
word. =.
L am led to this, somewhat, be-
cause in the news columns in Your
issue of the 9th inst. l find the
following:
NORFOLK CHARTER.
THE Norfolk amended charter
was discussed to some extent by
Messrs. Cary and Pollard, and the
City Attorney said he had no made
study of the Norfolk plan, but
was sure that it's weakness lay In
the fact that Norfolk asked the
Legislature to do an unconstitu-
tional thing, and this committee
could not be too careful in franz
ing the bill it proposes or may
propose to ask the General Assem-
bly, to act upon"
OF course. l do not know exact
ly what was said by Mr.. Pollard.
your City Attorney. but can hardly
suppose he said exactly what was
reported or that he meant what
this language imports. If he has
been correctly reported. especially
in view Of his published opinion
wherein he defines such charter
changes as are possible under the
Constitution. among others what
powers may be conferred upon a
board of control.
The amended Norfolk charter
was framed by commission
created by the Common and Select
Councils Of the city of Norfolk,
known as the Charter Commits
SION, of which l had the honor to
be the chairman. This commission
consisted of seven members (after-
wards increased to eight, of whom
three We're members Of the Coun-
ellis. 1t served without compensa-
ton. and held, during the performs
ance of its labors ninety two
meetings. lasting generally sew
eral hours each. 1t had before it
the charters of many cities, in
Guiding those of Houston. Texas,
New Haven, Conn.,, ST. Paul, Mimi.
Nashville, Tenn and the proposed
charter of Grand Rapids, Mich,
which was said to be most per-
feet charter of it's kind in Its de-
tails. The changes made neces-
sary by our new Constitution, with,
| It's limitations, and by the gem
eral laws passed In pursuance of
our Constitution, were all before
us and considered In detail.
There Is scarcely a question
bearing upon the changes which
were made. constitutional or other
wise, that was not considered by
the commission. For your infor-
nation. and in the belief they
Will be useful to you In the dis
cussion of this question, / send
you copy. of the report of the
commission, and also copy of the
proposed changes as they were
presented first to our City Coun-
ellis and afterwards to the Legis-
lature. ] think you will see upon
reading the report of the commits
/ sion. that no question, constitu-
tional or otherwise, was overlooked
In it's consideration Of the impor-
tant matters before it.
Board OF Control.
i The great change made in our
| city government by the new char
ter was the creation of "board
of CONTROL" to have charge, under
the ordinances of the city, of all
the departments OF the city govern
ment, including the Board OF
Health, The only question upon
which the commission was divided
was as to how that board should
be elected, as you Will see by refer
ence to pages II to II of the re-
port. The. result was, when the
matter came before the Legisla-
ture it decided they should be
elected by the people, and as will
he seen by reference to section
81 of the charter, Acts 1906, page
ESQ, it is provided that this board
of control shall be elected at the
same time that members of&the