Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-16
MAYOR BUTTONS TALK
Addresses Ito Virginia Municipal.
lies on City Government.
ADVOCATES RULE OF FIVE MEN
Believes THAT All Ward Divisions
Should be Done Away with and
There Should be Four Council
men to City.

RICHMOND. VA. Jan. 15-The sec
ond annual convention of the League
OF Virginn Municipalities met at
Murphy's Hotel this morning and
Went into session shortly after 10
o'clock in room No. %. in the old
building, about 80 members being
present.
The meeting was somewhat de-
iayed, owing TO II misunderstanding.
whereby one-half of the league met
IN The hotel proper and the other
half in the hotel annex.
upon the two parties getting to-
gether the convention was called to
order by Its president. Mr.. Joel II.
cutchin. mayor of Roanoke, and on
ened with prayer by Rev. DR.. w. r..
u. Smith. pastor of the Second Ban
'nst church.
Mayor Mccarthy was next intro
duced by the president.
Mayor Mccarthy. arising. excused
himself on the plea that. he Ind inst
convalesced from an attack of the
grip which was q disease. said no.
That singularly still chung 10 its vic
tim although he may for several
weeks have entirely recovered" from
It's effects.
me mayor extended graceful and
ehlracteristic welcome to those pres
ent. reluesting especially that they
VISIT the city hall and familarlze
themselves with the conduct OF local
municipal affairs.
MT samuel r. Buxton. MAYOR OF
newport News. was introduced He
spoke on Some Proposed Changes
III Municipal Government" The sneak
or Quoting editorials from Richmond
.E yiehpurg and Petersburg. hazarded
lhe opinion that many cities wero
not sSIisiled with tho present con.
iroi by council. and that MANY were
crying for boards of control In tbo
speakers opinion boards of control
would not meet the Issue satisfoc-
torily. He believed that n board y,
control would DO found to be- bn, n
creature OF the council" and would
pug multiply and involve mupicinol
management.
Tho speaker believed that the ma
,ion SHOULD be governed by Fedora,
legislation; the state by state nm
,horities' and the city by municIna,
Jaw In such manner as to offset or
possibility of conflict with laws 30 .ha
nation or of the state - 0''''
ne oeiieved that all ward divisions
should be done away with: that tbn
'egisiaturA administrative and oy~
ecutave functions OF the civ sbon,a
ou i~ieed IN a mayor and four coun-
o,nnen; that these men would be
Elected by the city ut large an,
charged With the direct responsibII,,,,
OF all local AFFAIRS; that the Ieris,a
i've and executive functaons would
10 distributed among these 1--WE mon
.acn member of the council would
ment. one uepart-
The initiative and referendum =,
70 sale of franchises, tho issm, ." 80
bonds. or thea cquirement or onara "
ligatory. u oe Cd
The recall should be permitta, ,s
20 any elective officer upon netit,on
oi 20 per cent, of the qualified voters
Of the city. 'o'e's
~" appointments should be- sub-
'ecs TO civil service provisions
rroved merit the test OF fitness
complete publicity should be in
sured by causing to be published n
n'oh,niy or quarterly staement OF nj,
receipts and expenditures.
o, NO 70. ordinance should become op.
elatfve within ten days from n,
passage 'oin "s
Mr.. Buxton was greeted with rro
ionged applause. wa