The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-03

Az Viz lulIu VI SOESTHt1Cn
for Virginia cities will be discussed Il
conference TO be held at the jefferson
Hotel on Thursday and Friday OF thi:
week. Representatives will be presen
IRON the city governments and tn
mond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Charlottes
vile. Stanton, Alexandria, Lynchburg
Petersburg and other Virginia cities
Jonn w. Craddock. OF Lynchburg, VII
can me conference to order Mt 10 "A
Norfolk. Will act as temporary secre
| tary pending permanent organization
The meeting is Held with a view O
pr.senting to the Legislature certain
| and possibly in the Constitution of til,
State, affecting the government Of
cities, which Will give more scope fol
local self-govornment. In appointing
delegates to the conference. no city
changes that may be made, but re-
quests the Legislature to make op-
tional the adoption of certain modin-
cations which will enable each indi-
problem in It's own way The confer
ence grows out of meeting OF the
League of Virginia municipalities held
in stanton last fall and a later con-
ference in Roanoke OF representatives
OF commercial and municipal bodies,
at which the whole subject OF city
government was discussed in some
detail.
Want Economy and Expedition.
In no City taking part in the confer
against the present administrators Of
the government, and In nearly every
instance the Councilmen and CITY ON
erals themselves are cooperating to
> o.,,,os better conditions. More eco
lonlical, expeditions and exact methods
or tho city government" is officially
put down as the aim and purpose or
the conference. -
INC Staunton conference declared nv
,esoiutlon that there was obvious need
Ems. .zg the cities Of Virginia to modify
.heir systems under certain defined
limitations. and that 1t was the sense
q the the, conference that any. such con-
,si ~ N,. anendment should leave toI
tacIl CITY the option of adopting such
,orm Of municipal government as nav
seem best under its own conditions.
%ilhin limits to be defined bYAchartsrs
ahled by the General Assembly.
Want Home Rule.
Endorsement OF the plan Of havin~
general conference of representative
81 the cities of the Commonwealth in |
.Sslcnmond Just prior to the meeting of !
ens legislature gI was given by both the
WITH the proviso that the committeesl
shall endeavor to secure such AMI
to the Constitution as
ea Wli authorize each city to adopt such
,oi IN IN OF municipal government as may
pc CHOSEN by 1t. without regard for the
lorins OF municipal government in
other cities"
The resolutions formulated at Roa-
,,ea calling for the meeting of re-
were drawn by the following con-.
mlttee: John w. Craddock. lynch bnrr.
Ihh y, Cutchins. Richmond: Carl 81.
Roanos peteeTTsb ~ John W. Woods.
gent, Jr., Norfolk 80
me Roanoke conference. held octo
Der -, -. was most largely made up OF
!, nj eS ,.a Of commercial bodies.
Commerce of that city. The Stanton
meeting, held October Z. was largely
so1n posed of delegates to the League
sIayor tss and MnnisilIPalites and OF
5 50, conferences agreed ,on the meet
ns to be held in Richmond this week. +,
,u named suhcommittees to arrange
t Sa tne appointment of delegates, 50
-sWo tiie gathering may be representa-
M e,hks Commission Possible.
81 = ne resolutions adopted by the staun- /,
VI ILL. conference . set forth that since
tsrn. i . .,,ra as TO the power of the
Grant municipal charters providins. tor
'.it Is commonly known as the Com /
yitfnmt loTm OF government and
yba.ba determining on the question
y ,neelher such form is expedient!n Cir-
'.nia' etther generally or with refer
nee. nc. 10 the needs Of any particular ,,
ny, yet the conference was OF the
,,pinloh that 1t Is desirable that the {
.ohs.i t,itlon be amended SO clenrly as
y y anapie the cities OF the State to
usaiH such form OF municipal gov !
Ihtneht' subject to proper restriction.
, Ln ly may respectively desire" The
eso!ution provides for a subcomr,,t-
:, OF Two from each city. one from
~ inuhtcipal government and one I
rom the principal commercial body. /! I
:, prepare a suitable revision OF Article | /,
II. OF the State Constitution. provid-
~ lor me government OF cities and
OWES, the committee to report 10 the
enetai conference IN Richmond.
: ~. ne general committee is to consist a
| such number as the Authorities In /
ach city, both municipal and CONNER ,
ai, may dercrmine.'' The subcom-
llttee Will have it's final meeting !
hprsdsy morning. and will report to !
meeting. Of the general body on Fri ! 1
ay morning. January Z. In tho gen :, a
al committee each city Is Ia bs en- |,
tied to two votes, one to he cast Nv =
&c municipal and one by the CONNER 9
al delegations. voting M units The I
sneral committee Is by no means con-
ned 10 confederation OF constItutlona,.Ii
nendrents making possible exnerI. :
eutg with commissions 1t liz eynrcze