The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-06
Delegations From Many Virginia
Cities Meet Here
To-Day.
ECONOMY AND EXACT METHOD
Will Prepare New Section o
Constitution Governing
Cities and Towns.

Delegates from many cities of ths
Old Dominion will join in a conference
opening this morning at 10 O'Clock at
the Jefferson Hotel. the object of
which is to suggest to the Forthcoming
session of the General Assembly d
method of government which will suit
the Individual needs of the various
municipalities OF the State.
A subcommittee. consisting of two
members from each city participating
in the conference. one from the
acknowledgement ope from the prin-.
cipal compereiaL b6dy will meet at
10 o'clock this morning at the Jeffer-
son to prepare a suitable proposed re-
vision of Article VIII of the state
eminent of cities and towns. That
committee will report to the full scs-
sion tomorrow morning.
Richmond. Roanoke, Norfolk, Char
lottesville Staunton, Alexandria,
Jynchburg. Petersburg and other Nir-
Slnia cities are TO be represented.
Richmond's Delegates.
The following members OF the
Chamber of Commerce have been APP
pointed by President r. d Williams to
act as the Richmond delegation to
The conference: James Caskie. chair
man: c. y. Coleman, II. w Rountrce,
ID. l. Cabell. William 7. Dabney ana
Coleman Workman.
The municipal delegation from Rich-
mond Is composed of President j. B..
Wood. OF the Board of Aldermen,
President +. l.. Peters, of the Common
Council, and Councilman John A. Cutch-
ms chairman of the special committee
ton changes in the form of government.
dohn w. Craddock, of Lynchburg,
VIII call the committee to order, and
w. steed, city clerk of Norfolk, will
act as temporary secretary until u
formal organization has been effected.
The object of the conference is to
present to the Legislature ertain im-
portant changes in the general laws
affecting the government of cities
There Is a general sentiment that more
scope for self government is needed
In appointing delegates to the CON
ference no city binds itself to accept
any changes that may be made, bu1
simply requests the Legislature tc
make optional the adoption Of certain
changes which Will enable each city
to solve its own municipal problems Ii
Its own way. The conference grow
ont of the meeting of the League o
Virginia Municipalities held in Staun
ton last fall, and later conference u
Roanoke Of representatives of com
merc!al and municipal bodies
For Economy and Exact Methods.
The conference is not intended as
reflection upon the present administra
tion of nny city, bpt is simply CO
operative movement looking 70 bette
conditions, 'T,1ore economical. eHped
ttous and exact methods of city go,
~rnment," Is the Officially expresse
purpose
The Stanton conference resolve
that there was obvious need of co,
stttuaon2i amendment authorizIr
TIRE elites OF Virginia 20 modify the
!. Eysseras urasr certain defined limit
stoaa. leaving 10 each city the opti
NJ adopting such form OF Goyernme
81 'aesEast best under The conditio
ttsersia existing
Goth the taunton and Roanoke 60
fsreaess Endorsed the plan of havi
tFlis meeting jusr before tie asse
hiirs Of the Legislature in order
.ysconiusnd - thar body some defin
a action
TEe stauHton conference express!
% doubt AZ 10 the power OF the Leg
asnre undsr the constiiutlon to Ell