The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-07

| fion OF the Constitution OF 1904 lie ar.
| glied. the form of government OF each
city was determined by the city It
| self, which formulated n charter and
asked the Legislature to grant 1t.
Mayor Cutchln thought tile present.
scction OF tho Constitution should be
retained, with tile provlso added us TN
optional clause that the Legislature
might Grant q commission form OF
government to any city SO desiring.
leaving the only option between u
straight out. commission and n straight
OUT tWo-chamber council us at present
provided for all cities of the first class.
MIR. Tunstall, OF the committee. held
that 1t was unwisc to lcSislate Vii the
constitution. or to tie the cities down
to but two optional plans. Some cities
he held. might hereafter find 1t desir-
able to adopt the Boston plan. which
has but one chamber III It's council.
Say Term In Vague.
The debate was long and involved,
many legal points being raised, several
speakers declaring hat the term com
mission Is too vague and unmcanlng
covering as many as dozen varieties
of present governmental plans. At D
late hour Mr. Reed, of Portsmouth, Of
lfcred the following substitute. which
was debated at length. and finally re-
jccted by a close vote:
"I2esolved. That the General Assem-
bly, be petitioned to take such steps as
may be necessary To amend article OF
the Constitution of the State In so far as
will permit other forms Of municipal
government than now provided in said
article
Following the defeat OF the Reed
substitute and the adoption OF an
amendment to the committee report,
providing that such changes shall be
optional with each city. to be deter
mined by majority of the qualified
voters the committee report as amend
ed was adopted unanimously. and Will
be recommended to-day to the general
conference.
Would Amend Code.
The resolutions relating to changes
in the Code OF Virginia not being OF
adopted with little debate and no real
opposition.
At the night session Mr.. Twyman. Of
charlottesville, raised the question
whether In the event OF the reduction
OF the membership of the Council to
the minimum. thus effecting in the
case OF cities with only one branch
to the Council the practical effect OF
commission. 1t would be legal for
time. After debate the question off
salaries for Councilmen in such In
stances was referred to the commit
tee on resolutions with instructions to
report to the general conference to-
day
Mayor Cutchin, of Roanoke. called
attention to section 10 OF the Consti-
tuition. in regard TO the provision for
assessment of abutting property own
A. eyNe n
sidewalk Improvement He proposed
an amendment which would allow as
sessment for paving and improving
streets as well as for sidewalks and
alleys, as at present provided. The
following is the text OF his resolution,
which was referred TO the COMMITTEES
on resolutions to report to-day:
Change Local Assessment Law.
"Resolved. That the GeneraI Assem-
bly, be petitioned to take the steps re-
quired by law to so amend section 20
of Article s OF the Constitution of
Virginia as TO eliminate the prohibit
ton against the imposition by cities
of tax or assessment upon AUDITING
land owners for streets or other pub
lie local improvements
Mr. Cutchin claimed that under the
existing law, even in the case of side
walks and alleys, the cities could not
impose an assessment in excess OF the
beneftto the property Other speak
ers considered that wise Limitation.
Resolutions looking to uniform
system of accounting for cities. and
for the auditing of accounts by some
auditing company, approved by the
State Corporation Commission, We're
referred to the committee on resolu-
tons
John w. Craddocls. OF Lynchburg.
was nominated for permanent chair
man, Robert Tunstall, of Norfolk, for
vice chairman. and r. E Steed, Of Nor.
folk, as secretary.
Many Delegates Enrolled.
Many delegates to the conference
were enrolled yesterday. although
others are expected to-day. Those who
registered yesterday were:
Richmond: City Council-R. Lee
Peters. John A. Cutchins. julius A.
Hobson. ]. B. Wood, Joseph f. Powers.
Chamber Of Commerce-James Caslsie
H. L. cabell. c. D. Coleman. II. w.
Rountree, Coleman wortham w. T.
Dabney.
Norfolk: City Council-Robert B.
Tunstall, Ira T. Holt. r. u. Summers,
B. "A. Banks. b. spigel. C. w. North
ern. Board Of Trade-Leo Judson, Jos.
G. Fiveash. w. II. Sergeant. Jr.. Ro-
bert Johnson.
Other than City Council from Nor
folk: T. S. Purdie, Chamber OF Board
of Control; r, E. Stead, City Clerk: Mer-
rift T. Cooke, J. T. Deal, W. w. Sale.
Petersburg: city Councll--Richard
B. Davis. r. Boiling Wilcox, Charles