The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29
PETERS STAYS TO
F|GHTFOR CHANGE
Won't Go to Providence, but
Will Lead Insurgents Who
Want New Council Rules.
MAY SWEEP MEMBERS OUT
Wholesale Committee Shifting
Likely in View of Stand
Pat Attitude.
MAY SWEEP MEMBERS OUT

Formation OF the New Council COM
mittees is exciting great interest In
municipal circles as on the work OF
President Peters and Whittet rests to
a large extent the success CIR failure OF
the incoming body, and Will, to large
degree establish the attitude of the
city government toward certain pend
ing questions
The presidents of both branches have
done some work on their lists of as
signments, but both admit that they
are greatly hampered over uncertainty
as to the action OF the Council on the
question of rules. Should the new
Council adopt the rules of the present
body as they stand, no member of the
Finance Committee will be eligible to
serve on any other joint standing COM
mittee. That rule was recommended
by special Committee on Revision
of Rules, consisting of Messrs, Peters,
Pollard, Lynch, Whittet and Mitchell
several months ago, and was adopted
at the time without dissent. 1t has
been stated that every member of the
Finance Committee was in favor Of it
at that time.
Never in Operation.
Now there Is an active movement to
rescind the rule, even before 1t has
been put into effect, the argument be-
ing largely that Chairman Mills, of the
Water Committee; Chairman Adams, of
the Street Committee, and Chairman
Richardson, of the Electricity Com
mittee, are all members of the FL
nance Committee, and would find 1t
difficult to choose between the two
should 1t come to an ISSUE The pres
idents. however, shake their heads sig
nificanly and remark that even were
the Council to go back TO the old rule.
there is no assurance that any of these
members will be given both commit
tee assignments. In fact, with the
Washington Ward members and the
newly elected members there are many
to be placed, and it is not thought to
be good policy to give more than one
important committee to one member.
Chairman Pollard and President
Peters are strong supporters of the
new rule with regard to the Finance
Committee. Answering Captain NIills's
argument that the Finance Commit
tee should be made up of representa-
tives from the various departmental
committees. Mr.. Peters says that that
IL to give certain departments undue
advantage. The Finance Committee
has public hearings on appropriation
matters when the chairman of any
committee or the department head may
be heard as to the need for funds.
The committee then sits in executive
session for elaboration and action.
bearing in mind the condition of the
city finances as well as the merits OF
the proposition. To have the chair
man OF one of the departmental COM
mittees present in the executive ses-
sion. according to Mr.. Peters. is not
fair to others who are excluded, and
who have no way of knowing what
goes on behind the closed doors.
Organize on Thursday.
The question will come up for action
on Thursday afternoon at o'clock,
when the Council meets TO organize.
The Board will follow at o'clock
Another matter that President Peters
is anxious to have determined at once
is the election of successor to George
E. Wise, in Henry Ward. He naturally
does not wish to make up a list of COM
mittee assignments for man not yet
elected and who may not Mt into the
of his department or may have some
special aptitude for some other COM
mittee. Should the vacancy be filled
and the question of rules be settled on
Thursday, Mr.. Peters thinks he can
have his list of. committee assignments
ready for tie regular Council meeting
next Monday night. Samuel Steiner
End Herman Stein have withdrawn from
the race, leaving the only candidate at
present Wallace Saunders. who has
been proposed by President Peters and
who is highly irdorsed There has
been no ward caucus, and it is prob
able that none will be held, but that
the matter will be determined by the
Council at Its first meeting.
Going to Providence.
President Whittet, of the Board. will
not be here for the opening meeting
He is a member of the committee APP
pointed by the Mayor TO attend the
meeting OF the Atlantic Deeper Water
ways convention In Providence, r. I
The delegation named by the Mayor
was Messrs. Whittet. Peters, Lynch
Pollard and Hobson. Mr.. Pollard will
be unable to go for business reasons
and has transferred his appointment
to Alderman E. Douglas Richard son
who will leave with Mr.. Lynch by tn.
Merchants and Miners steamship fol
Providence this afternoon. Presiden
Peters said last night that 1t was no
certain whether he would go to Prov
idence, in view of the complicat ion
of the organization of the new Coun
Gil. The waterways convention, h,
said. he regarded as OF the creates
Importance, especially as II Is TO 81
invited to meet In Richmond next year
but the question of the formation O
the Finance Committee ne regards al
vital one in the organization OF tn,
new Council, and he will probably sta!
here TO fight for the rule segregatini
that.committee, which he describes a
the bone and s!new" of the Council
East End Provided For.
Without saying who he would ap
point. Mr. Peters said last night in an
swer to Captain Mills's assertion tina
the retirement of himself and Alder
men Richardson and Adams from TN
Finance Committee would leave tn
entire East End without represen ia ton
that such would not be the case; tina
he had his own appointment in min
already. and that lie knew Mr. Whit
tet would provide from the Boar
proper representation from the Eas
End on the new Finance Committee i
fact. the two presidents have had sew
eral conferences and viii again com
pare their lists so as TO have ever
ward represented on every importan
commi ttee, either by delegates fror
one branch or the other.