The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-08
NEW AMENDMENT
WANTED BY SHAW
Argues in Opposition to Proposed
Change in Virginia Con-
stitution.
HAS DIFFERENT SCHEME
Municipal League Committee
Hears Discussion, but De
fers Decision.

Behind closed doors, a committoo
from The League OF Virginia Municlpol.
tues met at the Chamber OF Commerce
yesterday ut noon and discussed +.
esointion presented Wy LIeutenuut q
! L. Shaw. OF Nortolk. calling unon ,ho
heHt Legislature to decline 10 snh
,,. 20 Tue people Tor ralilcatiou IN.
In lutiohai amendment approved at
the last session OF the General Aas
,is' bo'erhing municipal charters
lieutenant Shaw WAS presentsln ncr.
soh anu arEu the resolution before
me committee He favored "a substi-
tute measure winch should ,ive IN
eacn separate municipality The riobt
" choose the form OF local govern
Ihent best suited to its needs and Ia
iEanc such charttr for its govern
inent as is best lifted for the luc.,I
situation. AIR snaw's aim is the com
mission plaza form oil government
Mh!ch ne mas advocated for a number
OF years.
Decision Withheld.
The ineInGers OF the committee de-
ciihcd 10 make any statement One
OF the members Eaid that no dcflnicc
conclusion had been reached and that
The committee had nothing To give out
Tor publication at tsis time The meet
me ~aA preliminary In it's nature and
heiu Tor the purpose OF hearing ar
sument for and againBt the proposed
The committee is composed of Henry
Narthen. q FredericAsUurg. cnair-
man: John w. craddock. Lynchburg; A
y Brockett Alexandria,; Barton Myers
Sortoik; J. Davix Reed. Portsmouth,
anu j. T. Williams. Lynchbury. The
three last named members were alb
sent from yesterdays meeting.
Lieutenant Shaw argued before the
committee that his proposed provision
Tor electing the charter revision COM
mittee OF fifteen in any city desiring
10 frame a new charter by the prefer
chtlai system of voting through the
! single transferable vote secures many
advantages. amongst which may be
named, nrst. that while the majority
always rules. the minority will always
De represented In accordance with its
voting strength. IT secures to each
SHADE OF public opinion the exact pro-
portiohal representation on the com
nitiGe. Beng elected at large, ger
rymandGring and iog-rolling are anke
rendered impossible. The conduct of
the election Ii Immediately raised to
hiShcr plane through hope each
candidhte has of benenting By the sec
ohu. third or other choice votes of his
iosihS competitors. 1t saves EXPENSE
ana the duplication OF elections by
practically settling the question OF q
new CHARTER. the sitting out OF candi-
aatss. o'dInariiy done in primary
election. and the final determining OF
the successful candidates. all in one
election. The provision for open SEES
sicnS or this charter revision commit
NSS - spHiclHlNB. ne SAID, the people
nave right to demand the absence
OF such provision has been cause
or grave injustice heretofore. While
me preferential system OF voting may
now seem novelty TO many, the ma
non vide discussion just beginning of
| the presidential preferential primary
VIII, he thought. RAPIDLY educate the
whole people on the subject so that
after 1912 practically every voter in
the United States VIII understand It,
The self-cHforcinS clause OF the
amendment Is deemed necessary In
View OF the long continued failure OF
the Legislature 10 comply with the
mandate OF the Constitution or 1902 in
regard 10 lesaliZed primaries. He said:
Opposes Present Proposition.
The nrst provision of the existing
amendment renders home rule wholly
Impossible. for in all the home rule
States the cities. under the limitations
OF the Constitution and the general
la VS., frame their own charters, and nat
urally make them such as the cities
deem best adapted to their local needs
The second provision, requiring the
popular election OF numerous other OIL :
GERS, In whatever form OF charter
might be granted, makes II utterly I'M
possible for any city In Virginia TO
! obtain commission form OF government
a city may have nominal commits
sion al the head of It's government
but unless that commission has the
power OF appointing and discha rginG
all other city officials and employees