The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-06

rect responsibility, and q more COM
plete system of checks and balances:
some board paid to give time and at
tcnt.on to employment OF labor. award
ing OF contracts. purchase of supplies,
euditns of bills and accounts. and all
the muititudinous details Of street.
sewer. water, gas. electric and other
departmental administration. Under
the plan no proposed. the Fire. Health,
Police and School Boards at present
constituted are not !nterfered with.
The debate was general and inform
Ing. DIR. Henry c. Jones was the only
citizen who spoke, suggesting gen.
cra1 provision by which charter amend
ments may be adopted from time to
time by "A two-thirds vote of the peos
pie. MIR. Meredith stated that this was
Impossible under the present Constitu-
tion, as the Legislature must prescribe
charters for cihes.
I Mr. Lynch and Mr.. Don l.aavy ia
rored election OF the members of the
proposed board by the people. Mr.. Don
leavy argued the proposition, saying
that the people get as good government
as they deserved to have. and that on
the people the burden ana the respon-
fsibility lay.
Look to the Future.
apprehensive that at some future time
corporate interests with large invest
ments at stake might, by forming Il
combination. secure control OF the cleo
torate ana place their own men in pow
or Mr. Meredith said that a more SCI
rious situation was that to the 5000
registered voters in Richmond but q, 600
usually vote, of whom l.i00 are en-
plcycs of the city of Richmond. If
each employc could interest two friends
sthc office holding vote would control
and could defeat any man running on
platform of economy ana business
Ike administration who announced his
opposition 10 indiscrimnate salary in
creases and his determination to SEQ
that the city got dollars worth of
work for each dollar of pay.
-Four Wards for City.
The following resolution WINS finally
adopted. en- motion OF Mr.. Lynch:
Be It resolved, That 1t is the sense
or this committee that the city be re-
INSTRUCTED into four wards. and the
city Attorney is hereby instructed 10
prepare On ordinance to be effective
from and after September /. 1912. car
ryinE this resolution into effect. to meet
the requirements OF the statute as TO
equalization of population in accord.
"nco with data gathered by the special
accountant"
NJ Meredith and Mr. Pollard agreed
that the ordinance rcdistricting the civ
INTO wards could be adopted by the
Council without Legislative action; In
iact The Council is required by statute
TO redistrict the city after each de-
eennial census, and may be compelled
10 DO so by mandanus. on application
., any citizen If adopted by the Coun.
rli 1t will cut the Common Council to
twenty members and the Board Of AL
ucrmHn
The expiration OF the present terms
august 81, 1912, and new Council
BASED on the new ward lines. viii, be
nominated in the primary next Aprn
TO take office on September l.
MIR. Meredith and Mr.. Pollock aster
consultation, offered tho following:
BE II resolved, That II is tho sense
OF TINS committee that an Administra-
i've Board shall be created. lpon WHOM,
shail be imposed nil OF the executive
ana administrative duties now exercised
oy the City Council and the several
committees OF the Council. such boa rd
10 consist or tive members who sham
receive IAN annual compensation Of
'--- dollars, to devote all OF their
,he TO the discharge of their duties.
10 ne elected BY the people, the terms
OF whom shall be four years. eSccn,
that those first elected shall serve as
io!!ows: two for a period OF two wears
ana 'hree for period of four years:
10 mold daily open sessions ana 10 no
Huthorized to employ a clork to keen
PROPER records Of their proceedings M
salary not exceeding dol
Iars' and the City Attornev Is diroc,a,,
10 prepare ana report TO this commit
zee srch amendments to the city char
yer as VIII permi, the creation OF such
MI Morris proposed as an amen,,n,e,,
30 me paper that the Adminlstrottve
i1oard proposed shall he elected by the
,onhcii from a list OF twenty cundi-
oates to be nominated by the Mavnr
ny agreement the city Attorney was
Instructed to draw this clause of the
ordinance in two forms. so thai tho
committee at a later session NAV do.
W i,1 which method OF ELECTION il
Mn recomnsnd:. Aii other sections Of
,ne paper were agreed upon unanimous-
~ Mr. Pollard said he would hav.
,ne rroper papers prepared for submIs-
s,oh 10 the committee at a meeting
'a'ied for Thursday night October Is