The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-24
D.. u. &
PLAN is FAVORED
BY BUSINESS men
Changes i'll Form Of Government
to BE Discussed at Smoker
Tonight.
FEW QUALIFIED TO VOTE
Citizens See Danger Of Office
Holders Controlling Elcc-
torate OF City.
FEW QUALIFIED TO VOTE

Members OF the Business Mems
Club and large number of invited
guests Will Tonight discuss the pro
posed changes in the management of
city affairs at smoker rendered by
the club In Its rooms on the top floor
of the American National Bank Build
ing. beginning az Sis o'clock The
principal speakers will be Mayor D. C.
Richardson. City Attorney Henry r.
Pollard. former City Attorney Charles
V. Meredith, former City Councilman
H. W. Rountree and former president
of the Chamber of Commerce l.. II.
Morris.
The Chamber of Commerce has al
ready. through its board of directors,
given strong Endorsement to the pro-
posed changes, but the meeting to-
night will be the first popular gath
erinS OF large number of represent
tative citizens for general discussion
of what is proposed. The club has
about 1000 members, and hGc issued
invitations to the Chamber Of Com
mercc. the City Council and others to
be present
Want nm Administrative Board.
The chief phase of the discussion
Will be In regard TO the administrative
board The redistricting plan, calling
for four wards, Is regarded by many
business men as q matter which the
Council can best determine Redis-
tricting is obviously necessary; in fact,
the Council Is required by law to re-
arrange the ward lines so as to give
equal population. The four-ward plan,
reducing the membership OF the two
branches of the Council one half, has
general approval. Eut the business
men arc especially Interested In the
plan to employ five men, whose duty
il shall be daily to transact the bust
ness affairs OF the city. now left TO
worry along between fourteen Coun-
ell committees and any number of de-
partment heads. with no one respon-
siblc for anything. Some business men
are doubtful of the cXpcdiency OF
electing the members of this board
by the people from the city at
large, as Is proposed, pointing out
that with the very small regis
tration, and the fact that one
fourth of the present actual voters arc
on the city payroll. such IA board
might readily be controlled by the
office holding class, and q political
machine organized which would be
invincibe The answer given by the
special committee and by those taking
part in this debate is that a larger
number of citizens should qualify
themselves to take part In the gov
crnment: that If the people elect they
will have as good commissioners as
they desire to have, and there Will be
no divided responsibility Members OF
the board will answer directly 20 the
people from. whom they receive their
ofiices.
Wnut More Qualified Voters.
IT Is expected that both the Business
Mems Club und the Chamber of Com
mercc will take strong ground shortly
In regard to voting and qualifying
for citizenship. In the chamber board
resolution has been proposed recon-
mending that all members OF the
chamber give preference in employing
men in their business enterprises ia
qualified voters who have paid their
poll taxes. And IL has been suggested
in the Council that hereafter free
school tuition be denied TO those whose
parents or guardians do not contribute
by their poll taxes TO the support OF
the government. charging such pupils
at nonresident rates.
Comparatively few poll taxes have
yet been paid for this year, though u
penalty of per cent. is added OH De-
cembcr |. In order to be qualilied TO
vote for Mayor and members of the
CITY Council next spring, citizens must
pay their poll taxes TO Treasurer Pace
on or before December 0.
The discussion of city AFFAIRS to-
night is expected to be general and
informing. Many members of the City
Council have accepted invitations to
be present.