The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-28
CHAMBER TOURGE
BETTER SYSTEM
Change in Form of Government
to Be Advocated at Smoker
Tonight.
BUSINESS MEN AROUSED
Organizations Join in Request to
Council for Speedy
Approval.

invitations to q smoker in the in
terests OF good city government to be
given ny the Chamber of Commerce In
the Jefferson Hotel Auditorium to-
night have been issued to members OF
the City Council, the Business Mems
club, the Central Trades and Labor
Union, the Business Mems Association
of South Richmond. the Travellers pro-
tective Association, the Retail Mer-
chants Association, the United Com
mercial Travellers and others. 1t is
expected that there will be one or
more brief addresses explaining Just
what Is proposed in the way OF
changes In the methods Of conducting
the government. after which dozen
to express their opinions. All citl-
zens Interested In good government
are invited to attend.
1t is believed that the interest mani
Tested at this time. the attendance und
the expression given by the meeting
VIII have large effect on the action
of the Committee on Ordinance, Char
ter and Reform. which meets to-mor-
row night to take final action on the
report The committee will vote sep
arately on the two papers. the admin
istratire board resolution and tho re-
districting plan. Its report Will go to
tho Common Council next Monday.
night, and under the ruling of the
City Attorney requires no further
reference. The papers will be voted
on separately there, and In each In
stance require but majority vote for
their adoption.
Reaction to Four-Ward Plan.
There has been some reaction with
III the Council in the last few days as
to the four-ward feature of the plan.
Some men who formerly favored the
whole report now state that they will
vote for the administrative board, but
are opposed to the plan OF redistricting
proposed. They contend that better
local representation will be secured by
dividing the city into eight or ten
wards. with the representation from
each reduced. They believe that the
creation OF an administrative board
Will to such an extent take details
from the Council and relieve the MEM
bers of routine committee service,
that even if tho rcd'stricting plan falls
altogether and the Council Is re elect
ed with sixty-four members, II will not
hereafter prove SO cumbersome and
unwieldly as has heretofore been the
case.
A feature of the meeting tonight
will be a test vote to zee how many
members of the various organizations
represented are actually qualified %
vote. cnODlu inc TchClioNd' ny
necessary amendments and alternate
propositions delay and defeat the plan
at this time, the business men propose
making n campaign for election OF "a
Council on the sole issue of an adj
illustrative boa:d next spring. And to
take part in that election citizens must
secure poll tax receipts before Deem
Der '.
Take II or Leave It,
John j. Lynch. of the special COM
mittee which prepared the pending
plan, aid last night that he greatly
hoped that both the Ordinance Com
mittee and the Council would vote
squarely on the plan as presented. and
not seek to overload IL with condi-
lions and amendments.
The report is there for the Council
to take or leave" said MIR. Lynch. "As
the members vote now they will an
swcr TO their constituents in the next
election had rather sec 1t defeated
outright than tlnkered with and
snapped abort until those who drew
it will not recognize it. II anybody
doesn't like II, let him come out
sauarely and say SO when his name
is called on the final vote. If the re-
port is to be defeated. let 1t be do
feated in the open-not ltlifed in the
dark"