The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-05
SPECIAL REPORT
GOES TO COUNCIL
But Administrative Board Plan
Must Go Through Slow Sys-
tenn Now in Vogue.
TWO COMMITTEES PASS ON lT
Document Prepared After Care
ful Study Will Take Chance
of Being Riddled

rhe Common Council tomorrow
n,ght viii receive tho reports of the
special Corilm'ttee on Changes in the
Form Of City Government. The re-
port carries with it am ordinance TO
r@district the city into four wards
With The details fully worked out, and
a resolution instructinG the City At
torne, to secure from the next General
Assembly, which meets January 10.
certain changes in the city charter, the
proposed revised sections being in
cluded in tho resolution, the chief
point Of the change being the creation
OF az administrative board of hve paid
mon 20 transact the routine details
now In the hands of fourteen execu-
tive committees of the City Council,
thus relieving the Council of the de-
tails OF business management without
Interfering with its rights to enact
ordinances levy taxes or appropriate
money.
1t is expected that both papers will
be referred to the Committee on Ordl-
mace, Charter and Reform under tho
rules. without debate Tho real fight
on the Council noor VIII come when
that committee returns it's report At
present the Council is said to be about
evenly divided on the issue. II vote
were forced tomorrow night on the
ordinance and resolution it is prac-
ttcally certain that the required two
thirds vote could not be secured, as
many Councilmen have been unwilling
TO commit themselves. and arc waiting
Tor their constituents to speak.
Invite Expressions of opinion.
tor many years the commercial or
Sanizations, Dor unions and clubs
and societies. made up mainly of tax
payers and voters. have been discuss
ing city government The Council in
vitcs an expression of opinion from all
such AS TO the merits or disadvant-
ages OF the changes proposed in the
report of the special committee.
In view of the elaborate rules OF
the Council recurring reference at this
time TO the Ordinance Committee. and
later TO the Finance Committee, II is
obvious that prCenpt measures must
be taken if any part OF the proposed
Change is to made effective Re-
ferrcd tomorrow night, tho paper VIII
not come back from the Ordinance
Committee until the December meet
ing, ana under tho Usual course OF
reference to the Finance Committee
with return at the January meeting,
1t can hardly reach the Mayor for
final approval before the middle of
January, even II there rs no objection.
And since there is already strong OBJ
lection. obstructive tactics may be an
ticipated. Quorums Will be broken and
meetings called ana not held.
Amendments Mny IIIIl I.
The special committee has spent
months of labor in the preparation of
it's report, with the advice OF able at
torneys and tho assistance of several
progressive city officers, including the
city Attorney aud Special Accountant
II is regarded as especially important,
therefore. that no minor amendments
be ngrafted--that the naper be not
hutchered bv little changes to meet
the views of each individual commit
tceman. but that the standing commit
tees report IL either favorably or adj
NcrsclN as IT stands, SO that the plan
of government proposed after long
study may stand or fall before the
Council on its merits when il comes to
final vote, The Legislature meets on
January 10. 80 that the city Attorney
should have his instructions before
that date to any charter changes
the city REQUIRES The Democratic pri-
mary for the spring election will como
in April. Even after the adoption of
thc rcdistrictinG ordinance. precinct
lines have TO be arranged and the cleo
ton BOOKS corrected. II new Coun-
oil of sixty four members Is nominated
next April. tho city Is tied to it's pres
ent clumsy government for another two
years from > ptember / next, having
the largest Council OF any city of its
size in tile United States.
Other Meetings.
Besides tho Council meeting on Mon
day night, there are scheduled the fol-
lowing meetings ut the CITY Hall this
week:
Tuesday OF the James
River. r. NJ; subcommittee on
Streets. 1880 p. NJ.
sdaS-Subcommittce on Streets,
S T. NJ.
Thursday-Another Subcommittee on
Streets. II. NJ.