The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-26
COMMISSION FORM
UNDER DISCUSSION
.
Committee Hears Specially
Prepared Paper from c.
V. Meredith
LIMITATIONS MADE
CLEAR IN DOCUMENT
Members Agree That Some
Better System of NUM-
cipal Operation is
imperative

Ways and means of giving Rich
mond a more modified system of mu-
uicipai government were tentatively
discussed last night by members OF
the special Council committee named
several months ago to look into tbs
question and To report as to its feas
tbility.
First of all. the committee heard
specially prepared review of the
proposition prepared by Mr.. Charles
V. Meredith. former city attorney and
one OF tho three citizens associated
with the committee, the other Two
associate mem bers being Messrs. Hen
~ W. Rountree and l.. Z. Morris.
Before reading his paper to the
committee, Mr.. Meredith explained
that he had spent considerable time
Ind labor In getting 1t together. hay
ing consulted practically every await
able book and document having any
relation to the subject in question
Above all. he had investigated con-
stftutional limitations In the way OF
me commission system, finding that
amendments TO the State constitution
would be necessary to bring about the
end desired, and this would require
two or three years time. However
aG ccIicNtA SOlle ttllEE SSIBfU IMAM
that now in vogue might be adopted
without resorting TO amendment TO
The constitution.
Want Better System.
Mr.. Meredith was heard with deep
attention ny the other members OF
the committee as he read the paper
and pointed out its most salienf fea.
tures When he concluded, the COM
mittee discussed the question inror-
M a 51a
mat it Vas imperative that some sys-
fem must he worked out to better ia
cilitate the executive and adminIstra-
1--we side OF city government.
Al the same time II Was ggreeo
that Council should be allowed to re-
main as at present for legislative pur-
poses. though Ii would perhaps b..
Wise to cut down the ward represen-
sanon. However. this was discussed
only tentatively like other phases OF
me situation, no definite action being
taken.
Tenure of Once.
IN event an administrative board
liz put into operation, Mr.. Morris sug-
gested that no member should be
eligible for second term To this
Mr.. Rountree objected holding that
would not be good business to put
man out after he has grown thor
oughly familiar with the details or
his position and therefore more ca pa
BILE OF rendering the city efficient
work. That is not the policy In the
business world. he said. and Chair
man Pollock took the same view
As To how the board members
should be chosen was another ques-
ton that came in for discussion. some
favoring election by. popular vote and
others appointed by the mayor and
the council
Chairman Pollock stated that be-
fore the committee meets again with
In the next month or two he would
have an opinion from City Attorney
r. Pollard relative to. certain phases .ss
the question under consideration. He
had hoped to have an opinion from
Mr.. Pollard last night. but the lat
ter has been out of town for the last
two weeks or more and II WAS there
fore not possible to get the desired
opinion.
Order Pamphlet.
Shortly before the meeting ad-
Journed. Secretary Crenshaw was d.
rected to order for each member OF
the committee a pamphlet specially
prepared by professor at the uni
verSity OF Wisconsin. which is said
to cover the points of com m ission
government IN all Its phases more
comprehensively and more clearly
than any other compilation on tho
subject.
All the members OF the committee
were present as follows: Chairman
G. X. Pollock, Messrs. John r. Don
Leavy, II. G. Rennolds. John J. Lynch.
Dr. Frank NJ. Reade.
Councilman Morgan r Mills was
also present. listening attentively to
the discussion.
Mr. Merediths paper follows In
TO the Committee on Amendment Of
City Charter:
Gentlemen,--I have thought that It
might be desirable at this our first
meeting to have for our consideration
a statement showing how far we are
necessarily restricted in any change
OF the city's charter, or form OF gov
eminent Knowing these limitations,
We Will better be able to know:
First What we can do.
Second. In what directions 1t would
he wiEe TO suggest any changes
Section III OF the Constitution OF
Virginia reads as follows:
General laws for the organization
and government of cities and towns
shall be enacted 10y the General As
semhly. and no special act shall be
passed In relation thereto. except In
the manner provided in article four
OF tnl8 COHStAtutlCIs anu kueu OHly ny
a recorded vote Of two-thirds Of the
members elected to each house. But
each OF the cities and towns Of the
State having At the time Of the adop-
ton Of this constitution a municipal
charter may retain the same. except
no far AZ 1t shall be repealed or
amended by the General Assembly:
provided, that every such charter Is
hereby amended 80 a. to conform to
all the provisions, restrictions. limi-
tations and powers set forth in this
article, or Otherwise provided in this
constitution.
You will notice. first. the require-
ment that general laws for the gov
eminent of municipalities shall be
enacted; and. second. tho prohibition
- TO the passage of special laws
ON the subject. except In the mode
therein prescribed.
Under the decision in Campbell
N bryant. io4 Va. 500. Il would
kcsatinusd % Fourth Pass.l
&