The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-15

iol I've" ana Better System.
BY vote of % to is. the Common
Council last night concurred In ne
joint resolution providing for nm adj
illustrative board to mana ge the bust.
ness affairs of the city exactly ar
drafted by the special COMMITTEES ana
as adopted by the Board OF Aldermen
Mayor D. G. Richardson announced hIs
nearly approval OF the reform proposed
and his intention. OF signing the Joint
resolution as soon as it can be en-
crossed -
The final vote on concurrence in tho
Board amendments. which eliminated
the Fire, Police and Health Depart
ments. and brought the plan bacI, u
what was Mt first recommended, was as
follows: -
Aycs-AIessrs. Blake, noschen. now
man, brndicy, Burke, Butler. Fergus
son, Fuller. Hobson, Lynch, saIIer.
iihncr, Pollard, Pollock, Powell. Pow
crs, John Tt RRtcIiTc, Rcnttc, Richards.
hichnrtiron, seIph, vouderlchr--...
NocH-Messrs. Bntkins. brown. Cenrc.
sill. Hnddon, HirschbcrE, Huber, Jones'.
Lumnden, Mills. Powers. Rogers, Som
ton, sullivan, Umlnuf, MiItshirc, worlx-
man, Pcterx-1S. ,s'sE n ~, ,'Prl-,
Many Quickly ChnnEe,
Before the vote or 70 to s could ba
announced Mcssrs. Peters Hirschberg.
Batkins. Seaton. Rogers, wiltshire,
i.nmsden, Huber and Jones changed
from no to aye, and the final vote was
announced 30 to 10. Others explained
That they voted not to concur, not that
they We're opposed to an admtnistra-
i've board. but preferred the EIirsch-
berg substitute. including the Fire.
Police and Health Departments.
Chairman Gilbert X. Pollock, OF TN "a
special committee which prepared the
piah' stated at the conclusion of the
roli can last night that It was the
Proudsst moment of his life ,l
The entire report of our committees
mas now been adopted" ha said The
Mayor has signed our four ward reJfs
tricting plan. and will sign the resolu
ton for an administrative board, which!
vas been adopted exactly as our com
mittee prepared it. without any amend
ment whatever
II regard 1t as the greatest action
the City Council has taken in my six
teen years OF service-probabIy tho
best single event that has happened
Tor the city of Richmond in fifty
years" 4
Great Crowd at Meeting.
notwithstanding the stormy night.
the Council chamber was packed with
business men and those interested in
good government long before the
meeting WAS called to order Every
member of the body was In his seat.
and the debate OF the night was of e,
nigh order, several OF the speeches
being classed as among the best made
In the Council chamber in months.
Last week the Common Council, in
lieu OF the resolution recommended by
the special committee, adopted 4
substitute offered by Mr.. HirschberE
Identical In every feature save that
1t included under the administrative
board tho Fire, Police and Health De-
partments. J ow managed by separate
boards The Board of Aldermen on
Tuesday night so amended the paper
as to eliminate those departments.
and then adopted 1t. 10 to 5. The
Council concurred last night in the
Board amendments, the action being
final.
Board OF BUSINESS Men.
the resolution instructs the city
Attorney to procure from the next ses-
sion of the General Assembly certain
amendments 70 the charter OF the city 4
providing for the election OF Ave clti-
zens to he known as the admins tratiye
board, this board to have exclusive .
control OF all city contracts, the cleo Z
ton OF all executive officers OF the
city. and the employment OF all labor,
the making OF all public improvements
or streets, sewers. parks, public build
ings. cemeteries. gas. water and cleo
trio works. almshouse and all other
public utilities and properties now
managed by the fourteen Joint stand
Ing committees OF the City Council. IS
Tho Council. by the redistricting or
dinance already adopted. is reduced
from sixty-four to thirty-two mem.
bers. retains all Legislative functions,
such as the levyins of taxes. the ap- y
preparation of money, enactment pf
ordinances. awarding of franchises
and all other matters OF a purely legis-
lative character, the essence OF tho
plan of tho special committee being
the complete separation OF the legjs-
iative and executive functions of the &
government. The Fire, Police and x
Health Departments. regarded asss
guardians OF the public safaty ratits II
er than as administrative features OF
the government. are left to be man.
aged as heretofore by boards elected y
by the Council. . IS
Final Plea From Chamber. ~, 359
h \ strong series OF resolutions adopt
ed by the board OF directors OF tina s.
Chamber OF Commerce at special
meeting held at noon yosterday u. We're &
read to the Council" most earnestly IS