The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-11
COUNCIL SLEEPS
over REDUCTION.
Politicians Say Plan Now Is to
Wait Until After Spring
Primary.
BODY FAR TOO CUMBERSOME
Failure to Transact City's Bust
ness Due to Excess in
Membership.
BODY FAR TOO CUMBERSOME

Although two plans were presented
many months ago for reduction Of the
membership of the City Council by q
reduction in the number OF wards tho
belief Is strong among those familiar
with city politics that all considera-
ton, and certainly all action on the
subject will be deferred until after the
counciln~nic primaries of next April.
AT present the papers are In the
hands OF special committee on
changes In the form of city govern
ment. body authorized early last
| spring. but which has helh but one
meeting. At that meeting 1t was
stated that the committee contemplated
general revision of the city charter,
the changes to be formulated and pre-
scented to the Legislature next Jann-
ary
The Richmond delegation HIS been
nominated without any Instructions or
pledge for such charter changes.
Messrs. Radcliffe and Umlauf, the au-
thors of the two plans for reduction
OF membership In the Council, hold
that their plans may be adopted by
the Council itself. without legislative
action. and this view is Endorsed by
the City Attorney. The special com
mittee. however. holds that reduction
In membership is but small part of
=
corporation in revised charter
Sisty-four Members.
At present Richmond has eight
wards--forty Councilmen and twenty
four Aldermen, making City Council
composed OF sixty-four members The
two branches have missed quorums
more frequently than they have held
meetings for several months past-so
much so that at Its last meeting the
lower branch adopted n resolution call
Ing for the resignation of those who
could not or would not attend. No
designations have as vet been forth
coming.
While practically every member OF
the Council admits that the body IS
too large-that 1t is unwieldly and
cumbersome. treadipg on It's own
heels in Its efforts to transact bus
mess. as for instance in the matter
OF a public Improvement bond issue.
yet the belief is strong that because
of political reasons no action will be
taken at present.
Regard II As Calamity
Discussion will so on and the mat
ter lag. according to well informed
men in the city politics. until after the
primaries next spring. when another
siXty-four men will have been selected,
and after which 1t will be imprac.i-
end OF their term. two years from the
LIST of next September-three years
from last week Members of the Coun-
ell themselves admit that It would be
a calamity for Richmond to be tied to
Its present form OF government for
the next three years. but unless some
plan Is put into effect before the
spring primary. that will be Inevitable.
If either the Unlauf or the Ratclifre
plan. one proposing three wards and
the other Ave. with a Council OF
twenty-four or forty members. re-
spectively, is adopted this fall it
could take effect on the first day of
next September. when the terms of the
present Councilmen. with the exception
OF the follower members of the Board
OF Aldermen. expire. with new
Council nominated, all hope of
change in the form of city government
would be deferred for another two
years.