The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-27
MAY TAKE FIGHT
into PRIMAR Y
If Administrative Board Plan
Fails i'll Council, Advocates
Will Appeal to Voters.
CHAMBER TO GIVE SMOKER
Business Men United TO Discuss
Proposed Reforms To-
morrow Night.

MI citizens and Taxpayers interest
gu III the bcttcrncnt OF the government
of Richmond, whether especially nd
rocatos of the pending plan of reform
or not, arc invited by the Chamber OF
commerce to smoker to be given in
The jefferson Hotel Auditorium to-,nur-
row night AT S O'clock Several short
addresses VIII DC made, explaining lust
what the proposed changes are. ana
thch "a dozen or more wcll-known bus
mess men will he asked to give their
opinion of its practicability. Members
Of the Chamber of Commerce. Tho Bus
mess Mems Club and of the city Conn
ell are urged to be present. especially
az ON the following night the Council
committee on Ordinance. Charter and
itctorin will take final action on the
two pending ordinances.
Must Pny Poll Taxes.
Definite steps will be projected at tho
smoker Tor securing larger payment
of poll taxes BY citizens. Tho opposi-
tion already evident in efforts to amend
or alter the plan. believed by sts advo-
Gates to be undcrhand attempts TO DELAY
aciioh until after the spring election,
indicates that for any reform IN The
city government the citizens must fight
aud fight hard. If the present Council
cannot sec its way to take progressive
Steps, even though I'm some inStanccs
practically voting themselves out of
Office thereby, the business men proposc
TAKING the matter to the polls II il;
nehniieiN announced that II the plan
of reform fails before tho Council
,CiI ho
ihcrcial organizations in the spring pri-
mary toward the election of n Council
pleuScd TO the support of the admin
'stratiNc board resolution. That meth
cd of fighting means delay, waxing
until another Legislature, and the bus
mess men express strong hope that
the obstructing Councilmeu will not
make such campaign necessary.
However. TO pave the way for sucIi
campaign, should 1t be necessary.
the Chamber OF Commerce and Business
Mems Clubs Will take steps 10 see that
thelr members and friends arc uualinrd
that pol taxes arc paid on or before
december ?, which is sin months before
| Inc June election, when the city Coun-
! eli and Mayor arc to be chosen If
! the plan fails in the Council al this
time. after tic Endorsement that has
! hccn given TO il, one of the most inter
I csting municipal primaries ever held
| nero may be expected next April, when.
| with gloves OF. the business mon will
cndeavor to Dust the Instructors .nd
erect Council pledged to progress.
May Reduce Taxes
Within the Council opinion seems
TO swing from one side TO another.
Some men who favor the plan of re-
districtins into four wards, with con-
seducnt reduction of the Council. con-
slider the employment of an administra-
tive board TO attend to the city's bua-
mess radical step Other men, upal-
terably opposed to redistrictlnE on the
lines laid down. consider tho admits
trauve board great advance step.
! one able Councilman openly prcdicta
'hat tho saving by the businesslike and
economical administration of the city
anairs eliminating waste and substitute
ing efficiency. Will result within two
Sehr5. not only in great public improve
nents, but also in a reduction of the
city tax rate. already n very low ono
compared with cities similarly situated
The attitude of tho Washington Ward
| members liz being somewhat criticized
by some of their fellow members. That
section has UP TO this time been givoa
"a great deal more than the require
mcnts of the annexation agreement,
! and is TO receive still further benefit
| from the recent bond issue This be-
| ing the case, the effort to retain South
Richmond as IL separate ward. when
II has less than one twelfth of the pop
| uatlon. is regarded as merely block
ing progress. While solid in opposition
to the four-ward plan. several of the
South Richmond members favor the
employment of an administrative board,
and will so vote.