The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-29
President Of Council Ar
de ntly Commends
Simpliied Methods
CHAMBER AGAIN
ENDORSES PLAN
Members Pledge Their Hearty
Support and Will Urge Coun-
Gil to Act Speedily When
Measure Is Presented.
Committee Votes
Tonight.

Although the ward he represents Is
wiped out b. the redlstrictins plan
now under consideration, President r.
Lee Peters. of the Common Council
announced before a mass meeting held
under the auspices OF the Cham of
Commerce at the Jefferson auditorium
last night that he would vote and work
Tor the proposed reform OF the city
government whether II resulted In
political retirement and personal dis
advantage or not.
While not enthusiastic over the plan
- dividing the city into four wards.
Mr.. Peters came out strongly for tho
administrative board as the best
method OF managing city affairs.
The hotel auditorium was well filled
With members of the Chamber of
Commerce, the Travellers Protective
Association. the Business Mems Club
the Central Trades and Labor Council
thc United Commercial Travellers, the
Retail Merchants Association and c.ti-
zens In advocacy OF improving the
city. and the meeting was enthusiastic
ind unanimous In its vlcws, adopting
oy rising vote resolutions approving
the reduction OF the number OF warus
and the creation OF an administrative
board.
Working Under Handicap.
Many speakers took part In "A gen
eral discussion OF the city government
as IL now is. and gave hearty approval
81 the plans for It's bcttermcnt. but In
Gach case praise was given TO the mem
bars OF the Council who have done
wonderfully well under such handI-
zap OF red tap. ana awkward arrange
mcnt "a would prevent, according TO
the speakers. raLlly good government
at the hands OF the best siXty-four
mon in the city!f Many OF those pres
ent pledged themselves TO attend the
meeting of the Council Committee on
Ordinance. Charter and Reform to-
niEht. when action Will be taken on
the pending ordinances. and 10 make
II their business between now and
Monday night 10 let the members OF
The Council know how the progressive
business men OF the city stand Ac.
tirity VIII not cease there, for those
attending the meeting pledged them
selves TO see that the poll taxes Of
themselves and OF their employees are
paid within the next few days. so that
in the coming election suitable men
may be chosen 10 inaugurate the ud-
illustrative board and outline It's poli-
cies and methods OF working.
Text OF ResoIutions.
The following resolutions. offered by
Judge George l. Christian and heart
lily seconded by w. T. Reed and " D.
Sills. were adopted by a rising vote:
Be II resolved
i. That while this meeting fully rec
ognirea the Intelligent, faithful ana
nrduous services which have been rem
dered by members OF the City Council
OF Itichmond, II Is mike fits profound
conviction that the present form of
the government In this city is unscien-
tile and TINT the methods In vogue
arc cumbersome.
:. That II firmly believes that the
changes proposed In the plan submitted
by tho Special joint Committee on
Form of Government to the Common
Council, November o, 1911, OF which
the principal features are.
! (a) The reduction of the number of
wards, whereby tho City Council Is re-
duced one-half in number, and thereby
tS rendered less unwIeidy, and
Cpl The creation of nn administrative
board, whereby the icgisIntiye md
administrative functions of the gov
crnment nrc rendered separate and dis
unct, nnh responsibility liz centralized
hre much needed reforms I'm the tlirec-
ton OF modern city government,
which would Insure lrent benefit To the
municipality of Richmond by nfror,linE
conditions favorable to more b,Isi-
ness like administration of ITS affairs
u. Tint the City Council be, and Is
hereby, respectfully but earnestly re-
quested to approve the plan submitted
by the Special joint Committee on
Torm or Government, and TO tnkc nlI
necessary steps for securing the pas
sage by the General Assembly OF vfr-
Ginia mt its next session of such amend
meDts as mny bc required for cnrr,inr
the sud plan into operation.
Meeting Well Attended.
Twenty-four of the twenty five d.
rectors of the Chamber of Commerce
were In the hall-many of them on the
platform. Seats were occupied there
by President H. ". Wood, j. G. Corley,
N. D. Sills president of the Business
Mems Club; II. w. Rountrec. Robert
g. Rennolds L. r. Morris and q. x.
Pollock. Of the special committee
which prepared the plan; City Attor-
ney Pollard, Samuel Cohen repre-
senting the Retail Merchants Associa-
ton; Judge George l.. Christian, T. NJ.
Darlington, W. r. Reed. John NJ. Mill
err. Jr. j. o. Goode. of the Unied Com.
mercial Travellers; c. d. Coleman, of
the Travellers Protective Association,
and others. Mayor Richardson sent
his regrets at being detained by a
cold. and his hearty sympathy with
the movement.
Charles v. Meredith, Of the special
committee. explained Just what was
proposed In detail, outlining the evils
Of ward distribution of appropriations,
departmental jealousy and antagonism.
and the evil effects Of leaving to men
!. who can at best give only their spare
time after transactng their own busi-
ness the management OF the business
OF the city, with The expenditure OF