The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-27
THE MUNICIPAL REFORM AMEND
MENT.

THE MUNICIPAL REFORM AMEND
WHY has nothing appeared in the
editorial columns OF your paper az,
vocat,nS the adoption Of the proposed
smendments Of section III OF the Con-
.;i,u,ion. which Is to be voted on al
the election in November and which
il adopted, will permit the Legislature
70 provide for municipal government
by commission. am constant read
err O. your paper and am heartily IN
sympathy with you in your nsht iot
good, pure government.
The query is most welcome The
Times Dis patch thoroughly indorses
the proposed constitutional change re-
ferred TO and has been so sure that the
neop,e OF Virginia will take the same
attitude that it has devoted little at
,eution 10 il, using its energies in op-
,os;ns the two pernicious ofticeholders
amendments The purpose OF the pro-
posed amendment is SO commemorate
that little if any antagonism TO IL Is
=, be anticipated. knowledge OF the
hsnehcen. workings of improved NUM-
cipal government such as the amend
ment, if passed, would permit is SO
widely dinused among the people that
their sanction of the change will be
practically unanimous. II the change
were more sweeping so that it allowed
a fuller measure o; home rule con-
sistenr with the general interest Of the
State, il would be far more desirable.
but, as II stands. the proposed amend
neut would allow municipalities great
e- rexib;li,y in self-government. and
enable them to avail themselves of the
methods OF advanced city government.
The proposed amendment. if it be-
comes law. will vest the General AS
senb,v with discretionary power 70
depart from the form Of organization
of and government of cities and towns
as now set forth in the Constitution.
and 10 establish from time to time for
The cities and towns OF the State such
forms of municipal government as may
seem fit. provided that no form so
chosen shall be operative unless the
city or town affected adopts it by
a majority vote Of its qualified cleo
tors. Accordingly, after the passage
OF the amendment. cities and towns up
on due application to the General AS
sennbly may adopt new and improved
forms OF government SO that the gov
erned may have more efficient. more
economical and more businesslike gov
eminent.
This is the only proposed amendment
to the Constitution OF Virginia that
The Times-Dispatch indorses Feeling
assured that it will became law. it
has seemed wisest to devote most OF
our attention to opposing the vicious
proposed changes permitting unlimit-
ed tenure Of office to city treasurers
and to city commissioners OF the reve-
nue. when elected by the people. These
suggested changes are in the interest
of a small. band Of private persons who
are seeking to enrich themselves
as tie municipal reform amend
ment rs in the interest OF the people
Of Virginia and not in the interest OF
any man or set Of men. AS general
rule. The Times-Disparch is opposed
to amending the Constitution. but the
reform aimed at in the municipal
government amendment. l. e., commits
sion Sovernment-was not considered
by the Constitutional Convention. be-
cause, at the time OF the drafting o.
the new Constitution, commission GOV
e-nmen, was a brand new idea in the
very nrst stage of experiment Time
has proved its efficiency and its desir-
ability.
The people should-and The Times
Dispatch believes that they wiIl-ratify
the municipal government anne ndrnent
almost unanimously.