The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04
CITY GOVERNMENT
BY COMMISSION
Coleman Offers Amendment t,
Constitution Permitting
Change.

cipaIttics TO tho amendment 10 tae
Constitution approved by the last
Legislature, allowing cities TO adopt
comm ssion government, 1t ocgns 10
look az though no further accon VIII
DC taken along that line. On the
other hand. the amendments proposed
by Lieutenant Z. L. Shaw. of Norto!k.
stand II chance OF going through tacir
iirSt stage.
The Joint resolution OF two years
ago WAS introduced by Edwin Z. Cox.
and included the program ADOPTED by
tho Virginia League OF municipalities.
Mr.. Cox sand very plainly yesterday
that he proposes to take no turther
step at this session, which would be
necessary in order to submit The mat
ter to the people. Unless some ono
else takes /, up. the amendment VIII
fail tor lack of further consideration.
Tho SHAW proposittn Was intro
duccd in the House yesterday b. Daniel
Coleman, Of Norfolk, BY request. Il
approved by tnis LcSiSlatIre. II must
go before that OF Two Vets ncnce. In
the meantime, Richmond where was
perhaps the greatest demand TO %
rid OF the bicaIncral form o; govern
ment. has adopted an Administrative
Board, which II Will try oNt.
The Cox Proposition.
which is no longer the Cox amend
nat. tho Legislature was authorized
to depart from the eXiaIiuS torn OF
nluuIcipai government, ana either By
special act or general laws 1" grant
charters 20 The various cihca oil the
Statc 1t required that these charters
mus, be such as the General Assembly
deemed host II further required tHtt
in any iprm Of charter grained unicr
this amendrntnt. the lee cfhetfS
snou!l continue to be elected py pcpu-
lar vote
Tie objections were that the first
provis.on rendered home rule wholly
impossible for. in all the home rule
states. the cities. under tine liinitation
Of The Cons tilutipn ana tile general
laws, frame their own charters ana
Ilaturaily adapt them 10 their local
needs And tina, the second provision
requiring Ill. popular election ol
numerous other officers. III whatever
form the charter might be granted,
inuds IL impossible Tor any city IN
Virginia to obtain commission form
OF governments a city Lieutenant
Snaw said, may have a nominal COM
mission at the head of its government,
but unicss that commission has the
power OF appointing and discharEing
all other city officials and employees,
it cannot be held 10 thai strict ac-
countability which is essential to good
government. II other words. to speak
commercially. in order thai "A general
manager may really manage any busi-
ness concern. he must have the power
to hire and fire"
New Proposition.
Tie Coleman amendment. 2: intro
duc.d yesterday, reads as follows
Joint resolution proposing amend
ment 10 the Constitution. to lie known
as section III article :. subsection \:
Resolved. by the Senate ana House
Of Dclciates q majority Of the mem
hers elected 20 each house agreeing
therctoI, That tho following amend
rent TO be known as section III,
article $ subsection y. TO the Consu-
tuition OF Virginia pc. and the same is,
hereby proposed aud referred TO the
General Assembly 10 he chosen ct the
next general election Of Senators and
members OF the House OF Delegates
Tor Its concurrence, ia conformity TO
the provisions Of section i"G OF article
- OF said Constitution.
Section III, article 5, subsection y:
Nothing contained In this Constitu-
tIon shall be so construed as to deprive
the General Assembly OF the power and
obligation hereby imposed upon 1t OF
conferring by general laws, upon the
over 5000 population the right to de-
part from the form Of municipal gov
eminent prescribed in The foregoing
articles of this Constitution. and under
the limitations OF the Constitution and
general laws 10 frame. adopt and
amend their own charters, and, through
their regularly constituted authority to
pass all laws and ordinances, relatinS
10 their municipal concerns.
-, =. II 4 q
firmativc vora OF a majority OF the
qualified electors voting thereon to
adopt that form OF city charter with its
concentration OF power and responsible
ity in a small commission on which
are conferred the powers OF Mayor and
Council, except the Mayors veto. COM
monty known as the commission form
of charter. the positions of Common
wcalth's Attorney, Commissioner OF
Revenue. City Treasurer and City Ser
geant upon the expiration of the terms
of the incumbent. as we'll as all other
necessary officers for the conduct of
the city's business, shall be filled by
appointmcnt by the commission for
merit competence and fitness alone,
and political and religious opinions
shall not be considered in making such
appointments. In such cities, the
judges OF Corporation and Circuit
Courts, upon the expiration OF the
terms of the incumbent, shall have
the power 10 appoint the clerks Of
said court.
The electors OF any city may, by ma
jority vote. exercise the right of the
initiative ana referendum when peti
toned for by number OF qualified
voters of the city not lcas in either
case than 10 per cent. of the votes cast
at the last preceding municipal cleo
ton, and the right to require Il recall
election OF any elective officer through
petition of at least Is per cent. Of
the vote cast at tho last preceding
election for all candidates for tho Of
Zee for which he was chosen. The
Council OF any city which has over o.
900 population may. and on Il petition
therefor. filed In the Office OF
AZ