The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-14
Lieutenant Shaw Thus De-
nounces Commission Plan
as Reported
NORFOLK MAN
POINTS OUT DANGER
Hurries to Richmond to Warn
Legislators of Dangers
Lurking in Measure
Now Pending

After hearing arguments in the
matter the House Committee on
Counties. Cities and Towns brought In
a favorable report on the 4ravatl-
bankaS RESOLUTION to summit 10 the
people an anen0ment to the constitu-
ton ccnferrtnx upon cities the rlgnt
to adopt the commission form OF gov
And thereby hangs q tale.
Yesterday morning the committee
had agreed TO renorr the resolution.
1he committee was about ready to
adjourn. A wAyfAring newspaper
man had his hanos on the bill ready
to report the committse's favorable
action.
Thsn the telephone bell rung and
chairman jennings was called up
from Norfolk and Lieutenant G. r.
and forms Of municipal government
asked that the committee defer ac-
ton until ~ could reach the scene
OF action. not having heard until .
late hour that the matter was 10
come up before the committee yss-
terdAy.
The committee hastily withdrew it,
favorable report on the bill, which
1t had understood to have had no
opposation. and set yesterday after
noon at 3:45 o'clock as the hour for,
hearing It.
y shaw on the Scene.
With 3:4s O'clock came Lieutenant
Shaw And an able argument In favor
Of different sort Of commission form
than that proposed by the amend
mont. Lieutenant Shaw's commits
sion form Ii net out In q measure In
troduced something like ten days ago
by Mr.. Coleman. OF Norfolk city. and
the difference in brief between the
measures Is that under the Gravatt-
Banks proposal sthe present elective
officials are continued. while under
the Coleman measure the officials un-
der the commissioners are appointed
| for fitness and may be promptly
fired" for cause. Another very es-
sential difference between the meas
ures ia that the Csravatt- Banks pro.
! posai but carries out the amendment
initiated two years ago. and may be
Voted on next fall by the people,
while the Coleman amendment IL a
new matter,
The cities OF the state are anxious
to adopt the commission form or at
least to have the right SO to de. and
they do not wish to wait four years
to do it, The Senate. on yesterday
! adopted the Gravatt- Banks resolu-
ton.
Lieutenant Shaw made strong
address before the committee urging
40 s's"f nrss. MI III 6 51 IL IS
MY objection to the pending
amendment is based on the following
TN January, 1908. the Virginia
League Of Municipalities. adopted q
heries OF resolutions. endorsing the
commission plan Of city government.
and asking for an amendment to the
State Constitution. that they might
receive the benefits thereof.
"A suitable amendment was &C
cordingiy drawn. and passed the Sen,
ate, but failed in the House for lack
OF time. presumably.
I'm January, 1910, a conferencee In
Richmond OF delegates from tho
various cities of the State. passed
resolutions asking that the cities be
allowed local self-government, and
government by a commission. A
committee was appointed to draft
an amendment. which amendment. In
the form OF a joint resolution. was
adopted by the Legislature during
that session, and Is the amendment
now pending. This denies In toto
both home rule or local self-gOvern-
ment. and the opportunity OF adopt
ing actual government by commits
sion.
in the home rule States. under
| suitable limitations OF the Consti-
! tuition and general laws these cities
| frame their own charters. adopting
| such as they may deem best adapt
| ed to their local requirements. The
pending amendment requires all char