The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-03
ALDERMEN STAND
FOR HOME RULE
ADOPT RESOLUTION DIRECTING
COMMITTEE TO WORK AGAINST
MONTAGUE dill.
MELTON OFFERS PAPER
MEASURE Is DECLARED TO BE
AGAINST THE INTEREST OF
CITIZENS OF RICH
MOND.

No time was lost by the Board OF
Aldermen last night In adopting a
resolution voicing disapproval OF the
so-called Montague House bill. intro
duced in the General Assembly with
a view of letting down the bars to
outsiders in the appointment OF city
oH1cehoiders in Richmond.
Introduced by Mar. Melton. OF JEFF
ferson ward, the resolution was
quickly read by Clerk Ben August.
1T was then passed by almost unari-
nous vote. only Mr.. Adams. Of JET
ferson. voting In the negative.
According to the language of the
resolution. the bill In deemed mad
visaDle and against the interest OF
the citizens OF Richmond.
The resolution directs the special
Legislative Committee Of Council to
do ali in Its power. with the AID OF
the city attorney, To kill the measure
Before becoming effective, however,
the resolution Will have to be APPROX
ed by the Common Council Monday
night and then approved by the
mayor.
Up to this time. the Legislative
Committee, which 10 headed by Coun-
Gilman Morgan R. Mills. as made no
effort to prevent passage OF the bill.
City Attorney Pollard. however. has
been openly advocating it. believing
il q good thing for the city.
Apple to Few.
AZ he explained last night, the
bill applies only to appo!nuve offi-
GERS OF the city government who are
relatively fswdssan nam Der xstl liAs
nothing Whatever TO do with city
employees. 1t provides In every city
OF 10000 Inhabitants and over. and
in towns officers shall. at the time Of
appointment. have resided for thirty
days next preceding their election or
appointment In such city or town"
Under the present law, residence
OF one year 10 required.
The bill concludes: THE election or
appointment Of certain ofIicers OF
cities being affected ~ this act. an
emergency N hsrxby Declared IN exist.
and this act shall BE- in force from
its passage"
The following aldermen voted for
the Melton resolution besides its
patron: Measra Atkinson. Bliley, But
Ter. Don Lsavy. Gilman. Kahn.
Mitchell Moore. Patram. Perdue.
Prior to the aldermanic meeting,
the city attorney and members OF the
special Legislative Committee were on
conference for some time In connec-
ton with bills Of interest to the city
now pending before the Legislature.
Members Of the committee agreed to
leave Il largely to the discretion OF
the city attorney a. to what extent
the bills should be opposed or advo-
Gated.
Up ON Monday.
Tho Montague bill has already
passed the House and ID now pending
before the Senate Committee on
Counties. Critics ana TownK being due
for : hearing on Monday morning At
10 o'clock.
Two Council committees failed Of
quorum last night. Ono was the
gub-commtttsc on the question
whether the Richmond and Henr1co
railway shall be empowered to sell
electric Hight and current In the city.
The other was the Committee on
Cemeteries which has been trying
fer more than d month to ct =
quorum to approve pAyrolls. - i
result. city cemetery ennployAs haxe
received 70 pay aincA January 4.
though they are supposed 70 ~ paia
twice every month.
ChairnaAn Bllle$ announced that ~
would naakA another EFFORT A0a1Ay
night a. gat Z quorum. ~ 1:ae M 1G
Those abeept DAst night wegN MAo1s
Batktna llelpsn. CeNar1l1 np y
R0A DNx3E SR fssss