The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-10

After several hours debate. the work
OF the council committee on charter
changes, named by council 10 frame 4
report designed to minimize the work
of the city council and to enlarge tho
powers OF the administrative board,
was wiped of the municipal map last
night by a tie vote.
To no one was the victory due more
than to Aldermen Melton and Powers.
With them. when the votes were
counted. were Aldermen Gilman,
Grimes Nielsen and Adams
Those who stood by the report OF
the committee, as 1t came from tho
council. and as II was voted for In
that body. were Aldermen Grundy, Dis
uey. Gunst. Mitchell, Paul and Fuller.
The trend OF the discussion was that
the administrative board either had too
much to do. or too little to do. 4
1t was shown In the discussion that
the opponents Of the proposed ordi-
nance agreed that as the police, fire
and health departments were being
conducted properly and without q kick
from anyone, they should continue nm
der control of council. The atiynirts-
trative board has about az much to do
as 1t can reasonably be expected to-
do. and. therefore should not be
weighed down with further labors. was
the contention of those voting in the
negative.
Mr.. Powers stated during tho course
OF his remarks that politics had been
mentioned by some one as having some-
thing to do with the present contro-
versy. M
Vow which In RtwAtf
He stated In his well known sonorous
tones that so far as the police and fire
departments were concerned. politics
was stranger" This statement
created much laughter.
'On the contrary" said Colonel Gr,in-
dy. ut is a. well known fact that there
Is more politics In the police and frd
boards and departments than In any
other section of the city government, or
even the city itself. No one will con-
tradict this
No one denied the statement, and.
after Mr.. Fuller had urged the mem
bers OF the board to give to council
itself. not to the administrative board.
the right TO control the local govern
ment and the right at any time the
council thought fit and proper to
place any department OF the city
government not now under the cone
troll of the administrative board, under
that board, the vote resulted In a tie.
Mr.. Gunst said that he entered the
council chamber with his mind prac-
amendment. but that with the knowI-s
edge he had gained since having heard
those who opposed Ii, he stood ready
TO vote for the amendment
Why He Was Converted
Il think that the members Of this
council now or to come can be trusted
with the handling OF the proposition
This body should have the right 81
any time to place duties upon the ad~
ministrative board"
Mr.. Fuller stated that the AZ, po.
lice and health boards were good, but
there was no reason why they should
not be made better at some time Oe Z
other.
may be made better" said Mr.. puy1ofs
but why should not the paid boax6
Of this city have the control Of the d.
partments OF the city, when they ~ 1
on the Job every day and know more
about the capabilities and capacity ~
a man than this council would knew
in thousand years? A man who 1s
being paid to do something mnse
naturally be of more value to the ~
terests for which he is working tA1In
the mere volunteer. although thAt yoa@
unteer may be doing the best he caA.sss
There lis not a successful cOnoAxI Z
in the country that can be conduoGedss
with several heads" said COlomaf
Grundy. "a corporation with mora
than one head. never succeeds. GivoAg
tho council the right at any time to o1ls
large the duties of the administrative
board and l am sure that the council
will act only. In Its wise judgment" '
A vote oman amendment to stxdkN
out the section giving the council thu
right to place within the authority 1t n
the administrative board control et
any OF the boards not now under 49,
control was defeated on tie vcto. u
1t was at this point that those NhGs
opposed the ordinance as 1t stood, N4(Ea53
that they had il defeated. While tnoS
could not have 1t amended. they knol
that the advocates of the ordinanoX
could not pass 1t. for the vote wAs ri III
to six. and majority was neceNeAt1
to either amend or pass So 1t w4a 4sss
feated. IN s&
Meet Again Monday. 8
But" said Mr. Powers, after Il WQM&
all over, when the board meets nAX
Monday night motion will be mk11#
to reconsider and then II VIII b nf$3
to the majority of the board to po<
the measure as II sees ut. We DO X~&
wish to defeat the proposition Al4l
gether. We do want. however, ~ ~
a paper embe lying our views" ZS
Which means that II Mr.. PoWo1u
any other members OF the board M
for a reconsideration, he must -
a two-thirds vote. eight memhl
Colonel Grundy said last night ~ H
not certain about being alba toNa
present. Mr.. Fuller said hs -