The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-31
CHARTER CHANGE
PLAN UNALTERED
Committee Stands BY Original
Report and Sends 1t Back
to Council.
ONE MINOR AMENDMENT
DR.. Levy Secures Provision Levy
i,,o To-, -, Dro.,~+,, IAJ:+l,
.E MINOR AMENDMENT

| After incorporating new amend
ment affecting the sanitary regula-
| tions, and rccasting the language Of
| two sections In the interest OF greater
clearness, the Special Joint Committee
on Charter Changes last night voted to
recommend to the Council for adoption
| the identical charter change resolution
which was two weeks ago sent back
to 1t by the Board of Aldermen to be
| recast
The meeting was attended by Alder
| man Ordway Fuller. chairman, and
! Councillnen Clyde II. Ratcliffe and Il.
| Gray Haddon. The same three mem
bers. ut the previous meetings Of the
| committee, formed Il voting majority
| which stood together on all PROPOSE
lions with regard to which there was
| n difference of opinion. Neither OF the
| two minority members-Councilma
| Morgan r. Mills and Alderman IL w.
| Alelton--was present. Mr.. Mills was
reported out of town.
Retain Snme Conviction.
! Chairman Fuller expressed his re-
luctance to go into the business of the.
meeting without a full attendance OF
| tho committee. but proceeded with the
| disposal of the matter In hand after
| hearing from the other two members,
who said that nothing had been brought
/ out CURING inc dcOdlcb OH iHt
| charter change program to warrant
| them In changing their convictions. II
! was made clear that adjournment
| to a later date would not alter the
vote and would only cause delay.
The mass OF important business that
confronts the incoming Legislature.
said Mr.. Fuller, makes 1t advisable TO
present bill embodying the charter
changes the city desires soon as
possible after 1t convencs. City At
torney Pollard advised early action in
order to minimize the danger OF the
bills being buried under the weight OF
crowded calendars towards the end OF
the session.
Chief Health Officer Levy asked for
an amendment to the charter under
which the Council would be empowered
to levy a direct tax on property un-
provided with sewerage facilities. The
present contract system, he said, is
unsatisfactory, and will be more than
ever Intellectual when the proposed an
neXaton goes into effect. The City
! Attorney was instructed to prepare the
amendment, which will he included in
the charter change resolution.
Mikes Minor Changes.
Minor changes from the original
resolution, adopted last night, clarity
the sections affecting the powers OF the
Administrative Board and the Council
in creating and filling Offices. The
City Council, 1t Is clearly set forth,
shall have tho power to create Offices
or clerkships whether or not such Of
fees or clerkships may be under the
direction OF the board after created
/ THE sections We're attacked in the
Board OF Aldermen for their seeming
.obscurity, failing which, the COM
lmittce believes, is now removed.
Except for the amendment and the
minor changes noted, the original com
imlttce rpDOrt
The new resolution was. upon the mo-
ton OF Councilman Hnddon ordered
sent to the Board of Aldermen for its
approval
Retains TroubIc-NInkers.
The committee report. rs 1t stands
now, includes the three sections which
proved the chief trouble makers dur
ing the stormy progress OF the reso-
luton through the Common Council
and Board of Aldermen. II contains
the provisions authorizing the City
Council, in its discretion, to place the
Police, Fire and Health Departments
under the direction of the Atlministra-
tive Board--a section which the Com
mon Council approved. but which the
board rejected.
me new resolution contains also the
section giving the Administrative
Board full power to Increase or al
ninish tho salaries of officers and en-
proves In the departments under its
direction IL omits from the section
describing the mode OF making appro-
priations the words, las far as practi
cable The omission, according to
ICouncilmen Fuller and Pollock ana
others who have attacked it, commits
'he council to appropriations in lumn
sum ana takes from 1t its discretionary
power TO designate in n general way
me ends TO which appropriations shall
be applied.
10th Branches Object.
inc Board of Common Council both
objected to the omission OF the "os
TAR as practicable" clause, and restored
IL by amendment when the resolution
was up before the respective bodies
Both branches likewise amended the
section relating to the pay OF officers
under Administrative Board control. to
make all increases authorized by the
board subject to the approval OF tho
Council.
Chairman Fuller said last night that
ne VIII make an effort to secure the
calling or special meeting of the
BOARD or Aldermen next week to take
acuon on the new committee report
III the Board dispose of the matter next
week said Mr.. Fuller. President Peters
VIII probably call q special meeting OF
the common Council shortly after. to
take similar action. With prompt
consideration by both bodies. he said
the change bill could be in
troduced in the Legislature before the
end of next month