The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-15
IREV|VES TALK OF
COMMISSION PLAN
Constitutional Amendment Au-
thorizcs Cities of Over $4,000
to Abolish Council.
DELEGATES WIDE POWERS
Legislature Could Supplant BIZ
oameral Form With Small
Paid Council.
DELEGATES WIDE POWERS

Into tho charter change agitation
which has assumed first place among
the questions now pending before the
city Council, has been Injected in the
last few days an entirely new issue
which, it is believed. will play a sig
nitlcant part in the disposition of at
least that portion of tho program which
proposes to vest the Council with au
thority, in it's discretion, to place the
Police. Fire and Health apartments
under the direction of the Administra
tive Board
AT the fall elections of 1912 the peo-
pie of Virginia ratified n constitutional
Amendments empowering the IegIsIa-
ture to grant special forms of govern
ment to cities in the Commonwealth of
over $4,000 population. The amend
ment. 1t is claimed by competent law
yers, gives room for what Is virtually.
equivalent 10 government by commits
sion. Under II. 1t is believed. even the
city Council may be abolished and an
other body endowed with Legislative
and administrative powers substituted.
Sentiment for Change.
Tho discussion of the amendment and
its posi- bilities attained conside bl q
proportions yesterday among members
OF both branches, who are dissatisfied
with the present division OF authority
trative Board. They expressed the feel
ing that the present division must in
the not distant future give way to a
Capitalization of authority in either tho
Administrative Board or similar paid
commission.
With such n solution almost incvi-
table said Il member OF the Board of
Aldermen, who preferred not to be
quoted until sentiment became more
crystallized. II am opposed TO giving
the Council the power to subordinate
the three independent departments to
the Administrative Board. am Of the
opinion that before two more years
pass there will be Il distinct movement
for an entire rccastinS of our form of
government, and until that movement
takes shape things had better remain
as they are"
Gives Wide Powers.
The amendment which has been pro-
claimed and is now part of the Consti-
tuition. mobiles section III, article S.
which lays down the general law pre-
scribinG the form OF government for
cities. One of tho features OF such
government made mandatory by this
article, previous 10 its amendment, is
the bicameral council.
Under the amendment the General
Assembly is given power, by general or
by special act. 10 depart In any respect
from the form of organization and gov
erIiuOat prescribed by this article. and
to provide from time to time such form
or forms OF municipal government as
the General Assembly may deem best.
Such new form of government. how
ever, it is provided. shall become ope-
rativo only after ratification by a ma =
iority OF the qualified electors of the
city or town where ii shall be applied.
Gives Room for Commission.
The amendment contains n provision
which is construed by lawyers to mean
that the General Assembly may au-
thorizc a system OF government by
commission, such commission to as
sumo the Legislative powers now dele
gated by the Constitution 10 the bicam-
eral council
The significant passage in the amend
ed Constitution reads:
"All the limitations on the powers
of councils of cities and towns imposed
by this article shall apply in like man
ncr to the principal Legislative au-
ihority under any form OF government
that may be authorized hereunder. The
term council as used in sections l25
and 1877 of this Constitution shall be
construed to include the body which,
under any form of municipal govern
ment. shall be vested with the principal
Legislative authority OF such munich
Pality.
THE General Assembly, for the pur-
pose of this article. may classify cities
according to their population. but the
maximum population prescribed for any
class shall exceed the minimum for the
same class by at least 10000. The Cen
eral Assembly. at the request. made in
tho manner which may be prescribed
by law, OF any city having a population
OF over $4,000 inhabitants. may grant a
special form Of government for such
city"
Although the amendment was framed
and passed by two succeeding LcgiS-
latures to give relief particularly to
richmond and Norfolk-the only two
cities that have populations in excess
of 50.000-thc members OF the City
Council have only within the last few
days turned to IL for Inspiration in the
present unrest
The propositions for a new form of
government range all the way from :,
pure commiss ion. modelled after West
ern Ideas, to q small paid Council, on
the lines of the Baltimore plan. Those
who discussed il yesterday were In
clined TO favor the paid Council plan,
which, 1t is claimed, retains the bcnc-
hts of the bicameral check, and the al
ministrative convenience of the board
Of commissioners.
Whatever the new agitation may lead
Co. il is generally agreed that no change
OF government viii b.. asked Of tho
General Assembly that convcncs next
month The leaders III the movement
however. make the prediction that the
! present division Of authority between
the Administrative BOARD and the
Council will within two or three years
| give way TO the modified commission
| government. for which the way wa.
paved by the adoption last year Of lii,
| amendment TO article OF the Constitu-
! ton.