The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-16
CHARTER CHANGES
AGAIN AMENDED
Reference to Fire, Police and
Health Boards Stricken
Out by Aldermen.
POPULAR VOTE FOR AUDITOR
All Papers Sent Back to Spe-
cial Committee to Be
Recast.

| The proposed amendments to the city
Aldermen, were rcconsidered by that
body last night. amended in two i'm
portant particulars, and then sent back
| to the Committee on Charter Changes
| to be recast. The amendments adopted
strike out the clause which gave the
| Council power hereafter to abolish the
Fire. Health ana Police Boards and
| place them under the Administrative
Board, ana new one providing for
the election OF the City Auditor by the
people. instead of by the city Council.
reference to Bonrhs Stricken out
After disposing of 4 lengthy routine
docket Mr.. Nielsen attempted to offer
as a substitute for tho whole papcr
on cnarter changes as pending, the
original report OF the committee. OBJ
lection being raised, his motion to re-
consider the paper rejected at former
meeting was adopted, and he then
moved TO strike out of the pending,
paper the clause in reference to the
three boards not now under the Ad-
ministrativc Board. Chairman Fuller
OF the special committee, contended
that the matter had been disposed of
but his point OF order was overruled
Nir. Gunst. who ut Il former meeting
! voted Tor charter amendment giving
the Council the power TO abolish these
| boards. said that the situation had
changed since the last meeting. The
Administrative Board had as much as
| 1t could attend to- and il was better
| TO wait until it was master of the
situation. He had heard indirectly that
political influences were already at
work to disrupt the Fire, Police ana
Health Departments.
Fuller Defends Report
Mr.. Fuller defended tho cIa,,.o
was not a question OF whether the Al
ninistratiVc Board had performed it's
! duty or not. he claimed. II tho board
makes good. as he believes il will. il
Will be inevitable that all administra-
! tive departments he placed under II
and the amendments merely gave the
Council the power TO make such
changes At the proper time, he con-
tended Colonel Grundy said the mem
bers OF the three boards were strongly
in favor OF retaining their places. ana
were maintaining strong lobby
against abolition of the independent
boards MIR. Disney thought there
might be somo other way of running
those departments than by the Adj
m!nis,rative Board. but thought the
Council should have full power to say
how they were conducted. The Nell
sen motion TO strike out the whole
clause from the pending changes was
adopted to D. as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Blilcy, Gilman, Grimes.
Gunst. Melton, Nielsen, Powers and
! Adams.
! Noes-Messrs Disney Grundy. Mitch
| ell, Paul and Fuller.
Election OF City Auditor.
Mr. Grimes offered as an amendment
10 section 80 OF the Charter n provi-
sion that the city Auditor he elected
by the people for a term Of four years.
instead OF by the city Council for two
years as the present charter provides
! Ridiculing the motion, Colonel Grundy
| proposed TO add the City Attorney. the
I City Clerk and others. Mr.. Gunst
wanted the amendment tabled for con
sideration He did not think IL wise
| 10 take ap-judgnent on a new prop
| osition. The point was made that the
state Auditor Is elected by the Legis-
| l@turc and the State Treasurer by the
people the plan now followed by the
! city charter. The motion to table was
rejected on the ruling OF the chair
that. II ADOPTED. II would carry with
! II all pending charter papers The
| Grimes motion for popular election
! was then adopted 10 I as follows
Ayes-Alessrs. Disney. Crimes. Gunst
Melton, Mitchell Nielsen, Paul, Powers.
FULLER Nos-Messrs. Elilcy. Gilman.
| Grundy. Adams.
All Papers Rccommittcd.
| Mr.. Powers called attention to APP
parent discrepancies between sections
/ :! and 80 OF the charter in regard TO
appointment OF officers under the Ad-
/ ministrative Board, and On his motion
/ the whole matter Of charter changes,
| with all accompanying papers was re
/ ierrcd back to the committee At
| tempts to instruct the committee failed,
/ and the whole matter Is now practi-
I call ywhcre 1t started. save that tho
/ sense OF the body has been taken in
/ regard TO many OF the issues