The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-30
AGAIN SPLIT ON
CHARTER CHANGE
Board and Council Still Far
Apart, With No Hope of
Concurrence.
POWERS BLAMES UMLAUF
Says Latter's Amendment Killed
Mcasure-Opposcd to
Senate Bill.
POWERS BLAMES UMLAUF

BY lacking on an amendment to in
cludo resolution empowering the
City Council to place the Police, Fire
and Health Departments under the Ad-
ministrative Board whenever such ac-
! ton would be deemed cXpcdient, the
| Common Council last night killed n
Joint resolution offered by the Board
of Aldermen, authorizing the City Ati
torney to go before tho Legislature
and seek enactment into law of certain
changes In the charter which both
branches had already agreed upon.
The question in the Board of Alder
men came up on concurrence in certain
resolutions marked Exhibit IN" These
resolutions did not contain the measure
concerning tho three independent
boards Barton II. Grundy offered Il
substitute resolution. directing the City
Attorney TO procure from the Legisla-
ture authority TO change the city char
ter ~ such manner as the Board OF
Aldermen and the Common Council
had agreed upon, and tho substitute
was adopted by vote of IL to ].
Unable to get into the resolutions
n provision prohibiting any member
Of the Administrative Board from be-
ing q candidate for any state or muni-
cipal office while Il member of the
board or within one year of the eX
riratioii of his term, Alderman Melton
offered the resolution under the head
of new business. and II was passed py
a vote Of TO g. The resolution pro-
vided that the City Attorney should
procure lis enactment into law.
Lower Brunch Adopts II.
The Common Council met immedi-
ately after the Board of Aldermen.
and Mr. Umlauf moved 10 amend the
resolution by giving 10 the Council
the right to place the Police, Fire and
Health Departments under the man
aEement OF the Administrative Board
II any time in the future that it
might be deemed necessary. and after
n short argument the amendment VAS
adopted by n vote Of / to g. Then
tho resolution as whole was adopted
10y the same vote.
Tho whole effect OF Mr.. Umlaur3
amendment, It was freely said last
night. will be to kill all the proposed
charter changes. For several months
now the two branches Of the City Coun-
Gil lave played shuttlecock with the
resolutions originally drawn by the
Charter Changes Committee. They
have been amended and reamendcd
hy both branches, and the division has
become hopeless. The action OF the
Common Council last night Will have
10 he concurred in by the Board of
aldermen, and it is not probable now
that the Board will further recede from
It's position.
The onus is not on the Board OF AL
iermen." said Alderman Powers last
night. 1--WE were willing that the Leg
islature should act on such changes as
have been agreed upon by both
branches OF the City Council. and we
offered n resolution to that effect. The
measure was killed In the Common
n -
and the result is q drawn issue
Opposes Senate BilI.
In the meeting Of the Council Mr..
Fuller called attention TO Senate bill
1872. which provides that any city hav-
ing q population In excess OF 100000
may promulgate a commission form
of government and submit it 10 the
vote of the people and provides also
for the recall and referendum.
This BILL said Mr.. Fuller. was
moved and placed on the calendar en-
tirely without any knowledge of any
member of the City Council of Rich
mond, and, as Richmond, under its pro-
visions. is the only city which it can
possibly affect i move that the patrons
of the bill, Senator'S Ifarman and Can
non. and the Committee on Charter
Changes he asked to pass the bill by
until II has been considered by the
City Council of Richmond"
The motion was unanimously
adopted.
In his argument for the amendment
to the resolution offered in the Board
OF Aldermen. Mr. Umlauf condemned
the city official who was responsible
for tho Senate bill referred to by Mr..
Fuller, and declared that this city Of
fetal went beyond his authority in try
ing TO induce the passage OF the bill
without first notifying the City Coun-
ell of his intended action. 1T looks
to me-" said Mr.. Umlauf "as if Ger
tain oficeholdcrs are trying TO run
the city government"
Concurrence on Alderman Meltons
| resolution to prohibit any member of
the Administrative Board from being n
candidate for State or municipal office
until after his term as n member OF
the board shall have expired n year
| was defeated by a vote OF Is to o.
Supreme Court PROCEEDINGS