The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-13
COMMON COUNCIL
FINALLY CONCURS
Legislature Will Be Asked for
Certain Charter Changes on
Which Both Branches Agree,
AFTER IMPROPER
SHOWS
Umlauf Ordinance Framed to
Give Mayor Power to Shoe
Them Away.

After a vain effort on the part OF
Jacob Umlauf to incorporate I'm tho
paper an amendment to give authority
to the City Council to change the con-
troll OF tho three independent depart
ments of the municipal government,
the Common Council last night finally
concurred In the joint resolution 10
have the City Attorney procure from
the General Assembly certain changes
in tho city charter which have been
agreed upon by both branches.
A spirit of harmony was urged by
Nicc-President Morgan II. Mills, who
occupied the chair in the absence or
President Peters; Gilbert Pollock, John
w. Moore and Carter c. Jones, and ii
prevailed before the slow retreat of
those who have heretofore interposed
their objections to the resolution T.
Gray Haddon. who had been aligned
with those who were opposed to con-
currenco, changed his vote in favor OF
tho resolution, but under suspension
OF the rules offered for passage reso-
luton from the Common Council re-
questing the Richmond delegation In
the General Assembly 40 amend the city
charter so as to give the Council power
to change the management and con-
troll of tho Fire, Police and Health De-
partments to the Administrative Board
mt any time In the future that such
action might be deemed expcdient
This resolution was entirely sepa-
rate from the resolution sent down
from the Board OF Aldermen, and did
not ask concurrence of the upper
branch. As IL was not Joint resolu-
tlon, 1t could not bc taken as the OIL
cial action OF the city, and the CITY
Attorney could not DO asked 10 pro-
cure from the General Assembly the
amendment concerning the change of
control
Lost on Tie Vote.
Mr. Pollock spoke against the Had
don resolution, saying that IL was at
variance with the custom he had OBJ
served In eighteen years OF service In
the Common Council and that il was
In direct defiance OF the attitude of the
Bonrd of Aldermen.
1T would make IL seem as though
tho two branches were fighting each
other" said Mr.. Moore. and the city
would suffer" The resolution was lost
on tie vote of to T.
In his effort to induce the Common
Council to vote favora bly, OIL his amend
ment to give the city Council power
10 change the control OF the Fire. Po-
lice and Health Departments. Mr. I'M
lauf said that the Board OF Aldermen
had given no valid reason against the
measure. He urged Its adoption ms be-
ing OF equal Importance with the other
measures on which agreement had been
found. lie snid that the Board of AL
dermen had not dealt fairly with the
lower branch. Speaking against the
Gmlauf amendment Vice President
Mills said that there had been no dis
courtesy on the part Of tho Aldermen.
and that. in fact. Colonel Grundy had
oIcrad his resolution as to the amend
ments on which both bra inches had CO.
NEEDED IN spirit OF placation. Some
OF the Aldermen, he went on had
!, No
thought that 1t would not be demean-
ms for the Common Council also to re-
cede from tho position IT had previous
ly go strongly occupied
Mr. Pollock said that further DELAY
might be fatal to the whole PROPOSE
matter FOR disagreement between the
two braches to cause II deadlock. MIR
umlauf then moved to incorporate his
amendment, and II was defeated Nv -
to 2. Tho resolution on concurrence
with the Board OF Aldermen was then
put. and wns adopted without an audi
BILE negative.
The Common Council concurred with
tho Board OF Aldermen in adoptinr
n resolution fnstructing the CITY At
torncy TO oppose the passage OF SEN
ate bill No 263, which gives tho Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railway Company the
right to sell It's water rights from
Bosher's Dam TO the lockgate tust
above the ship dock TO the James River
and Kanawha Power Company
Aimed mt Thnw Performances
Mr. Umlauf Introduced an ordinance
from the city Attorney requesting the
City Council to enact an ordinance
authorizing the Mayor to prohibit the
public appearance OF any theatrical ex-
hibit!on or any actor or actress that
might be considered injurious TO the
morals and good order OF the city. II
was referred TO the Committee ON Or
dinances.
Councilman Pollock. who has been
so dangerously ill., appeared for the
hrst time In councilinanic meetings
since he was stricken and removed TO
Il hospital He was warmly conrratu-
lated on his recovery. Though weak
Mr.. Pollock was still strong and able
In argument, and his voice was often
raised In n plea for definite action.
tie thanked the members for tho reso-
buttons of sympathy sent him during
his illness, and stated earnestly thar
he hoped to be able 10 round out n
hfth of a century in the service OF the
people. He has served In the Council
continuously for eighteen years. and
| is generally recognized as one OF its
ablcst leaders.
Z