The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-04
MUCH SPECULATION As
TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE
NAMES AS MENTioNED
Harry Pollard and Il. L. Bcmiss Sug-
gcsted BY Many as Valuable Men
to Go On Charter Changes Conn
mittec.

It r. quite certain that members or
The special Char.er Changes Com
mi.tee Of City Council. have not SER
tied Upon any citizen or citizens as
members Of that committee. Five
citizens are to be chosen to confer
with the councilmanic members. Il ~
believed these FIVE will be selected
when the committee meets next We'd
nesday night.
In the meantime the Civic Improve
ment Association, the Chamber OF
Commerce, and other organizations
win discuss the proposition and MAKE
suggestions as to the complexion OF
the COMMITTEES. There is little bel;ef
that the Council committee win feel
compelled to accept names suggested
to II by these organizations. but 1t
Ia certain such suggestions will be
readily received by the committee.
When seen yesterday Councilmen
Pollock, Jones and Ratcliffe, and
Alderman Fuller stated they had not
determined upon any one. nor would
they until the committee organized on
wednesday, and all claims were pre-
sented and discussed
The Old Committee.
IF It Is as hard to select citizens
committee as II was when the charter
was changed several years ago, we
will have hard time" said council-
man. The citiezens committee at that
time eWbrnced Henry w. Rountres,
l.. z. Morris and. Charles v. Meredith.
The Council committee embraced
Counciimene Reade. Pollock and
Lynch: Aldermen Rennolds and Dom
Leavy OF the Council committee but
two are now living. Dr. Reade and
Councilman Pollock.
The latest name suggested as a
possible member of tn committee Is
real estate firm OF Pollard Il HaEby.
Those who mentioned him pointed out
the fact that he has had great ex-
perience in municipal affairs. and Is
one OF the leading business men and
f7nafciers In the city.
Another man Is e. L. Beniss. who
has been interested in municipal af-
fairs for many years. He is well
known In business and financial cir
cies
General sentiment among business
people as well as workingman. liz that
the citizens end Of the committee
should be free of men now connect
ed with CITY affairs. not because they
might not prove capable and faithful,
but because the very idea of citizens
committee In to keep that member
ship free from any possible entangle-
ment or inclination or preference.
Some commefs IS being made. on
the suggested plan as put forth bY
Mr.. Jones. II is said that too much
power is placed In the hands Of one
man. Under that plan all the heals
Of important departments. carrvans
large salaries and many employees. are
TO be named by the Mayor, Unless,
the critics ray. the term Of the Mayor
IL limited. or he may be subject to
recall. the position can under the
proposed plan OF change. manipulate
the once to suit himself for Il l.fe-
time. His heads of departments may
be creatures Of himself and the hum
dreds OF employees. a pivotal vote.
may place the city In a worse condi-
ton. so far as city employees control
ling elections. than 1t is now. So say
those who have studied municipal
matters and civic AFFAIRS
Naturally. an one sf All %afds fhe~e
must he something to work apeH and
this plan may be good one to star.
the machinery going. With nucleus
and a sembianee of charter, good
We, finally result.
The report that there would be a
caucus OF the Council members OF the
committee was denied last night by q
member Of the committee The com.
mittee viii meet regularly next We'd
nesday, and IL was said last night this
~nt~~ssrr - xAA ~t4fwar - .. u.