Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-08
WANTS COMMITTEE ON
CHANGES IN CHARTER
pares Joint Resolution Launch-
ing Movement.
TO BE CONSIDERED THURSDAY
Building-Line Hearing in Common
Council Prevented Action Last
Hight-Resolution Would Submit
New Charter to Popular Vote.

Bringing to head the movement
FOR a change in the form OF city gov
erninent. which has been gaining mo-
mentum for several months, Council
man Carter c. Jones. of Madison Ward.
last night attempted to introduce in the
Common Council a joint resolution APP
pointing a special joint committee of
seven members to draft "A new charter
for the city of Richmond
Unforeseen delays incident to the
special hearing given opponents and
advocates of the ordinance fixing the
Grace Street building line between
Shafer and Harrison Streets prevented
consideration OF the paper last night
When the debate on the building line
ordinance was completed, il was 80
o'clock. and the Council was in no
humor to sit any longer Councilman
Pitcher moved an adjournment until 8
o'clock Thursday night Councilman
Jones asked that the body remain in
session long enough to receive his char
ter-chanEe resolution, but the members
declined TO remain in session longer.
and adopted the Pitcher motion for
adjournment. The resolution will he
introduced by Mr.. Jones at the meeting
OF the Common Council Thursday night
Authorlty to change the local form
OF government is conferred upon the
Councils of cities and towns by an act
passed by the General Assembly on
March 13,l?1+. Under this act the
council may, by ordinance, propose n
form of city government to supersedc
the existing charter and any and all
statutes concerning the government of
cities and towns applica BILE TO IL. such
ordinance TO be submitted To the quail
fed voters OF Richmond at a special
election.
PROPOSED CHARTER MUST
BIZ SUBMITTED TO PEOPLE
If. at submission. ~ majority of the
voters should approve the proposed
new charter, the Council is directed
by the act, in that event. to request
The General Assembly at its next scs-
sion to approve and declare the new
charter AS the charter for the govern
ment of the city of Richmond
The resolution which Mr. Jones will
present. if duly approved by both
branches. will pave the way for a con-
crete effort having for its aim the draw
Ing up of revised scheme Of local gov
ernment in which there will probably he
no room for the Administrative Board
In some quarters the resolution is
regarded as the first step in "A move
ment TO abolish the board and substi-
tutc for ii form of administration
meeting more accurately the govern
mental ideas which have gained cur
rency in the last few months
While for more than two years there
has been more or less criticism of the
Administrative Board and its methods,
there has not until recently been
wcll-detincd reform movement look
ing to its substitution by another form
OF government. The movement gained
impetus in recent weeks from the ad-
dresses of Arthur Glasgow, who has
In numerous public utterances urged
radical change ir the charter.
PROMISES TO BRING UP
HEATED CONTROVERSY
The resolution promises TO bring to
the front a problem which will be the
center of heated controversy. Friends
of the Administrative Board. both
within and without the Council, Will
naturally make war upon 1t as threat
ening the extinction OF that body.
On the other band, ii will receive