The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-18
First Step Taken Looking to
Official Study Of Improved
Municipal Government
COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST
OF EIGHTEEN MEMBERS
Nine Councilmen and Nine
Citizens Will Cooperate. the
Citizen Membership Having
Purely Advisory Functions

With two amendments. the Jonea
resolution calling upon City Council
to name a committee to consider the
question Of charter changes was
adopted by the Committee on ordi-
nances last nig,at.
The amendments were pertinent
and looked upon as important by
members of the committee. An
amendment offered by Alderman Pull
Ter fxing the number OF memEers of
the committee at nine Councilmep.
and amended by Councilman Jones.
who suggested similar number of
citizens. instead of sever, as originally
proposed. was adopted.
Another amendment suggested by
Alderman Christian. and recommend
ed BY subcommittee embracing
Messrs Fuller and Jones, gives the
citizens end of the committee power
to formulate a report. which, how
ever. must be presented 10 the COM
mittee and not TO Council, as origi-
nally proposed.
The result of these two amendments
tn a word is, that the citizen member
ship will have no more power than
a delegation appearing before the
committee. This citizen membership
must however. be present al all the
meetings of the proposed committee.
1t may sit during the sessions and may
offer suggestions and inject new ideas.
1t cannot vote. however, nor can IL
present To Council a separate report
than that of the Council COMMITTEES.
Fuller Gives Reason.
In making his motion to enlarge the
: mem bers.aip OF the committee, Mr..
Fuller explained that he believed that
such an important proposition should
have a sufficient number of Councils
men to aid In the passage OF what
ever resolution or ordinance might be
recommended to Council.
Previous to action upon the resofu-
ton, after some little debate. engaged
In by Messrs. English, who believed
that in order to have full and COM
.plete discussion and consideration the
matter should have been left to a
subcommittee. and MIR. Jones, VINO
irrele vanity explained that he had no
intention of trying to railroad an
important measure through Council,
and MIR. Fuller. who denied that any
one had in,imated that Mr.. Jones had
suggested such a thing as railroading,
and Mr., Christian. WIG wanted ~
offer 2 few amendments by which the
resolution might be maae clearer. sew
eral citizens spokI.
Mr.. e. r. Bemiss, who had been
chosen president OF the Civic Assocsa-
ton. was the first citizen speaker. He
presented the resolution adopted By
the association upon its organization
at Mechanics Institute on Monday
night. endorsing the Jones resolution
and asking the committee to recon-
mend IL to Council. He followed this
up in short address, In which NE
said that he agreed with Mr.. English
that hurried action on so important
question should not be taken. He felt
satisfied that no man present had any
special proposition to make for the
Improvement OF the present charter
II IS question, said Mr.. Bemiss.
which requires mucn earnest thought
and discussion. All wish, IL possible.
An improved form of government.
Richards Favors Non-voters.
Former Councilman Charles e.
Richards. who was candidate for the
Administrative Board in the begin
Mr. Bemiss had said. He said he be-
neved there might be some improve
ments in the present form of govern
ment, notably that which prohibited
the employment OF any one in the
city ONCE who was not q voter IN
the city. This, he thought, might be
changed. He declared that he was
An advocate OF the principles and
aug yestions laid down by Mr.. Glass
Cow.
He failed to inform Mr. Fuller, who
l. .sad the question, as to what specific
I, ange might be most desired. Mr..
ahn1ds said he believed the commit
might find q number OF improve
ants. He did not oppose<the ADJ
i, Illustrative Board, but believed that
s.a4eature ot the present, form = good
one.
4. The 8 apparent sentiment aan0n9
committeeman, and all OF them were
there. was that while there was no
speciaI reason for radical changes
from the present form. It might be
worth while to have q committee
named, and have that committee hear
from every element ri citiEenship and
act accordingly.
The committee AZ suggested by the
resolution viii carry five Counciimen
ana four Aldermen. including the
chairmen Of both branches
This committee will be named upon
tho passage Of the resolution by this
kwp hEApcl7eas III ssss sssss
Those present ut the meeting last
night Wera Chairman Gunat FERGUS.
s1on. H;uklishs Fuller. Paul, ChrtpfiAps|
'1ln 1easA Go