The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-09

ISOLATION. The papers referred TO tn
charter as proposed by the Civic A.
ISOLATION, "a It compared to one re
recently recommended by commit
tee for the city of Newark. n. J. Thu
charter. said Mr. Meredith, Ia prac'
tically identical with the one proposed
by the Civic Association, 1t will in
all proba bility. be adopted by the New
Jersey city.
After Mr. Meredith had read hts
papers and presented the proposed
resolution. he thanked the commit
tee en- behalf OF the Civic Assoc.a-
! ton for the courtesy given IL ut the
! various meetings.
MFR. Christians Views.
I Mr.. Christian. In taking up the Ques-
ton where II had been left OFF at the
previous meeting. reiterated his be-
lief that the most perfect system or
government would result from an cleo
ton Of the Administrative Board by
the Council. upon recommendation by
the Mayor He believed this plan
would take the Administrative Board
out of politics, and the temptations
which necessarily confront the mem
bers Of the board in their efforts TO
get the votes Of the people
Mr.. Radcliffe again raised the point
that il would be more practical to de-
rcrrnine the disposition OF the fire ana
health boards. before deciding how
the Administrative Board should be
chosen He said that IL the boards
were to he placed under the Ad-
illustrative Board, he would be i'm
peeled To vote for the election OF the
Administrative Board by the Council.
for he did not wish 10 give that body
nc opportunity Of building up mas
sive machine which could not be over
thrown,
Mr. Christian said ne favored the
abolition Of both boards with author
te bN the Mayor to appoint the heads
Of the departments, but that he felt
the determination Of the method OF
eleVting the Administrative Board was
paramount.
Abolish All Boards.
Mr. Pollock said II seemed to he the
disposition of the ommittee to abolist,
AL boards. and he favored such action
4 seemed a matter OF policy. however,
~ to where to place the authority. He
did not favor giving the Administra-
tive Board authority To name the
heads of the departments in question.
bat thought that authority should be
vested in the Mayor
+ Mr. Adams explained that when
the charter was up for amendmen mt
several years age he favored the selec-
ton Of the board by Council. He was
defeated in his contention, however.
and now he stood fully convinced that
/ IL would be unwise to elect the board
! by Council. II would. he said. place
+ the members Of Council in the posi-
finu Of being worried ny tina people
who had friends who were interested
! in the election OF one or the other
candidate for the Administrative
board.
&. 4, would help create a political ma
/ thine." said Mr., Adams, which would
! be difficult to disable
The proposition OF Mr.. Pollock
that to elect by Council upon the nomi-
nation of two men for each vacancy
/ by the Mayor---would give the Mayor
the opportunity OF perpetuating him
self In office. and would give him more
power than the people could realize
until 1t was too late said Mr. Adams
Mr.. Christian said Mr.. Adams wal
too extreme in snis ideas The Mayors
recommendation must be made or
merit alone, said Mr. Christian. 1t |,
hands
II came into office without q
pledge" he said. II came in to serve
the people, and not my friends wht
want Jobs
so did H. exclaimed Mna Adams
and that is why,T want the Condition
to remain. ! want the relief from
ward politicians, and / do not desir,
to be forced to aid In N1e building W
of a political machine"
MIR. McAdams said he took littl
stock in Mr. Adams argument. AM
pointed out that there should be n,
assumption that the Mayor would no
name good men for the places on tn,
board. Men who have the expenditur,
of money should be kept away from
the peoples political influence.
After considerable discussion alon,
this line by Messrs. Fuller Adams
Ratcliffe. Pollock. Haddon, Bemias
McAdams and Christian. a vote wa
taken on the proposition OF abolish
ing the fire and health boards, an,
placing them under the control OF tn
Mayor.
The vote on this proposition stoo
seven TO one-Mr. Fuller being tn
single opponent He wanted tn
boards to go under the control OF tn
Administrative Board.
Then there was more debate as t
the method of electing the Admin
istrative Board.
Mr.. Bemiss said he though the
SHpuiN ne named through representa-
. lives. such as the members Of Coun
Gil. He eaid the Pollock plan was al
advance toward better government,
and ne favored that plan.
Points to Anti-SaloOn League.
Mr. Jones said he. too. believed tn
Pollock plan an advance along goo
lines but not as far as his own plal
: had proposed. He said the peopl
would not rest, but would still figh
: for more perfect plan. He pointe'
TO the splendid work Of the Anti
Saloon League in its fight for bette
: State laws, after having gotten tn
Mann and the Byrd bills
: The people of the city will fol
low the example set by the Anti
: Saloon League he said. and will no
t rest until the city has the most per
feet form Of government. / shall vot
for the Pollock plan"
Mr.. HAddon said he was willing I
vote for any change which would CIV
the people the right to exercise thei
i privilege Of voting
Where has there been a deman
from the people for a change ?" aske
Mr.. Haddon. II want 10 say RICH
here that II this committee recon