Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-10
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
DEFENDS CHARTER PLAN
Shows It's Similarity With Modern
Charters of Progressive
Cities.
OUTLINES PLAN OF NEWARK
Charter Commission OF That City
Has Just Filed Report Strikingly
Similar i'm Many OF Its Provisions
With What Is Proposed Here.


Closely comparing It's proposed char
ter for Richmond with the main pro-
visions recently recommended by
charter commission for the city OF
Newark, -. j., the Civic Association. In
4 statement to the chairman and MEM
bers OF the Council Joint Committee on
Charter Changes. issued yesterday, re-
news it's fight for Capitalization OF
power and responsibility. The COM
munication is signed by the Charter
Committee to the Civic Association.
consisting Of John c. Easley CHAIR
mani. Wyndham X. Meredith, Arthur
Scrivcnor and y. 4. Anderson.
In letter accompanying the draft
OF the Newark charter, the committee
says:
You will recall that there has been
some criticism by those who have not
studied the plan recommended by the
Civic Associations and those who have
not informed themselves Of the progress
which the leading cities Of the United
states are making in perfecti72 their
system of municipal control.
DENOUNCED by THOSE
IGNORANT OF IT'S TI:RMS
The plan which the Civic Associa-
az being tho work Of fanatic dreamers.
impracticablc idcalists full Of moon
shine and confectionery originators
belonging TO the same class Of re-
formers who shift responsibility on
some ono else and let other parties
suffer the consequences fallacious and
dangerous. nightmare government
and other similar statements, which
only serve to display regrettable ignor-
ance on the part of their authors.
1T has also been claimed by our
opponents that the only cities that have
made changes in their city government
that car be styled radical were made
by such cities under distressing cir
cumstanccs, namely, storms. Hoods or
serious losses from graft and corrup-
ton. Mono OF these statement. can BE
truthfully made In regard to the city
of Newark ana are as inapplicable to
that city ~ they are TO Richmond
Yet we find that the Charter Com
mittee, after eight months OF work and
study. has offered for adoption plan
identical In its principal features with
the plan recommended by the Civic
Association. 70 far as It is practical
when We remember that the one In
strument must conform 10 the Consti-
tn Constitution Of Virginia The type
nf government provided for both cities
liz what has hcen aptly designated as
the responsible executive type We
beg to file herewith a table OF coInDari-
son, which shows the remarka bic
identity or similarity OF the two pl,ns;
also synopsis OF the Newark plan.
We request that you give your care
fnl consideration 10 the$ principal fca
lures OF the Newark and Civic Assoc'a-
ton plan, as We believe thai the study
will result In the final adoption Of the
plan of tho Civic Association: IL not by
this committee. then by The people"
SUMMARY OF PLAN
PROPOSED FOR NEWARK
The committee makes the following
summary Of the Newark plan. rs re
ported by a charter commission ap-
pointed by Mayor Raymond:
Population OF Newark in 1918, 49,
I'll; population In 1910. $3.50.
Mayor-Chief executive and admin
istrative officer, elected by the people
for four years. Salary. 10000 Sub
ject TO recall by 10 per cent of the
qualified voters participating in the
last general election. Preferential sys-
tenn OF voting.
a
large, one Of whom Is elected by the
people az president, and becomes the
acting Mayor in case of death absence
from the city or removal Subject to
recall as above. Preferential system
OF voting. President and members Of
the Council receiving the largest num-
her of votes elected for four years
Salary OF president, $4,000. Salary of
other members. $4,000. Meetings
once week or oftener, on request of
Mayor or three members. Vacancies
in the Council filled from the list of
those who were candidates at the last
election for Council. Nominations for
the Council by petition Of 900 voters.
President OF the Council. as acting
officer or make any appointment unless
and until such absence or disability
shall have continued for thirty days.
NEWARI<'S PLAN FOR EXECUTIVE
AND FINANCIAL DEPARTMENTS
Administrative department - Tho
Mayor, az executive head, shall appoint
the heads OF six administrative depart
ments and such other heads as the
Council from time to time establishes
by ordinances. Tho heads are subject
TO the removal by the Mayor after ten
days notice and trial Salary desig-
mated in charter. Subject to change by
Council. except change cannot take
place during term of office OF the