Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-16
deem expedient by changing the pres
ent charter
COMPLETE CHANGE WOULD
BE STUPENDOuS TASK


COMPLETE CHANGE WOULD
BE STUPENDOUS TASK
If it was the intention of the COM
mittee to prepare an entirely new char
ter with any hope that the necessary
preliminary steps will be completed In
time for its submission to the next GEN
eral Assembly. said Colonel Anderson
1T had stupendous task in front of it
one that will require an enormous
amount OF labor, in the performance OF
which not Al moment remained To be
lost. Even under the most favorab BILE
circumstances he said, he doubted
seriously that the work could be COM
pletcd in time.
On the other hand. said Colonel An
derson. if only a modification OF the
existing charter Is determined upon
the task will not be imposing
Anne ndments TO the charter can he au-
thoriZed by the General Assembly with
out previous reference to the clty's
voters. y new charter, however. would
under the Constitution have to he rati-
fed by the people rs we'll as the Coun-
ell
TIME TOO SHORT FOR
DRAWING NEW CHARTER
! Councilman Pollock hooted tho idea
that the committee could between now
and the next session of the Leg stature,
| make a serious study OF comparative
/
new form OF government to supersede
tho present form of administration.
III that is the committees intention"
warned MIR. Pollock, then 1t Ia wasting
It's time. This body can no more per-
form any such feat in the limited time
| that remains than l can undertake at
t TINS moment to ny-if l wanted to fly.
! 1t is prcpostcrous to think Of doing It,
! 1T is my belief that after the COM
| nittec has had an opportunity OF study
| ing our own charter and comparing 1t
with the charters OF other cities that
| ii Will find that tho proper thing to
do. II change is needed at all. is to
draft certain amendments to the pres
! cnt charter.
POLLOCK UNWILLING TO
PROCEED TRECIPITATITLY
| That is the only safe way To I'M
! dcrtakc to draw up an entirely new
form OF government without giving
the matter long and careful study. up
setting government that has been
! the development of years, is fool
| hardy. ] am unwilling to dive head
long Into an area of uncertainty un-
| I'll know what Is coming after. II
the committee undertakes to create an
entirely new charter, it undertakes
something that hasn't tho slightest
chance of being completed during the
life of the present Council, and It's
work Will come to nothing
Alderman FULLER held similar views
He was altogether unwilling to as
sumo, he said. that the present form
of government is the utter failure that
some people say it is Until he was
convinced that it was, he said, he could
not look with favor upon any promo
sition that contemplated the total M
roofing of the present form of gov
eminent and the substitution OF an I'M
tried scheme OF administration
FULLER WANTS TO KNOW
PRESENT SYSTEMS DEEECTs
It would he we'll, said Mr.. Fuller.
for the committee to ind out at the
outset. in order that its reforms may
he well-advised, in what particulars
the present system was deficient. If
il was so deficient that an altogether
new form of government was required.
he said. thcn he was prepared TO work
with tho committee to devise n new
plan. even II the task took two years.
i II was not a thing to be disposed Of
in few meetings.
i at seems to mo-" said Mr. puller
that those who arc crying most loud :
~ for Il reform OF the charter should
come here and tell MS the trouble with
the present charter. And after they
have shown us the faults Of the pres.
ent system, they ought 10 suggest
something better. l don't think II In
fair that this committee should bear
the whole burden, without help from