Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-04
CHARTER CHANGERS ENTER
UP0 N CRUCIAL PERIOD
VIII Probably Vote This Week on
Question Of Elccting Admin
iStrativc Board.
POLLOCK PLAN SEEMS LOSER
-Four of Nine Voting Members OF
Committee Have Announced Their
Opposition to Election by Council
and Others Are Wavering.

After weeks of debate and two or
three constructive moves in the dircc-
ton OF governmental reform. the Coun-
ell Charter Change Committee will this
week enter upon its crucial period.
Adjournment ut next Friday nights
meeting will lprobably ind the members
OF the committee on record on the ques-
ton of whether the Administrative
Board shall be elected by the Council
or by the people as at present
Around this question will center the
sharpest debate OF the committees his
tory. Councilman Pollock. exponent OF
election by the Council. has served no.
tice that Ec will reply at length to the
attack delivered against this plan last
Friday night by Councilman ITaddon
There Will be other speeches on tho
question, and the meeting will prob
ably concern itself with this problem
to tho exclusion OF all others.
POLLOCK PLAN SEEMS
DOOMED TO DEFEAT
Despite Mr.. Pollocks carncstness and
his apparent deep seated conviction
that no relief from the present dis
abilities of the Administrative Boa I'd
may be expected until the board is
made elective by tho Council. IL an
pears now that his plan is doomed to
defeat Four members OF the Council
committee or nine have already stated
positively that they will not consent
to recommend election by TIE Council
The four are Chairman Jones. Aldermen
ADAMS and Fuller. and Councilmen Had
don and Jones.
President Peters. Of the Common
Council has said that he would sup
port Mr.. Pollocks plan for the cleo
ton Of tho board by tho Council. MO-
thprp oil
provision making the Mayor a mem.
Der Of tho board with tho power Of a
suspendinG veto. With this cncum-
brancc he said. he would be forced to
vote against II.
FEAR GIVING INCREASED
PATRONAGE TO BOARD
NO definite statement Of position on
the election question has been made
by Councilman SatclIfe and Alder
men Powers and Christian. At least
ono Of these three. it is stated will
vote against election b. the Council
with the four who have alrcad, an
nounccd their hostility 10 this plan.
This would make majority OF five
members aTainst it--cnourh 70 prevent
a favorable recommendation by tho
committee.
Upon tho adjustment OF this question.
it Is believed, will depend. TO a large
extent. the committees action on tho
ui'ci icS''iution providing for the
placing OF the Fire and Health Dc
partments under the Administrative
Board Councilman Pollock has oe
clarcd his opposition 20 such n move
unless the election OF tho board ia
placed in the Council, taking the no.
sition that to add the Fire and Health
departments would enlarge tho Al
ministrat tive Boards power and patron
age to such an extent rs to make IL
possible for 1t to cntrcnch itself in
Office beyond any power of removal
HAS ALREADY VOTED TO
ABOLISH POLICE HOARD
notwithstanding this view 4, is as
sumed. by those who have watched tho
Charter Change Committee work that
the committee will by = narrow ma
1ority vote to put the Fire and Health
departments under the Administrative
BOARD such procedure would be
supported by the radical element of
the committee. which desires as far
as possible to centralize the admin
istration. There are predictions that
political pressure VIII be brought to
pear TO prevent such recommends
ton. and that the Council Will never
consent to the change. but the COM
mittec has already unanimously agreed
to abolish the Police BOARD and is in 4
strongly iconoclastic mood
Raid Alleged DisorderIy House.
Policemen Riddell and Grafton ycs-
terday arrested Dock Allen. colored
on charge of maintaining a disor
derry house at COS East Leigh street.
The officers arrested T. j. Lee and
Hester Morton both Cnl,ro,1