Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-06
WILL ATTEMPT TO AGREE
ON CHARTER CHANGE PLAN
Civic Association Will Make Strenu-
Gus Effort to Finish Work
This Week.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE WAITS
Will Hold Meeting Week From To-
Day to Hear Suggestions From Or
ganization Intimately Concerned
With Governmental Reform.


opinion as to the form of government
that should be recommended TO the
Charter Change Committee of the Coun-
Gil. the board of directors of the Civic
Association will meet at S o'clock
Wednesday night to ratify. IL possible,
definite scheme of reform to be sub
mitted to tho general membership for
Its approval.
The directors have had before them
for more than week copies of the
report of tho associations charter
study committee, of which John C.
Easley is chairman, summa rizing tho
findings Of this body and recommend
Ing particular plan Of reform which
the directors decline for the present to
make public. While some of the di-
rectors. 1t was stated Yesterday, would
have preferred to give more time to
the study of the report. the body will
make an earnest effort Wednesday
night to agree on some one plan of
charter reform.
TO HOLD MASS-MEETING
LATER THIS WEEK
meeting. President Stuart Mcguire will
call meeting of the Civic Association
for an evening later this week Tho
members will be given an opportunity
to express their own views. y vote
Will be taken on the plan approved
by the directors, and II it Is ratified by
the general membership it will he
submitted TO the Council Charter
Change Committee as representing the
associations recommendations for tho
reform of the city government.
Prominent members OF the Civic AS
ISOLATION expressed doubt yesterday
that 1t Will be possible TO carry a
charter reform plan through the chan
nels outlined, by the end of this week
There Is considerable difference of
opinion among the directors and the
s..ine diversity OF view may he OK
pected in the general membership,
which numbers now 5000.
The shortness OF the time that re-
mains in which TO secure charter re-
form oy act II the next LEGISLATURE
however. will lead the Civic Association
this week to make strenuous effort
to prepare and have ratified a plan
in time for submission TO the Council
Charter Change Committee. which
"a week from to-day II the Civic
Associations plan is not ready by that
time the Council committee will in all
prooa oility. adjourn to wait until this
organization is prepared to submit a
report since II has already expressed
It's unwillingncss 10 proceed further
in its work until the association which
is concerning itself most intimately
with charter reform has given it the
henefi; OF its views
CHARTER CHANGE FORCES
CONFER WITH HODGES
The active charter change forces of
the Civic Association have held several
conferences with Leroy Hodges, of
Petersburg. a municipal expert of
wide reputation, who appeared before
the board of directors Al It's last meet
ing. Mr.. Hodges is known to be an
exponent OF the commission manager
plan of city government. and his
views, II is said, are shared by sew
eral. II not a majority, of the Civic
Associations board Of directors.
Under tho commission manager plan
as conceived By Mr.. hodges. the quail
led voters of the city elect Council
preferably a unicaneral body Of re-
duced size. This council elects one
OF its members chairman, who is en-
titled Mayor. The Council. undc. this
Tlan. elects city manager who, ,n
turn, appoints the heads Of six de-
partmentS under which all municipal
activities are grouped
The city manager is appointed by
the Council on administrative and ex-
ec'ttiHe qualifications. and Is subject TO
removal by the Council. The choice
OF manager is not limited to resi-
dents OF the city or state He may
be appointed for a specifice term of
years or for an indefinite period. The
city manager makes all appointments
and is responsible to the Council for
the proper administration of the az.
fairs OF the city.
MAJORITY OF COMMITTEE:
WOULD RETAIN C0USCIL
While majority Of the Council
members Of tho Charter Change Com
mittce has publicly declared it's hos
til!ty to any plan that does not pro-
vide for the retention Of the Council
or Mayor, 1T is not believed that the
commission manager plan just outlined
is irreconcilablc with that view. The
Council and Mayor. II is pointed ont.
AFRO still retained. but their functions
arc in important respects altered.
Tho plan just described differs from
tho Departmental" scheme proposed
by Chairman Jones, of the Charter
Change Committee. chiefly in that the
latter provides for the popular cleo
ton of powerful Mayor who shall
exercise the same general functions
that are assigned to tho manager under
tho plan outlined by .fr. Hodges Mr..
Jones has repeatedly stated that all
he Ia after is reform plan that will
concentrate authority and RESPONSE
posed TO the commission manng ger