The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-24
EAST ENDtRS DISCUSS
CHANGES N CHARTER
Councilman Carter G. Jones, OF South
side. II Principal Speaker
Of the Evening.

The East End Progressive Associa-
ton met last night at $3.50 O'Clock on
the lawn OF the home of J. b. Kelly.
at 3422 Cowardin Avenue, for the
purpose OF reorganization and to hear
from representatives Of the Civic AS
ISOLATION.
This league was formed about two
years ago. when the East End was
threatened with a negro park. It was
instrumental In preventing the park
being located there and afterwards
lent Its influence towards getting i'm
provements.
officers were retained, but q committee
consisting of Jacob Feid!g, j. C.
Cewies. c. NJ Mosby. D. E. Common
and j. B. Kelly was appointed to re-
wise the bylaws.
j. r.. Day Is president OF the assoc
citation, and after the reorganization
was perfected he presented to the
seventy-f1ve members present George
w. Rogers, secretary of the Civic Az
ISOLATION.
Mr.. Rogers briefy defended the az
sociation from attacks which have
been made upon It, and then intro
duced the principal speaker of the
evening. Councilman Carter c. Jones.
tst84A mail VA kuC IVtiAt Vh
charter changes.
Mr.. Jones explained In detail the
difficulties under which Richmond 10
now struggling, handicapped with a
charter which limits its field OF action
and which 80 curtails the authority OF
its different officials with archaic pro-
visions that no person In our govern
ment has any authority which you can
put your finger on. The principal
function Of the Mayor, said Mr.. Jones.
is to welcome visiting conventions and
associations. He may advise and suE.
gest. as any citizen may do. but no
ofiicial need take the suggestion If he
dos not care to do it.
AS member OF the police and IRE
department boards the Mayor may
vote and break a tie, but he can do
nothing else.
Mr.. Jones then read a prepared
paper containing provisions for new
charter. taken almost wholly from the
Cleveland city charter. Briefly this
plan lie as follows:
Power lie centralized In the people,
delegated for q term to mayor and
q council consisting Of either one or
two boards. The councils power is
absolutely limited to legislative func-
tons The mayor is assisted In the
executive work of the government by
a cabinet or board consisting Of six
department heads. as follows:
l. Department Of law.
Q. Department of public service. I'M
GLIDING streets. parks. Fairgrounds.
etc.
3. Department Of public welfare.
including health, morals, publicity.
etc
4. Department OF public safety. In
GLIDING fire., police. weights and meas
ures, etc.
s. Department of public utilities. in
Guiding water. gas. electricity. etc.
9. Department of finance, incl Isiing
auditor. treasurer, collections. etc.
All Of these men are TO be appointed
by the mayor. to. be absolutely re"
sponsibie to him. and he may remove
them when he sees At to do so.
He may merge. create or abolish
departments IL he thinks such step
IL necessary. No director may con-
tract for work costing more than
Al. eco without the consent of the
cabinet or board.
A civil service commission IL Gre
ated TO examine applicants for posi-
tons requiring skill or technical
training. but the civil service COM
mission may not prevent the mayor
or q department head from removing
a man from his position. Unskilled
labor will not be examined by the
commission.
All franchises must be submitted 10
the people for their approval.
Mr. Jones was followed briefly by
Frank c. Duke. secretary of the Me-
chanics' Institute and vice president
of the Civic Association. lie explain
ed fully the work OF the association
and told of the men in the movement
and Of their work.
After the speaking cards for mem-
bership were passed around and a ma.
jority signed up.