The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-14

cases. his committee was designed to
assist In making Of the government an
efficient one.
Mr.. Pollock became insistent in his
demand upon DIR. Anderson to point
out some specific dereliction on the
! part Of officials
Il will not be led into criticism" re-
iterated DIR. Anderson. Il am not here
to mention defects. II this committee
wants to investigate the city govern
ment. the City Council. the father Of
| this committee has the right to call
for such an Investigation"
Pointing his finger to Mr. Pollock,
DR.. Anderson. momentarily overcome
| by passion, said:
i You have proposed a plan in
which you claim there are defects.
Suppose you mention what defects
there are"
/ DR.. Anderson started for his seat
Mr.. Pollock arose in the heat Of
anger.
AT the proper time / shall show
what l think our defects are. If men
| like you have reasons and informa-
ltion about inefficiencies and other
things rejecting upon the present form
OF government, you should explain to
us. We are here to gain information.
/ You should not seek to hide behind
someone else. If you are prepared to
/ you to do.
IF this Is what the Civic Associa-
ton is for, the sooner we wipe our
hands Of the association the better. l
am amazed at the attitude Of the
gentleman. If he is in possession of
information and declines to disclose,
am disappointed.
| AT the proper time I shall take
occasion to show where, in my opin-
to- +,t, n1a, 4. \ q
will not seek to hide behind any
one"
1t was at this point that Charles
Y. Meredith, member Of the commit
tee, arose in his calm manner and
urged the gentlemen to refrain from
tantagonism.
Present to Discuss situation.
Eve are here to confer and dis
cuss the situation" he said. do not
let us use strong language toward each
other. We want information. and /
feel satisfied the gentlmen representing
the association are willing to give US
what they have learned by study of
the conditions. l fthey have anything
to offer let us receive it. At the
proper time we will get together and
discuss this among ourselves. and we
may see where improvements may DE
made"
Mr.. Pollock apologized by saying
that in his long service OF twenty
years he had never lost his temper
| All hands smiled at this and peace
was again established.
| When Chairman Jones called the
meeting together he suggested That as
there were a number of ladies' present,
the committee might hear them before
proceeding with the Civic Association
/ matter.
Miss Adele Clarke. representing the
Equal Suffrage League. said she taoped
the committee would in It's recon-
mendation to Council. include In the
recommendation a clause giving wo-
men representation on certain boards,
declaring that women's place was
upon those boards. She wanted repre-
! sentation on the health, markets.
school and charities boards
/ Mrs. Jobson Speaks.
| Mrs. J. Tyler Jobson, representing
| the Social Service Federation. asked
that women be placed upon the Board
Of Public Interests. and in the Police
Department.
IF you place women on the Board
| Of Public Interest" said Mrs. Job
son. they win guarantee that the
!, board will hold meetings"
After the reading of the Civic As
sociation's pan and it's explanation by
/ DIR. Anderson, Wyndham r. Meredith
arose in reply to q question by Mr..
j Fuller as to whether the association
had considered the cost OF running the
government under the proposed plan.
| Suffering a few Interruptions. Mr..
Meredith explained that the pro-
! posed plan. with the Capitalization OF
authority upon one man. would tend to
decrease the cost of maintaining the
government He said the civic commit
I tie had given the plan much study. and
/ had considered many plans from many
sections. The proposed plan was made
up mainly OF that in effect in eGr-
many and that in force in Massa chu-
sets, together with original sugges-
| tions by members to suit local condi-
! tons.
| 1T is generally conceded that the
! German plan of municipal government
I Is the best in the world said Mr..
| Meredith. we feel that the cleo
ton of man as the head Of the
government with an efficiency board
/ TO keep tab on him. will result in
! the most complete government pos
sible.
Eliminate Politics.
The elimination of the bicameral
4 council, and the substitution of a sim
gle legislative body. will also elimi-
nate politics. 1t is rumored on the
streets that there is and has been
more or less possibilities OF graft in
| the present form of government. and
we all remember in the old days Of
street car fights how the reports went
| the roundh of graft in councilmanic
| circles. These things we have now
nothing to do with. l just mention
them in passing.
-'our plan Is designed to do away
with the possibilities OF graft and ward
politics. and we all know what ward
politics means. That Is why we sug-
gest the election Of Council from the
city at large.
we have not welded ourselves to
/ the number Of five. But it should be
as small number as possible. The
short ballot brings out more voters.
I Our taxation has not been changed
| in forty years. The old plan Is still
with us. Assessments have grown, and
the men who lose by the increased as
sessments are the poor men. They have
to pay the increased assessments by
paying higher rents and greater prices
for commodities.
IF you elect me as mayor under this