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

The meeting of the Charter Changes
committee last night was marked by
a slight passage at words" between
Or. ID. r. Anderson. secretary of the
subcommittee of the Civic Associa-
uon, winch prepared the plan az sub
niitted TO the committee, and Council
man g. *. Pollock, of the Council
committee.
Had it not been for the diplomatic
intervention of Charles V. Meredith
The passage at words might have
changed into passage at arms. DR.
Anderson had just completed his ex-
planation of the reasons for the adop-
tion or the plan, and had been under
1re from Mr.. Pollock h men bore
the marks OF suppressed heat. al
though the fans had been stirring the
atmosphere to a reasona bly, comfort
Iable degree
Wallcrstein inquiries to Know.
with the magic wave of Mr.. Mere
dith's arm and his gentle tone Of
voice, DR. Anderson had taken his
. seat beyond the railing and Mr.. Pol
lock had resumed his seat But
there was some tension, and it was
not entirely restrained until Mr.. Wal
lerstein changed the line Of argument
Ftactfully by asking question which
may or may not have been pertinent
DIR. Anderson had explained that
the reason the plan as proposed fixed
great responsibilities upon the Mayor
was that 1t eliminated politics, ana
that the. abolition OF the bicamerai
council placed before the people the
better opportunity OF choosing the best
men to represent the whole city. Eff
| cheney could better be gubseryed he
! said, by such a form of government
4 Mr. Pollock IA xrhx- ha
change in the date Of election--did the
midwinter election not practically
eliminate the working man and the
city employe, who might not be able
| to leave his work during the busy
| season to go to the polls? DR.. Ander-
son had explained that such arrange
ment had been decided upon by his
committee in order to avoid so many
elections. and that If there were to
DE recall, that time of year would
be better. because it would bring 1t up
TO the general spring election.
Avoids Delays.
DR.. Anderson explained that the
main reason for the elimination of the
! two-branch council. was that it
avoided the long delays in getting
measures passed by going from one
| branch to another and through the
comittees. Thus scattering response
bilities.
1T is not the object or purpose OF
the association to antagoniZe in
dividuals or sets Of men," said Mr..
| Anderson> but we believe the inter-
ests of the city may be better SUBJ
served under the plan as proposed
tshan through the antiquated plan as
now in existence"
Mr., Pollock quizzed DR. Anderson
! persistently. He wanted to know what
charges he had to make against any
man or any plan now in operation.
/ DR.. Anderson protested that he had
no charges TO make against any man
or principle. but the proposed plan
| would eliminate politics, and would
centralize responsibilities. He ex-
| planned that tie fixing of the election
| in January was not for the purpose of
keeping voters from the polls, but
rather as an announcement for them
to go to the polls. If the election on
the recall came earlier than that II
would be too close to the general cleo
ton. and the proper time would not
intervene between the general cleo
ton and the next
At this point Mr.. Wallerstein In
| jected the question:
Il have been seeking information"
ne said. ever since the committee has
been formed I want someone to tell
me wherein there are defects in the
present plan / would like the speak
er or someone else tell me wherein
the present charter IL defective. And
If there is inefIiciency among the Of
ficials I would like to know. I have
been unable to ascertain where there
is ineft1ciency, and would like the