Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-10
CIVIC DIRECTORS FAVOR
. SINGLE CHAMBER COUNCIL
Prepare Charter Reform Plan Pro-
viding for Elective Mayor
With Wide Powers.
INCLUDE RIGHT OF RECALL
Complete Outline of Plan Will BE
Presented to Civic Association
Mass-Niecting To-Morrow Night
for Its Ratification.

Radical changes in tho municipal
government OF Richmond, CcntralizinE
the responsibility in n Mayor. with
certain checks OF his authority. are
proposed in tic report OF tho directors
he submitted II = meeting OF that body
u he held SATURDAY night in tho audi
to:ium OF the John Marshall High
school. II the association adopts the
report. the Ian will be laid befor. the
Council Charter-Change Committee
which meets Monday night to hear the
views of This organization.
While copies Of the report have not
been released for publication, tho fol-
lowing are among the principal recon-
mendations:
The reconstruction OF ;he city gov
crumcnt with n Mayor and a one
branch Council. elected by the people.
The Mayor whose salary Is fixed at
$4,000 year for a term Of four years.
TO appoint heads and subhcads of the
city department. subject TO the APP
rroval OF an efficiency board. similar to
civil service commissioner.
COUNCIL TO HAVE
LEGISLATIVE POWERS ONLY
The Council TO be composed of
moderate number Of members. prob
ably three from ench ward. and to have
legislative powers only, together with
supervision OF the finances through the
preparation of an annual budget.
The creation of committee COM
posed of the Judges of the City Cir
cult, Chancery and Law and Equity
Courts. the president of the Virginia
Mechanics institute. and the city Super
intendent of Schools. who shall name
an efficiency board to pass upon the
qualifications OF the Mayors appoin-
tees
place similar to that taken b. civil
service commissions in cities whore
the manager plan is in operation No
appointee of tho Mayor can assume
Office until the board has confirmed
the selection
n provision providing for the recall
OF the Mayor by a vote of the people
on the petition for an election filed by
certain number of qualified voters.
PLANS TO CENTRAIIZE
RESPONSIBILITY IN MAYOR
The plan has for its object the CEN
tralzation of authority and RESPONSE
bility for the conduct of the city'S af-
fairs in the hands OF Mayor. but at
the same time safeguards arc thrown
about the officials power. The salary
is placed at $4,000 in order to make
the position attractive to men OF
marked ability.
The Introduction OF the recall fea-
ture is calculated to make the Mayor
responsive TO the will of tho people
and TO give tho voters opportunity to
decide for themselves whether the Of
fetal should be continued in office
by placing the appointment OF the
efficiency board in the hands OF "A body.
a majority Of whom are judges OF the
city courts. the directors undertake to
remove control over the appointments
as far from politics as possible. The
Judges and superintendent of schools
municipal politics, and would be free
from political influence.
II was deemed unwise to recommend
civil service commission in view OF
the large negro element in the city
In lieu thereof there was substituted
an efficiency board composed Of men
capable Of judging the qualifications
OF the men who will he in charge OF
the various city departments. The
board is to pass upon the experience.
ability and moral qualifications OF the
men named by the Mayor
Tho Council will elect only the city
auditor and its own clerk
The report Of the directors describes
in detail a number OF features of the
plan. Others are left open to some cX-
tent for further advice. When the
Civic Association meets tomorrow
night at $40 o'clock. members OF the
directors who have had n hand in franz
ing the plan will explain various fca-
lures to the audience and detail the
considerations that guided the dircc-
tors IN adopting il.
Lyons and Friends Acquitted.
NJ. y. Lyons, of 500 East Grace