The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-22
Commits Itself to Bicameral
Council and Ward Lines as
at Present
LOOKS LIKE REPORT
WILL BE PATCHWORK
Pollock Loses in Fight to Hold
Committee sWork toAmend-
ments Only of Existing
Charter

In the presence of leading members
of the Civic Association, the Council
Committee on Charter Changes last
night handed the plan as presented by
the association two swats. These
swats represented the total amount of
real work accomplished by the commit
tee in its two months OF existence.
On motion of Mr.. Pollock the COM
mittee agreed that 1t should proceed
TO amend the present charter OF the
city. and not commit itself to an en-
tirely new form of government
The committee then against the ear
nest protest of Mr.. Pollock, Mr. Bemiss
and Mr.. c. v Meredith. adopted a reso-
luton offered by Major Christian, com
hitting itself to a bicaneral council
with the four ward arrangement as
now prevailing.
All this was accomplished. after much
discussion by members OF the COM
mittee, and by mem bers OF he Civic
Association
Pollock's FruitIess Fight.
After Mr. Pollock had succeeded in
having his proposition OF simple con-
stdering amendments to the charter
passed, he entered into a fruitless tight
TO postpone the adoption OF a resolu-
ton to commit the committee TO the
During the discussion upon this lat
ter phase of the situation, Mr. Pollock
urged the committee to adopt A reso-
luton charging the wards of the, city
to the number of six lie thought a
larger number would result In bringing
out better mon for Council. because
OF the smaller territory to be covered
IN campaign, He was sustained in
his argument by c. W Meredith who
pointed psH
campaign, and explained that no
man who Is asked to run for Office, es-
pecially one which does not bring in
an emolument, will consent TO be a
candidate. IL he is a busy man Mr. Be
miss felt the question should have
been further discussed, but Chairman
Jones insisted that much time had al
READY been lost IN fruftiess discussion.
and that now was the time to act
Mr. Radcliffe made several inerfec-
tual efforts TO ring the committee into
line for a smaller mem bership of
Council. and finally got the committee
70 commit itself upon the proposition
OF electing the Mayor by the people.
All these things. It was finally
agreed, tended TO show the public that
the committee had started to work in
earnest and would make every effort
10 get its work ready. il necessary, for
the coming Legislature
Not Necessary to Submit to People.
II was stated by City ATTORNEY Pol
lard that it would not be necessary
TO submit anything to the people in
the shape of amendments to the char
ter unless they entailed the sale Of
the gas work or any other utility or
the expenditure Of money
After the committee had deter
mined to proceed along the line Of
work 1t was formed for, with the idea
in view of simply amending the char
ter. the Civic Association folks pres
ent--there were but three of them
Wyndham r, Meredith. John c. Eas-
ley and Secretary George w Rogers
saw their plan going by the board
The Civic Association plan provides
for unicameral council. city man
Eager (the Mayor. an efficiency board
and other improvements along that
line
The committee determines positive
ly TO consider the bicameral or two