Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-28
CHARTER CHANGERS
WANT MORE LIGHT
Vote to Hear Civic Association
at Meeting Fixed for
September l3
JONES'S MOTION DEFEATED
Members Assert Intention of Op-
posing Any Plan Abolish
ing Council or Mayor.
JONES's MOTION DEFEATED

In spite OF dire predictions by Chair
man Jones and Councilman Ratclife
the death OF charter reform as far as
the next Legislature was concerned
tho Council joint compittec charged
with drafting a new chafter voted last
night to adjourn until September Is
before committing itself 10 any par
ucular policy Of reform.
Coupled with the motion fixing tho
next meeting date was an Invitation
to tho Civic Association and all other
bodies and Individuals tina, arc giving
thought 10 the matter Of charter re-
form to appear before tho committee
conclusions they have reached and the
advice they have to offer
The motion to adjourn 10 September
l3 was adopted only after a heated de-
bate. the opposition pointing to trc
danger which threatens the whole
charter-change program il the commi :
tee delays until then the initial at
tempt to draft reform charter
BELIEVES FURTHER DELAY
FATAL TO REFORM PLANS
i>arlE IN tne DEBATE on the motion to
postpone Chairman Jones took the floor
with an earnest appeal TO the commit
toe 10 decide at once and for all time
the general character of governmental
reform to which ii will address itself
Councilman Haddon. who had intro
duced tho motion to postpone tenn
porarily withdrew it to allow tho com
mittee to Vote on a motion which was
cl,.
Declaring his conviction that further
delay in boldly graphing with the
charier-change problem was fatal IL
relief were expected from the next
Legislature. SIR. Jones asked that the
committee vote now whether. in draft
ing tho proposed reforms. il will retain
the bicameral Council and Mayor or not
With this crucial point decided. he said.
the committee could enter at once upon
"A progressive program of reform
In order To ascertain the committees
position on the question of retaining
the Federal features. Mr. Jones offercd
motion declaring 1t to- hn tire sense
OF the committee that tho new fori,, Of
government TO he proposed shall re-
tain the hicamcral Council and the Of
fec OF Mayor.
DECLARE: FIRM ADHERENCE
TO NCIIMANIC SYSTEM
Around This motion centcrcd keen
debate Of more than an hour With
Out exception the six councilmanic
members OF the joint committee in al.
tendance declared their firm opposition
TO Tho elimination OF the Council or
Mayor some went so far as to saw
that they would under no circumstances
vote for scheme of ieform that did
not include these features
am opposed to the motion offered
by the chairman" said Councilman
Pollock. "becaus. il would have The
thect of shutting off or making useless
any suggestions for any quarter look
ing 10 change OF the charter that
would not provide for the retention OF
tho Council or Mayor. We owe il 10
til" Civic Association and the other or
sanizations that are giving this mat
a particular brand OF reform until We
have given them an opportunity TO
make their recommendations.
WILL NOT VOTE TO ABOIISH
COUNCIL. OR MAYORS OFFICE
Personally, am prepared to vote
on the motion tonight. AS far ms 7
am able TO judge now, ] shall never
vote to abolish the Council or Mayors
Office. think il is essential to good
government that these features be re-
tanned. 1t will require overwhelming
evidence that the abolition OF the Coun-
ell and Mayor is desirable, to make me
change my mind. Nevertheless. am
open to conviction and am willing to
hear those who have suggestions To
offer even if my views and theirs differ.
While this committee is the creature
of resolution introduced in the Coun-
Gil by the chairman. he will hardly
deny that he was inspired to introduce
charter reform that had been for some
months before agtated In the news
papers and by influential citizens.
There has been organized a Civic
Association. having now n membership
OF 5000. dedicated, among other things.
to the task of assisting In obtaining for
the city of Richmond new charter.
1t has appointed a committee to make
a comparative study OF modern CITY
charters. This committee has sub
mitted report which will he consid-
cred 10y the directors of the association
on September s.
WOULD AWAIT VIEWS
OF CIVIC ASSOCIATION
1T is only common courtesy To the
Civic Association. which has become so
intimately bound up with the charter
reform movement, that VIC refrain from
committing ourselves to any particular
kind OF reform until we hear its recon-
mendations. The Civic Association NAV
recommend the retention of the Council
and Mayor or it may not. 1t may recon-
mend their abolition and the substitu.
ton OF a commission with Il manager
Whatever may be its recommendation.
II Is entitled to Il hearing before we
commit ourselves. To do less would
be an nffrOnt to the Civic AsSncia finn I"