The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-20
THE HOUSE

| THE HOUSE
The Richmond charter changes
measure known as The Charter Conn
mission" bill, is now in the hands OF
Governor Stuart, the House OF Del
egates yesterday having passed the
i-,iiiiii as IL came fFana- tina Sonata
The bin is most important. one.
II gives to the voters of any city In
Virginia having population In excess
OF so. o0o, the right. upon petition. to
elect commission for the purpose of
framing new form of government.
This new form is to be submitted to
the people. and upon receiving a ma
tority of the vote cast at the election.
shall be sent to the next Legislature
for lsatification.
some question has been raised as TO
whether this form is In accordance
with the provisions Of the Constitu-
ton In that a majority of the quail
flied electorate at the election shall
determine the status of the case.
rather than d majority of those vot-
ing. IL was determined, however, to
urge the passage and approval of the
bill as originally framed by the Char
ter Changes Committee OF the City
Council, with the belief that no qaea-
tion would ever be raised as to Its
conEtftutionality.
The measure was urged ana APP
proved by the Civic Association of
Richmond and was introduced In the
Senate by Senators Cannon and Wen
denburg. "n a
Points I'm Bill.
The principal points in the bill are
that upon Il petition signed by 2b per
cent Of the qualified vote of the city
asking for such anteiection. the Mayor
shalt4xo notify tha City Council. which
body shall provide for the holding of
an stestlon. At that election seven
connniissiofisrs shall be chosen. who
ares fd prepare . charter or new form
OF government. This shall be for
ton TOR Hustingsl Court. who shall
order q special election for submitting
the proposed charter TO the voters OF
the city. II majority Of those vot-
ing In the election vote to adopt such
form, tho measure Ia to be forwarded
to the Legislature for ratification.
Local interest In conferred in this
bill. as 1t goes g. long way toward
procuring form of government more
suited to the people.
A companion bill to this will soon
FGMCH TINS w hhApAA
the charter by eliminating the Police
Board and the Health Board and by
giving the Mayor more powers In the
administration Of the city government.
This bill has passed the House and
Ia now In tho Senate.
KIN Pharmacy Measure.
A bill which created considerable
interest tn the House yaEtsrday-- and
which was killed, was that introduced
by Mr.. Leedy, OF Page, "by request"
This bill was designed to regulate the
practice OF pharmacy, and was de-
signed primarily to require all phar-
macists to be graduates In pharmacy
at some school or college of phar-
macy. This feature OF the bill evoked
much discussion.
MT Green. OF Danvilie. said he
wished to xiii the bill by striking out
the section requiring pharmacists to
be graduates of school or college
of pharmacy, giving A. his reasons
that there were many young men
who were unable TO attend college,
but who were growing UP In drug
stores, and fully qualifying themselves
for the profession, and who would be
entire cut out IL this bill became a
law.
Mr.. BirreIi. of Alexandria, spoke
along similar lines.
Mr.. Leedy argued thar the bill
would prove OF vast benefit TO the
public, tnasmuch as 1t would neces-
state the highest class of men APP
pearirr hefnra the examining board.
Physicians were forced TO be gradu-
ates of some medical college. and
pharmacists were more Important in
the matter OF safety first In prepar-
ing medicines
On request that the bill be placed
on It's third reading and engrossment,
the House refused to do so.
Now let's put 1t on lts passage
and kill it, exclaimed Mr., Birren.
1.-The bill II already dead an
nounced Speaker Houston.
House bill No. 17s. relating to the
appointment Of women police in cities
having 5000 population or more. was
amendment, which provides that such
cities may" appoint women on the
police force, instead Of ..mr.t,' a. the
original bill read.
This question was presented the
Finance Committee Of the city OF
Richmond while that body was franz
ing the annual budget. but no provi-
sion was made for such appointment.
Amend Hopewell Appropriation.
The House agreed to an amendment
to Senate bill No. IS. IN reference to
an appropriation Of $4,000 IN be used
as loan to tina new city OF Hope
wen. ~ suggested by Governor Stuart.
The Governor explained that In as
much az the Dupont Powder Conn
pany had agreed to loan the new city
the sum Of $25.a00. the State could
cut the proposed sum OF $4,000 to
half that amount and stu meet tho
requirements of the new city. The
amendment was adopted by the vote
OF 40 TO 0.
Mr.. Baker, Of Chesterfield. intro
duced resolution suggesting the
wrapping OF State property for city
real estate.
Il understand the city is anxious
10 secure strip OF land for the pur-
pose OF widening Bank Street." said
Mr.. Baker. My resolution provides
that the State exchange the strip a.
desired BY the city for Il similar
amount OF land on the Fcrl lot.
II was pointed out BY Mr. Fuller
that the member from Chesterfield
was probably inl error concerning the
hank Street proposition He thouxi1t
Dsrheps ~ had fsfsrsnce q ~ su&-