Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-25
POLICE AND HEALTH
BOARDS ABOLISHED
But Council Sticks to Separate
Nonsalaried Board for Control
of Fire Department..
POLICE PUT UNDER MAYOR
Health Department Under Adj
ministrative Board-Concurs
in Aldermen's Compromise.

ministrative Board-Concurs
in Aldermen's Compromise.
BY vote OF l2 TO G. the Common
Council last night concurrcd in the
Grundy substitute for the report Of
the Joint Committee on Charter Change,
under the terms OF which the Police
Department is placed under control Of
the Mayor. the Health Department
under the direction OF the Admnistra-
tive Board. and the Fire Department.
as ii is to-day, under the management
of AN unsalaried board.
The vote on concurrence stood as
follows ayes. Atkinson. Batkins But
ler, Chcatwood, FERGUSON, IIadd lad
don, Jones, Pitcher. RatcliRe, Rogers
and President Peters; noes, English.
Powell, Powers. Scaton, Sullivan and
Welsh
There was question as 70 whether
the Employment Bureau. under the
,"rms "f the Grundy substitute. would
be placed under the Administrative
Board CITY Attorney Pollard. called
into consultation at the request Of MIR
Haddon, deciding that as the bureau
was the creation of the City Council
il would not bc affected by change in
tho charter.
LOSES FIGHT TO ABOLISH
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
Mir English exercised futile effort to
have the Fire Department placed un-
der the Administrative Board. and Mr.
Seaion made as equally vain endeavor
20 have the Police Board retained.
while Mr.. Sullivan, going step
further. offered argument in favor OF
The retention OF all three independent
boards. Tho Sullivan motion, offered
as substitute for the whole. lost by
g vote OF 10 TO S. and the Seaton
motion was lost by the heavier vote
of ]" to 3. Councilman c. c. Jones.
OF Madison Ward, chairman OF the
Joint Committee on Charter Change,
voted for concurrence upon every oucs-
lion. and was highly clated at the sue
cess OF his efforts
Concurrence having hccn gained. i,
remains now only for the Mayor TO
sign the ordinance instructing tho CITY
Attorney TO procure in the General
Assembly the passage OF a bill effectine
mcnded by both branches OF the CITY
Council.
ALI. AMENDMENTS
ARE VOTED DOWN
An amendment offered by Mr. English
10 give to officers and employees re-
moved or suspended by the Mayor the
right OF apnea! To a jury was de-
feated 10 to s. Mr.. Jones explaining
that the judge OF the Hastings Court.
to whom the right of appeal now lies.
passes only upon the efficiency and
adaptabiiity OF the officer or employee
who may he removed or suspended
Mr.. English also attempted TO prove
that the charter changes would place
the Employment Bureau under the Ad-
ministrntive Board. ana said tina, the
City Council should not yield TO popular
clamor for has,y legislation
II would not" said Mr.. English. sac
rifce my personal opinion as to the
advisa bility OF making these suggested
changes merely for The sake of har-
mony and agreement between the two
branches. The report, believe. should
go back TO the body from which il
emannted." He moved to amend bv
placing the Fire Department under the
Administrative Board. Scaton and Sui
livan following with substitutes 10
leave the Fire. Health and Police De-
partmcnts and the Employment Bureau
independent.
GIVES PEOPLE HAMMER
TO KNOCK COJNCu. WITH
'If we accept this report" said Mr.
Seaton. we Will lcgislate ourselves out
nf w.
pie hammer with which they may
knock out our brains
Alr. Sullivan wanted To know who
was behind the movement for n change
in the charter. and Mr.. Haddon replied
by saying that the City Council itself
had appointed tho Charter-Changc
Committee. and had appealed to the
Legislature TO permit the people 10
petition for. and vote upon, a change
in the charter
There is no reason why we should
shirk the Responsibilities laid upon our
shoulders" said Mr. Haddon. II am
not satisfied with the amendments
made by the Board of Aldermen, hut T
see no reason why. II we cannot get
q whole loaf. we should refuse half a
loaf"
"Bu;" replied Mr. Sullivan. under
the terms Of the bill empowering the
people to elect Il charter change com
mission, we can put the whole burden
Oh them. and why should we assume
this duty 30 ourselves. Haven't the
boards proven satisfactory? We know
that they have performed their duties
we'll and that they cause no expense
to the city, yet there Is a hullabaloo
to have the charter changed" Mr.
Sullivan said he was ready TO meet the
people on the question at the ballot
box on April E.
POWELL. DEFENDS
SEPARATE POLICE BOARD
Mr.. Powell spoke strenuously in
favor OF the retention of the Police
hoard, saying that the Police Depart
mcnt had been freed Of it's kinks" and
that it was operated as cheaply as any
department in the country.
Lets vote" urged Mr.. FERGUSON.
and the vote was taken.
Mr.. Seaton. vice chairman OF the