Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-17
INDICATIONS POINT
TO DEFEAT OF CHARTER
Aldermen Express Desire to Retain
Police, Fire and Health
Boards.
BLOCK CHARTER COMMISSION
Hope to Prevent Future Changes by
Rcqniring Petition From prohibi-
tive Percentage of Qualified Voters
See Little Demand for Change.

With indications pointing to the de-
! tcat OF the report OF the Joint Charter
/ IhanSe Committee, as il hiss been
amended and adopted by the lower
! branch. the force favorinG !: .'llan-.
! in tho municipal government will. CEN
| ter their efforts Tonight in the special
/ meeting OF the Board OF Aldermen 10
OBTAIN concurrence in the amendment
To empower the city to elect 4 charter
| change commission on petition of -
4 per cent OF the qualified voters
1t Is apparent that there will he a
strong fight against abolishiug the
boards Of the Fire, Health and Police
! Departments. Several members Of the
/ BOARD Of Aldermen have alrcn,l, ok.
/ pressed opinions favorin. thc retention
/ of the three boards. and another is in
Favor Of placin" the Police apartment
. under direct control of the Mayor the
Fire Department under the Admins
trative Board and leaving the Health
, department under the management OF
/ an Independent board. One Of tho vice
Il presidents Of the Civic Association is
I said 10 have withdrawn his support
i from the organization. and will lend
! ms effort towards the retention OF the
! independent boards.
SEES LITTLE DEMAND
! FoH CHANGE IN CHARTER
~ tn" meeting OF tho BOARD of Al
ncrincn last Monday night. Major /
/ !. christian said that he did not he
I ilcNc there WAS 4 general deInand nm
/ the part Of the people for a change in
+! the city charter and stated that tho
report Of the Charter Change Commit
/ tee WAS merely the expression of n few
/ theorists Another Alderman adberes
70 me same view. and third said
| mat he believes the people are con
! trht with the charter as i, is pro.;
dent ADAMS is said To favor rctainin-
The indcpcndcut boards.
Mhn TINS information in hand il i:
! Sa'h mat the civic Association has
pE"c',caiiE given M tho fight 70 change
N" charter i'll this respect and all /, q
! effort will he t. obtain roncurronc,
2 ia the amendment giving tho pnonic
/ tn power. OIL petition OF - per cent
/! o. the qualified voters and on ratiflca
'I"'' ~ sretial or general election. Of
! charter.
! when the question comes up tonight
- resolution 10 increase the number Of
! petitioners required TO ~ IS pcr cent
! VIII ne offered. some are said To favor
/ making tho requirement 20 nor cont
! or the qualified voters, which members
! Of the Charter-ChauGc Commission re-
(! gard as practically prohlbitivc
REGARD PROPOSED
CHANGE As PRoIIIRITIvT.
Nm officer Of the civic Association
!. sara yesterday that the organization
4 would prefer 10 have tie amendment
i killed rather than have 1T changed so
! that the right To petition foi. "a charter
/, chang" commission shall lie with more
ihan :" per cent Of the qualified voters
In no city III tho country is tho rc-
duir"1ent on petitions for special and
general elections more than - per cent
Of The total vote cast at Tho las, NUM-
cliai election. Some require only
per cent. others only IL per cent. but
non" NOR" than - pcr cent
The pending chart.r-commisslo
plan calls for its creation on petition
or - per cent OF the qualified voters
not - per cent Of the number voting
in tho last election