Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-08
FOUR-MEMBER PLAN
MEETS WITH DEFEAT
Ordinance Committee Turns
Down Powell Resolution
After Sharp Debate.
GUNST THINKS THREE ENOUGH
Will Leave People to Decide
Through Proposed Charter
Commission.
GUNST THINKS THREE ENOUGH

After a rather sharp discussion and
! INC rejection of AN amendment in
troduccd BY Aldcrmau Marx Gunst
! recommending mat the membership OF
. III" Administrative Board hc reduced
! 10 three. tn" Powell resolution provjd-
! ing that the board consist Of four m"lu-
| h"rs was defeated in a special meeting
I Of the Ordinance Committee yesterday y
/ afternoon by g vote OF !, 70 4 Those
! voting IN the Affirmative arc Mcssrs.
] Welch. Chca,wood. Paul and r;unst:
those voting against arc Mcssrs.
! 7ullc,. English. Christian, FERGUSON
| and i.add.
! IL presenting his resolution Mr.
! Powell stated that the Charter-ChanEc
! ComrUi'rcc, which arranged the prcse'; I;
! form Of government. never voted
! unanimously on the nurnbcr OF men
. which should occupy seats in tho board.
and said that ono or two members Of
! IN" former Charter Change Committee
! favored less than Ave men. He called
! attention 30 the fact. 100, as printed in
! The Times Dispatch. that two mcrnbe rs
! Of tho Administrative Board were in
favor OF the reduction, since it had per
formed it's duties during eighteen
months with only four members
present.
BOARD SPENDS ONLY 80
PER CENT OF CII'I'S REVENUES
In the expenditure OF $4,000. 900 last
year. Mr.. Powell said. in support Of his
argument. the Administrative Boa RI,
, had charge Of only 30i2 per cent of
the total amount. the remainder being
spent by the Board OF Fire Conuiis-
s!oners, the School Board, the Police
Department. the Board Of Health and
the Public Employment Burcau, with
other moneys being expended b.. The
City Auditor for interest and redcrnp-
tion.
we have now" said Mr. Powell IAN
opportunity, through the regretted
death of Robert Whittct. Jr.-a man
who performed efficient scrvice-~to re-
ducc the membership OF the board
without causing political hurt TO any
one. and to save the city the money
which She so sorcly needs. In case of
! tic vote. the Mayor may he called in,
and he will sit as a member of the
board and. with the others pass upon
all questions In which there may be
issue.
Alderman Oriway puller and Coun-
Gilman Edgar T5. English were strongly
opposed TO recommendation Of the rcso-
luton. each agreeing that il was not
nm opportunc time in which 10 reduce
the boards membership. especially in
view of the fact that The charter
change amendment giving 10 ihe people
tho right 10 elect :, commission 10 form
new charter has been passed and is
now before the General Assembly
HAS Not HAD TIME no
JUSTIFY IT'S EXISTENCE:
Mr.. Iullcr said that the board had
not had time III which properly TO jus
tity its existence. and that i! any OF
it's members had believed that reduc-
ton should be effected. they should
have appeared before the Joint Com
mtttee on Charter Changes. Mr..
Fuller thought the prescn, numerical
strength should ne maintained. so that
new blood and force might bc brought
into the board, ana he stated that The
services OF the late member during his
activity had been value TO- and of saw
ing to, the city because Of his wise
counsel and his deep interest in Rich
mond's welfare.
Mr.. English pointed out that every
time the Mayor was called e. to decide
a vote. it would require threshing
out again of all the arguments on the
point at issue. whereas if there were
five members. there would not be such
delay.
Let The matter he tiefcrrcn,' hc said
unit! the people can act, as mower is
now given them 10 do
GUNSr SAYS THREE
CAN DO ALI TIE WORK
Alderman Gunst offered n resolution
10 reduce the boards membership to
three, and said that decidedly better
service would be obtained from three
men than from five. He thought that
the amount OF money ii is given to the
board TO cHpcnd has nothing TO 10 with
the question. and Councilman English
opposed the resolution further on the
grounds that il would be further en-
larSinr the powers of the Mayor, when
the proper thing to do would be to
leave the whole matter to the decision
OF the people. There was II rather
sharp passage between MIR. Gunst and
Mr.. Fuller as 10 their respective views
hut mutuaa explanation Of the fac;
that each was voting according to his
belief brought harmony again
Alderman Landon T. Christian on
posed reduction OF the board member.
ship, saying that it would be prefer
able TO give the board a chance to work
out lis SatNatioll. anu tllut " II failed.
recourse could he had later to the peo-
pie. Mr.. Powell reverted again TO his
statement that the reduction would
save tho city $1,000 Il year and. i'm addi-
ton to other expenses. tho cost OF paw
ing several squares OF streets
The Gunst amendment was put. and
was lost by 4 vote of TO 3 The
Powell resolution was then placed he
fore the committee. ana was lost by
Il vote Of 10 1.
AS the resolution was introduced in
the committee, which has power 10
initiate and recommend legislation. IL
was not necessary to forward the mat
ter to the Common Council.
Acid Tnnk Expiodcs.
EMPOItfDM IA. February An
acid tank at the plant Of the Aetna
l<,.,l.- t~l