Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-03
COUNCIL RETURNS
BILL TO ASSEMBLY
Accedes to Request Of Civic AS
sociation Not to Change
Charter Measure.
TWO BRANCHES UNANIMOUS
Passage Through Legislature Is
Expected in Few Days With
out Opposition.
TWO BRANCHES UNANIMOUS

Hy unanimous vote. both br;,u"hcs Of
The City Council last night ucce,l.d to
the request Of the Civic Association
that the chartcr-comnission bill now
pending before tho General Assembly
he allowed TO stand as It was intro
duc"d. Senator's Cannon and Wenden-
bur;; will be SO Informed and the pass
age OF the bill within the next fcw
days is anticipated
y provides. in brief. that when -
per cent Of the electorate petitions. an
order may he entered calling for the
election by tho people of special com
mission 10 draw up new charter for
tho city. The charter when so drawn
is 10 be submitted to Il vote OF the pco-
pie. and If adopted by "a majority of
those voting. will bc transmitted 10
the next session OF the General Assem-
bly, with "A request for it's adoption tho
proceeding being independent OF the
CITY Council.
several days ago City Attorney Pol
lard. in letter 10 the Richmond Sena-
tors, held that 70 be constitutional the
hill should bc amended go as TO require
thc charter when drawn TO he approved
by a majority Of the qualified voters OF
the city-not merely by a majority Of
thos" voting in the election. On this
point the Senator'S returned the hill 10
the city Council for instructions.
PRoHfRITINE REQUIREMENT.
ASSOCIATION CONTENDS
Wyndham L. Meredith. counsel for
the civic Association, disagreed with
tho city Attorney as to the construc-
ton OF III" state Constitution bearing
on this question, and on his advice tho
Civic Association. which has stood back
Of the movement for charter reform,
asked that the bill he passed as orig
inally introduced
y requirement OF majority Of the
electorate. IL was pointed out was pro-
hihtve. as. with li,o0o qualified voters
in the city, not more than half Of that
number usually go TO the polls 1t
would be possible, therefore, it was
shown, for the new charter to receive
every vote cast and still not have n
majority OF the qu,t.lled voters of
the city.
The charter-commission bill which is
now before the state Senate is en-
tirely independent of the charter
amendments recommended by the City
Council, aholiShinc the Board OF Police
Commissioners and placing that depart
mcnt under the Mayor. and abolishing
the Board of Health and placing that
department under the Administrative
Board. This bill has passed the House
of Delegates. is now pending on the
Senate calendar. and will 20 To the
Governor within a few days. 1t will
take effect ninety days after the ad-
journmcnt OF tho General Assembly.
EQUIRI:S FEW MINUTES
FOR COUNCIL TO ACT
City Attorney Pollard was present
at the meeting o: the two branches Of
the Council last night. which followed
each other in quick succession. hut
took part IN the proceedings II is
understood that, while Mr.. Pollard does
not recede from his position as legal
proposition, he acccdcs to the request
of the Civic Association that the bill
be passed for what 1t may he worth
rather than DELAY the whole matter of
charter reform until the Constitution
can be again amended. process which
would require several years.
The Board of Aldermen met at S
o'clock and the Common Council ut
$40. Each body was in session only
Il few minutes. as there was no debate
and no division.
y resolution. offered ut the instance
of Councilmcn IIaddon and English
provides for an additional charter
amendment giving life tenure TO mem
hcrs of the Fire Department. The
pending charter amendments give life
tenure 20 policemen. who have hereto
fore been elected each three years. and
it was stated that ii was due to over
sight that the frcmen were not in