The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-26
.HOPEWElL CHARTER TO
Be VOTED ON THURSDAY
Committee Defers Final Action Pend
ing Opinion OF ney-General
on Legal Questions Involved.
TO LEND CITY THE SUM OF $4,000
Amount VIII be Returned to the State
Treasury I'm Annual Instalments of
5 Per Gent Per Annum--Many BUSH
mess Men Heard.

II is now apparent that the city of
Hopewell will soon have a self-sus-
tanning city government II the action
OF the Legislature can be taken as a
guide. Yesterday the Finance Com
mfttce considered the appropriation
bill introduced by Delegate Harrison
In the House, and by Senator Barham
in the Senate. and agreed to recon-
mend the measure appropriating the
sum of $4,000 out of the State treas
ury to be utilized in expenditures for
the establishment of a temporary gov
ernment until July /, when the pro-
posed charter shall go into effect
provided the General Assembly de-
cidss to grant the new city a form OF
government
The only change from the original
bill as voted by the Finance Commit
tee Is to the effect that the State shall
be reimbursed by the entire amount.
instead OF to the extent OF s25. 200, as
proposed In the original bill. The
$4,000 appropriation. as recommend
ed by the Finance Committee, Ia to be
available when the Administrative
Board. as provided In a separate bill,
goes into power. and Is to be used TO
defray the expenses of the temporary
government until the proposed char
ter goes into effect.
The State treasury is to be reim-
bursed to the full amount at the rate
Of 5 per centum of the city's gross
revenues, the first payment to be at
tar January /, 1918. Citizens OF Hope
Well here today express themselves as
much pleased with the action of the
Finance Committee.
The Charter Considered
1t o Joint meeting OF the commit
|xees on Counties. Cities and Towns
yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock the
bills providing for charter and for
the Administrative Board were con-
sidered. A number OF the leading
business men of Hopewell. represent
ing all lines OF endeavor. were present.
and many OF them addressed the joint
committee, which was presided over
/ by Senator Cameron Something like
thirty Hopewsll business men attend
led the meeting OF the joint committee.
Representative David A. Harrison.
L. member of the committee. and SEN
Iafor Barham, patrons of the bill In
1.-THE respective branches of the Legis-
|lature, were present. s Gordon Cum
innings. the legal representative of the
|Hopewell Chamber OF Commerce. was
Ipresent and explained In detail the
|purport of both bills. Several points
were questioned as 10 their constitu-
|tionaiity. and Mr.. Cummings request
ed that these matters be referred to
ithe Attoruey-Generai for an opinion
before a final decision by the COM
3nittee.
Want to Aid Hopeweli.
There was an evident disposition
m the part OF the Joint committee to
rive Hopeweii the relief sought, and
ono Of the members expressed a de-
|sire to hear from the representatives
present from the wizard city. Among
Those accorded the floor and who
made short addresses were +. B. Wal
jters. of the Hopewell Daily News:
|<seorwe g. lack. of the Hopewell Daily
press; Judge Lawrence Perry. police
31ustice and Hopeweirs most likely ap-
Dointec as first mayor; Chas. T. Nor
ria. attorney: DIR. Robert G4ering. SUI
.perintendent OF Prince George Hos
pital, Mr. Moody contractor and
builder: d. W. Hill, E. A. Mifka and
John Dubois, representing the real es-
tate interests: Bestor r. Walters,
banker.
All Of these gentlemen assured the
|1oint committee that the charter as
proposed met with the hearty ap-
proval OF practically every man in
Hopeweli, and expressed the desire
khat the Legislature give them as
speedily AZ possible the relief sought
In order that Hopewell might enter
INTO an era OF Unprecedented prosper
9ty such as the new city deserves, A
posfponement OF action was taken I'M
LII the meeting OF the committee on
Thursday in order that the opinion OF
The Attorney-General may be obtain
ID as to certain features OF the bill