The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-08
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
AGAINST REDUCTION
Votes Down Powell Measure TO Re-
duce Administrative Board to
-Four Members.
GuNsr WANTED FURTHER CUT.
others Members Think That All Such
Natter, May Be Properly Disposed
Of By Prospective Charter Commits
AioR.

the Po'.eh resolution calling upon the
Legislature TO arlc;.d the charter of
R:chmoT!, 81 that tho membership of
the Administrative Board may be cut
to sorr, the Council Committee on
Ordinances yesterday afternoon re-
Jected tho resolution by the vote OF
TO a. the full committee being pres
ent.
Councilman Fred r. Powell patron
of the paper, explained its purpor,:
lie said that the board was product
OF the City Council, and that when
ii was instituted there was opposition
10 its number. some OF the mem bers
urging a smaller membership. He de-
clared he had nothing TO say OF the
personnel OF the Administrative Board,
and would not favor its abolition, be-
lieyinr the present form of govern
ment much better than the old form.
in which the business of the city was
conducted through committees.
Would Reduce Unwieldy Body.
The opportunity is now here" said
MIR Powell, TO not only reduce the
membership of an unwieldy body, but
to save the city $1,000 a year, I have
nothing to say Of the men composing
the board, and had the opportunity not
offered itself at this time. I would
rot have presented this paper. MI big
business concerns in the incipfent en-
sage large forces. but when the busl-
ness has gotten settled down into a
systematic form the forces are re-
duced. and there ia no reason why We
cannot reduce the board at this time.
He explained that he had conferred
with two members Of the board the
Mayor and the CITY Attorney. and that |
all OF them approved his step. he
showed that the illustrative Board
had the expenditure OF but thirty and
forty-two hundredths per cent 81 the
clty's revenues and that four men.
with the Mayor as q pvC tai member
c.l a tie vote could handle i as We'll
Alderman Christian wanted 10 know
what necessity there was 70 reduce the
membership at this time. He SAID the
board had not Yet bneN given falr
opportunity 10 prove ia efficiency. ana
that even al that IL was dong great
work
This is the opportune time, re-
Pied Mr. Powell We are taNinE
place from no one, and Will save the
city So 900 "a year
Alderman Fuller expressed himself
as unwilling To change the present !
membership, agreeing with Mr. Chris
tan that the board had no. eeeh
given a fair chance He said that
while il was true the hoard had trans
acted business for q long time with
one member absent on account of SICK
ness the cooperation and advice OF
that man would have helped the board
Ia do still better work.
should Have Suggested Change to
Committee.
''Tf any member OF the board. or (
the NayUr.~or aEy one eise tn"uk"'
there should have been reducnon /
IN the membership said Mr.. Srher'
'they should have appeared before
the Charter Changes Committee ana
given their views 10 that hoaH- ~
nay opinion the change VIII place St'''
more power In the hands Of the Mayo
10 not think this IS wise. II ne were
called upon to break lie VOC 90
tine propositions under discussion (
would have 70 ne gone over Win, anu
there would be delay in the uansac-
4,ou Of the CltN's business. We want
ra,. ricoe ia the hoard. There 7oaE /
~ more ,ae5l%ftxs tsa& s9<2s fsl- ".s5@$ s1's'a
blood New ideas would sprung up
and the CITY would derive the henent (
Of the change.
,sa exnenaiture Of less than half az
the revenue. means nothing Ia "Hat
.A heard may de In the SAVING III 7
revenue. and the Improvements OF ne
rttv in a hundred different WAYS We
need new blood for initiative ana con-
rrlcfsve work"
Nr EnEhSn SaaA tIt-N ~ 'N'
onnor}uno time He would leave TINS
r3at,er ia the people The proposed
charter commission could frame
W.. form Of government witch could
eliminate board. or curthn its menu
bersh}p. and the people would nave
TO pass upon il. ,.
1T think the people sh"uid nave
rnssea upon the changes when navy
alraadv gone To the Legislature. sald
Nv English But this thing or caii-
d. unon the Mayor. who might be
hs,s, ~ some other important matter,
10 hresk tie, is absurd. instead "I
s'rapitfvIrg matters. = would 'ehu =,
;,iect much rcd tape into the conduct
Of the citys affairs
Mr.. Ferguson echoed ne fNpT
.ty,ra ~ beth HeSsrs. Pt'tler and h.n-
Itch lie said the wheels OF progress !
r.o,,1d no STAYED in reducing the board
% fnnr members. and then caihhs
rnan ,he Mayor ut intervals 10 cast
deciding vote.
Willing to Gut still Further
Alderman Gunst was willing 10 Nots !
FOR reduction of the board 10 ff1etI
hershin OF three but If he could not
20. ,hs. he would take half loaf At
this time. and the other half two years
hence. He said he had always eeen
consistent in the matter. ana wouiu
yeuajn so. believing the board too
unwe!ldy. .,,
After some little colloquv between
Mr. Gunst and Mr.. Fuller, the torhaer
offered an amendment to the paper,
hy which the board might he reduce
20 three members. not TO become ei-
fective. however, until the term OF on
or the members now on the board h#d
expired He said he was satisneo 'he
peopie wanted a reduction, and he was
ready to do what the people asked
Amendment Defeated.
The amendment offered by Mt.
Cams. was defeated by the following
vote. Noes English, Ferguson, PAU,
Inad Fuller, Christian. Ayes--Gunst,
welsh. Cheatweod-
Then the Powell resolution was
noted on. with the following vote; !
Noes En- glish, Fuller, I.add. Fergus
..o,,- CHRISTIAN Ayes-Gnnst, Paul,
welsh. C'heatwooe
inst before Adjournment Mr. PnHer
sailed to the attention OF the chair
ramark made by Mr.. Powell that III
tho committee wanted to make
r,iace FOR someone. to 70 ahead and
a. it, and suggested that Mr.. Powell
way not have meant what the remark
sfsis$s .An,.yhf tho gentleman