Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-20
FIRE BOARD SAVED:
OTHERS ABOLISHED
Aldermen Adopt Compromise
Substitute for Proposed
Charter-Changes.
PUT POLICE UNDER MAYOR
Health Department Is Placed
Under Administrative Board,
and Fire Board Retained.

Acting in the role of pacifist and har-
monizer between the factions which
had threatened 10 cause the defeat or
the recommendations of the joint Com
mit,ee on Charter Change. Colonel
Grundy introduced and had adopt cd
last night In the Board OF Aldermen.
after long argument and the Offering
OF many amendments. a substitute FOR
the charter coinmi ssions report, p!;c-
ing the Police Department under til
direct control and management ii the
Mayor. the Health Department. under
the Administrative Board. ard leaving
the Eoard OF Fire Commissioners indie
pendent. as st is to-day. The report
mad been amended in the meeting held
Monday night by adoption OF the orig
mai section, requiring that appropria-
iions shal! he limited to the extent of
." per cent or the fairly anticipated
revenues for each ensuing year. 80 that
u is necessar. that the whole question
shall he again reviewed by the lower
branch and he concurred In or re-
jected.
When the roll was called on Colonel
Grundy's substitute. the vote stood
I to for adoption. as follows: ayes.
Gilman. Grundy. GunSt. Melton,
Mitchell. Powers and Workman: noes.
Christian. Nielsen, Paui. Puller and
Adams. As the body was in the act of
adjourning, Mr.. Gunst, who has stood
/ steadfastl" against the abolishment Of
the three independent boards. moved
that the vote be reconsidered. his mo-
tion being lost H.. acclamation.
SUBSTITUTE FOR WHOLE
OFFERED As COMPROMISE
In moving for the adoption of his
substitute for the whole report. which
had been hurriedly prepared By the
City Attorney during the afternoon,
Colonel Grundy said that IL was meant
10 establish peace and 10 settle all tho
differences OF opinion which had arisen
in the previous meeting, TO bring about
an agreement, which he said all de-
sired. Noses had been counted before,
ard. in spite OF continued opposition
and the presentation Of amendments
which II they had been carried. would
have left the Aldermen IN the position
OF hesilancy and doubt they occupied
Monday night. the Grundy substitute
prevailed by. the strength OF the
promised support.
Wavcr!cy Melton. of jefferson Ward.
again attempted TO amend by providing
that the City Auditor shall be elected
b. the people instead OF by the city
Council. and again nine stalwarts de-
fcated him.
John !. Mitchell continuing true. he
stated. 10 the announced wishes OF his
constituency, endcavored as vainIy az
before TO amend by placing the Fire
and Police Departments under the -Ad-
ministrativc Board Il, is the will Of
the people whom have the honor to
represent" said MIR. Mitchell. 10 have
these boards placed under the control
OF tic Administrative Board. the mem
bers of which are paid to look after
the city's affairs. and most urgently
represent that these department $
should he placed under that boa rd.'
The motion was lost by "A record vote
OF 10 .: ayes. Mitchell and Puller;
noes. Christian. Gilman, Grundy. Ciunst.
Melton, Nielsen, Paul, Powers. Work
man aud Adams.
FIGHT OVER DISPOSITION
OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Messrs. puller and Gunst also strovc
desperately 20 have the Fire Depart
ment placed under the Administrative
Board. Mr.. Puller expressing himself
In favor Of abolishinS all the indepen-
dent boards.
We should" said Mr.. puller, either
a abolish the Administrative Board or
place two Of the independent depart
ments under its control. leaving the
Police Department to the management
OF the Mayor"
Mr.. Gunst, agreeing with Mr.. Fuller.
said that IL was hardly necessary for
the City Council TO change the charter
since an ordinance requesting tho Leg
isiature to give the people that right
had been passed by both branches o..
the Council. Mir. Fuller moved the
adoption of hts suggestion, ana lost
10 TO 2, Christian and Puller voting aye.
Lawrence Paul. sticking by his guns
fred Il Parthian shot at the section Civ
Ing control Of the Police Department
to the Mayor his verbal shrapnel fall
ing wide Of the mark by the standard
register of . to 8. On his motion TO
leave the Health Department under the
control OF FREQ board he lost by Il tic.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Pullcr
providing that the City Treasurer and
the Commissioners OF Revenue shall be
elected by the people for term of four
years was adopted. His offered amend
ment giving TO all officers and en-
ployes elected ny tho people the right
to trial by a jury after suspension or
dismissal by the Mayor failed of adop-
ton by to 3. The right Of appeal
given In the proposed charter change
lies to tho Judge of the Hustings
Court, whose Judgment In tho premises.
without trial by jury, shall be final.
AMENDMENT INSERTED AS TO
RANK OF POLICE OFFICERS
An amendment, inserted also by the
lower branch. providing that the ap-
pointmcnts OF captains and sergeants
by the Chief of Police shall be subject
to the approval of the Mayor was pass
ed. Mr.. Nielsen opposed the section,
giving to tho secretary and purchas sing
agent Of the Police Department the rank
Of captain, and was beaten by an over
whelming vote.
The action OF the Common Council