Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-13
Industrious Circulation of
Petitions by Municipal
Employees Continues.
MAY VOTE AGAINST ALL
CHANGES IN CHARTER
Failing in That, Tins" Expect to
Put Their Own Men on
Commission.
HoBsoN SIGNS PETITION
Policy OF Secrecy Maintained by
Three Members of Admins
trative Board.

Confident that sufficient names will
be obtained to their petition TO force
the City Council to put to vote OF
the people tho question of whether or
not there shall be Il now charter. nd
that a commission of their own sclcc-
tion can be elected TO draft such a
charter. the "ins" fighting to forcstall
the reform movement initiated by the
Civic Association of Richmond were
iubilant last night. The unsponsorcd
campaign continued. with more or less
success. with great secrecy observed
as to its origin. while Il countcrattack
was started in tho wholesale district.
In the City Hall there were evidences
or considerable satisfaction yesterday,
afternoon. Publication OF the details in
tho campaign, which had at first
thrown \ heavy veil of secfecy over
the activity Of city employees in cir
culatinE the petitions. was declared
yesterday to have given added impetus
10 tho movement. Employees no longer
declined TO talk OF their work: in fact
II was the sole subject Of discussion
during the day. Several members ot
tho Administrative Board while deny
ing their connection in any official
capacity. which had not been sug-
pleased al tho sudden turn in the cam
pasn.
COMMISSIONER HOBSON
signs 4 PETITION
Comm isSioncr Graham Is. Iiobson de-
clared that hc believed tho canvasscrs
would secure sufficient signatures to
tho petition TO force tho Council to
call special election. For this pur-
4
20 per cent of tho qualified voters OF
tho city would be required. Having
signed the petition during tho morning,
Mr.. Iiobson said he considered himself
party to tho movement. and il neces-
sarY would gladly offer his assistance
iic believed that in a short time hc
could obtain between 500 and 1000
names TO the paper.
In submitting TO vote Of the people
the qu' 'siioH of whether there shall be
liza In the existing form OF gov
eminent, It IS not improba bic that tho
consolidated vote OF the "ins" and the
scattering outside vote that would be
polled against any change in the pres.
cnt plan. would Kill any amendmcn,
10 the city charter unless The Civic AS.
sociation succeeds in its efforts 10
arouse and bring TO the polls the indc.
=
Jority vote against a change all re-
forms would be defeated for some time
TO come.
No relief from the present system "a n
hc obtained a; the coming session OF
the General Assembly. which meets in
January. II action is delayed, and this
would result in event that special
election is called by the Council At
ieast TWO years must clapsc before any
chanSc could be made. During this
time a charter commission. which the
ms believe they can control If they
cannot Kill tho movement in the cleo
tion' VIII draw new form of govern
mcnt for presentation to the people.
This would mean Il long session next
summer for the commission. and a sec
ond election. while those supporting
tho reform movement had hoped TO OBJ
tain certain changes by petition TO tho
Legislature this winter. Should the
suggested form OF government be
adopted by the voters. the matter would
then be held in ab.yance until the
General Assembly meets i'm 1920 and
ratifes the plan. In the interval. how
ever. two members of the Administers
tive Board Will be elected for long
terms. The Offices OF commissioners
John IIirschberG, tho chairman, and
Carlton Mccarthy expire next year. and
they arc expected TO be candidates for
reelection in tho summer primary.
NO "OFFICIAL" ACTION
TAKEN BY THE BOARD
While the petition campaign re-
maincd without IA visible leader, the
activity of employees Under the control
OF the Administrative Board was no
less intense. Commissi sioncrs Eolkcs
llobson and Mccarthy denied "ofcial''
action by the board, or that Il confer
cnce hid been held Friday afternoon.
at which time the plan was reported
to have hccn worked out Commits
soner Beck was out OF the city at tina,
time. it was explained. and no cou-
ference is held without tho entire mem
bcrship of tho board
Mr. IIobson said that he had signed
the petition during tho morning. 1t
was presented to him by "a newspaper
man. connected with one of the after
noon papers. The commissioner FIRST
gave out his name, and then. on second
thought. requested that ii be with
held. Since he had signed tho petition.
he considered himself a party to the
movement. and would even gladly take
the responsibility FIR the campaign II
he could truth;ully do so.
He believed that the required num-
her of voters woul1 sign the petition
and said that if necessary hc would
assist In the work. II was simply a
concerted effort to place the matter
before the people. and the propcr
course to be taken in the matter.
he said. So far as lie was concerned
Continued on Fourth Page.)