Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-15
CITY EMPLOYEES ARE
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
Claim Sufficient Signatures to Call
Election on Question OF
Charter Changes.
HOPE TO BEAT IT At THE POLLS
Meanwhile Efforts Arc Being Made
To Tic Councils Hands and Defer
Amy Action Until Too Late for
Wis Legislature.

Extreme confidence over the success
81 their movement to forcstali char
tcr reforms outlined by the civic AS
ISOLATION and the New York Bureau OF
Munjciral Research was expressed last
pisht ny those city employees who
have circulated petitions requesting
The CITY Council to call = special cleo
ticu to determine whether or not there
saal be changes in tho existing form
Ut municipaI government. At the City
HALL Yesterday every confidence was
felt tha tho campaign would bc a sue
cess. and il was authoritativcly stated
that the petitions would he filed i'll time
for consideration by the Common Coun.
Gil. December 3.
There has hccu no apprcciahlc let
UP I'm tho movement. other than that
which naturally follows the compile
ton OF an undertaking. Many city
employees have completed their work.
and the petitions have been sent in
But no one will admit TO whom they
were sent. So far as could be learned.
they are being returned by the same
channels through which they were first
distributed. Because tho "Go-bctwccns'
are known. 1t is not difficult for those
familiar with municipal affairs aud
politics 10 place responsibility for he
roactionary movement
REQUIRED NUMBER OF
SIGNATURES OBTAINED
Those men who have taken an ac-
tive interest in the campaign since the
details of the movement were UNI
carthcd, were the authority for the
statement that the required number Of
signatucrs were being rapidly obtained.
They also declared hat the Civic AS
sociation's plan had been defeated, say
ing that tho matter had certainly been
delayed for several weeks.
Politicians expressed doubt last
night if any change in the charter
would be made at this time. The re-
port of the New York Bureau of Mu-
nicipal Research had not been pre-
scented to tho Council Committee on
Charter Changes, and will not hc until
next week, unless u special meeting is
called for tomorrow night. This ac-
ton will hardly be taken. il is said.
and several weeks must clapsc before
the committee can work out its recon-
mendationS.
Several public meetings will be held
by the committee, and then its report
to the Council must be drafted. This
Will take time, and the slow-movinG
municipal machinery must be spcedcd
up II the Council adopts recommended
lions FOR presentation to the General
Assembly in January.
iii:i.li:NE THEY CAN KILL
MOVEMENT NJ POLLS
Developments were few yesterday in
Tic night between the supporters of
au'.alton'S program and ;he
''N'' cry "~nrNl"v"rs Uujr" $50 ..'
troll OF the administrative Boa d. fear
tut for their positions with the exist
enc" OF the board threatened, are mar
Shaliins every voter possible. The plan
10 kiiI the reform movement at the polls.
or, failing in that attempt. to elect
u charter commission OF their own So
lection, IN the meantime, their official
heads will he spared for two years.
ihc reform element has Contcntcd
ifScli so far with efforts to have every
voter VINO signed the petition under
a misrepresentation have his name win
drawn. This Will he done when IN,
paper Is presented to the Council. pj-
TcctorS OF the Civic Association win
meet NEXT week. and some MAN Of
action Is expected to be decided unon
at that time. 49,
one peculiar fact in the fight j. ,b,,
IL mas become definitely known ,ho,
"cNoral city employees circulated No.
Po'i'ions when they should have h,,,
attending 10 their Official duti.s -,
no cnorl mas been made to cans. an
,H'eS'isd ION into their conduct Thcrc
HaNc d'Sn hccI several minor devotion
H;ehtS since The ACTIVITY Of the CITY ON.
pioSeeS became kpoWu, but mono ,o
cause any alteration IN The plan mf a.
TACK adopted 10y the rcac,ionar.
forces. "''iohafy