Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19
SURVEY RESOLUTION
WILL COME UP TONIGHT
Council Committee ON Charter
Change To Hold Its Initial
Meeting.
OPPONENTS FIGHT FOR DELAY
Would Defer Survey Until TOO Late
Tor Its Findings to Bc Digested
ana Incorporated in Charter
Changes by Incoming Legislature.

me hrst meeting or the Council
.oinihittee on Charter Change Will be
held at o'clock tonight, n call hav-
ing been issued last week by Chairman
Johh r.. Rose. Jr., in order to perfect
organization.
TN city-wide clamor FOR n change
In municipal government. this commit :
lie" is expected to have many demands
maze upon It. and In the end IT is cx-
pected to recommend such changes in
the City Charter as will bring about
I'll" desired reforms
IN" new committee has before IL
only one resolution. the Jones rcsolu-
non hooking toward an appropriation
or $1,000 for survey to be made by
the bureau OF Municipal Research. OF
New York. This resolution has tho in
dorsement OF the civic Association. ,
When the measure was offered on the
floor OF the Common Council by Coun-
Gilman Jones. OF Madison Ward. there
was Il lively debate az TO which com
mite. II should be referred Mir. Jones
wished that /; go to the Finance Com
mittee. while Councilman Mills foug Int
TO have IL committed to the Charter
Change Committee. After con i'll cradle
discussion Mr.. Jones withdrew his re-
quest, and The paper was sent to the
latter committee.
II was pointed out that II was clearly
the duty OF the Charter Change Com
mittee to look into the advisabil;ty of
having survey made of all municipal
departments. and X this committee
| thought this a wise course. then tho
matter would come before tho Finance
Committee to provide tho funds for
defraying the cost.
Objection to the delay was made by
those who feared an effort to defer tho
survey until tod lase for changes to be
made by tho Legislature to he named
In the primary OF August I.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
CALLED ON FOR REPORTS
This committee will also receive the
benefit OF reports from the heads Of
all departments. which are called for
in the Batkins resolution. This rcso-
luton was adopted by the Common
Council. but when it reached the Boa I'd
of Aldermen il was referred to the
Ordinance Committee. The latter re-
turned It with a favorable report. and
IL was adopted by the Board. after in
| sorting "a slight amendment. This nc
| cessitates that the resolution again go
TO the Common Council for concurrence
before it's provisions can be carried,
The measure looks 10 n survey OF ali
depa rtments by their respective heads.
their reports to be made to the Coun-
ell the Mayor and the administrative
BOARD. The object OF Councilman Bat
kins IL TO ascertain by recommends
tons from the department chiefs those
officers which can be consolidated and
those which can lie abolished without
decreasing the efficiency OF admristra-
tion, while decreasing tho cost.
The members of the Charter Change
Committee arc as follows: Councilman
John l.. Rose. of Lee Ward, chairman:
William II. Adams. president OF the
Board OF Aldermen: r. Lee reters.
president of tho Common Council: AL
dermau William W. Workman. of
Madison Ward: Alderman Ordway Pull
Ter. of Clay Ward: Councilman Fred H..
Powell of Lee Ward. and Councilman
Morgan r. Mills. OF jefferson Ward