Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-24
SUBCOMMITTEE At WORK
ON c HARTER CHAN GEs
Hopes to Have Report Ready for
Consideration Within Two
Weeks.
SEE HANDWRITING on WALL
Councilmcn and City Officials Regard
Overwhelming Norfolk Election rs
Demand OF Citizens for Simple and
Direct Form OF City Government.

Preliminary steps in the drafting OF
tentative changes in the existing form
of municipal government were taken
yesterday by the subcommittee OF inc
Council Committee on Charter Changes.
and the work viii, he continued with
all possible speed during the next few
days. Tho assistance Of City Attorney
H.. r. Pollard was requested by the
subcommittee in working out tire nee
cssary changes III tho City Charter to
put in proper eorm the suggested
changes. and Mr. Pollard will act in
an advisory capacity.
Members OF the subcommittee went
to work yesterday morning. following
their appointment Thursday night.
Constructive work in tho full commit
tee was impossibls, members said. and
since little time remains in which 10
enact the necessary legislation for
presentation to the General Assembly
in January, the smaller cody was
named. Meetings and conferences OF
tho subcommittee will be arranged for
several days earh week. and at nights.
until the plan is worked out.
The report OF the smaller body. how
ever, will not be binding upon the
full committee. which may reject. in
whole or in part, the subcomm!ttees
recomm endations. A vas. amount Of
consideration must he given the plan.
and members OF the subcommittee yes
terdAy were studying the charters OF
other cities and the various susEes-
lions already made to the Council.
EIPECr TO HAVE REPORT
READY IN TWO WEEKS
1t is expected that the subcommit-
tee will work out its plan within the
next two weeks. Chairman John r.
Rose, Jr.. will then call a special meet.
inE OF the Charter Change COMMITTEES
to consider the report OF its subcom-
mittee. After action by the commit
toe. the Recommendations will SO to
tho Council. probably At special meet
ings OF both branches. Only in this
way. It was pointed out. would ii be
possible to place the mater before
tho General Assembly this year and
failure to do SO would delay any char
ter reform until 1920
In councilmanic circles there Is a
strong conviction that immediate &C
ton looking for more or less radical
reforms will be taken. Some members
point TO the Norfolk election this week
as indicating the reform wave sweep
ing over this section o: the country.
and are inclined to believe that the
heavy majority pollcd there for
change OF Eovernment will have a ma
teriat effect In this city. Politicians
point to this election az the hand
writing on the wall" and predict that
II will be Needed. Norfolk voted last
Tuesday TO adopt the commission man
aEcr form OF government. the new
charter being adopted, 3,40S TO l..22.
nELusvE THEY KNOW
WHAT CITIZENS WANT
Members OF the subcommittee de-
Clared yesterday that they believed
they knew what the citizens OF Rich
mond wanted in the way OF reforms
in the city government. From the sew
cral suggestions already made 10 the
Council. and the general trend OF pub
lie discussion. they thought they could
work GU. plan that would prove sat
isfactory. and had already started their
work. No details of their deliberations
will be announced until the report is
ready for presentation to the Charter
Change Committee.
IN City Hall quarters yesterday the
subcommittee was jocularly referred to
as the -Four p.'S"--presidcnt r. Ice
Peters. OF the Common Council: City
Attorney II. r. Pollard. Alderman ord
way Puiler and Councilman Fred H.
Powell. The -Four P.'s' Will work GU,
plan" said a city official. that will
prove satisfactory. That u, | an con-
ndcnt that whatever changes they sus-
gest VIII be fo4.t the hhnctit of the Cit"
and. for orc I''shali abide by them
The three CoGnciliucn have favored
certain reforms for some tinc-aomc-
thing fox the best interests o. every
one.r