Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-05
EFFORT TO DELAY
SURVEY DEFEATED.
AND PLAN PASSES
Common Council Adopts
Resolution by Vote
of Is to 5.
MILLS AND PETERS LEAD
IN FIGHT TO HINDER
Jones and Seaton Hold Forces
Well in Hand and Beat
Down Opposition.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION VICTORY
datlon OF Finance Committee That
10000 Oncr BE Accepted.

Opponents Of the municipal survey
as advocated BY the Civic Associa ton
offered numerous obstacles 10 delay the
matter when II was called up in the
Common Council for action last night
but when It came to the final roll call
II was adopted by vote OF Ii to s.
The vote follows:
Ayes - Atkinson. Batkins. Butler
Cheltwood. English. Grimes. Haddon
letter. Jones. Ladd. Moore. Powell.
Roden. Seaton and Unlauf--l5.
Noes-Mills. Powers. Rose. Sullivan
and Peters,.
Councilmen Peters. Mills and Eosc
led the opposition. while those who
favored the survey were headed by
Ceuncilmen Jones and Seaton. The
forces OF the latter were too we'll mar
shaled to be beaten down.
The resolution as adopted was that
approved by tho Finance Committee.
which was offered as a substitute for
the resolution which was reported by
the Committee on Charter Changes. It
authorizes that the survey be made by
the New York Bureau OF Municipal Re-
search. the cost, estimated at $4,000.
TO be betrayed by the Civic Association.
II stipulates that tri-party contract.
between the city. the Civic Association
and tho Bureau OF Municipal Research.
be entered into. Further II provides
that the work be done under the super
vision of tn. Charter Change Com
mittee.
ROSE DOES NOT WANT
TO SUPERVISE SURVEY
ti,<
among the first items -of business be-
fore the Council. was reported. Coun-
Gilman Rose. who is chairman OF the
Charter Change Committee. offered an
amendment to strike out the name of
The committee from the resolution and
TO substitute that of the Civic Associ-
alton. III the Civic Association is
willing for the citizens Of Richmond
TO put UP the money TO pay for tho sur
rey. then the Civic Association ought
10 be willing to assume entire direc-
ton OF the work." said MIR. Rose He
declared that this was a responsibility
which the Charter Change Committee
should not be called upon TO shoulder
adding: III tho Civic Association is
going TO pass around the hat let il
take the whole responsibilities" Mr..
Rose subsequently withdrew his amend
ment.
Councilman Scaton. who is subchair-
man Of the Finance Committee, OK
pressed his conviction tina, il was right
and proper for the citizers to pay for
the survey II they wished it, 7 can
see no impropricty in this action" said
Mr.. Seaton. Councilman Jones Joined
Mr.. Seaton in advocacy of the adoption
Mills raised A point of order.
MILLS VIGOROUSLY ATTACKS
"OSE-MAS" GOVERNMENT
The Finance Committee acted with.
out authority said Mr.. Mills. 1T had
before ii resolution from the Char
ter-Change Committee calling for an
appropriation Of $4,000 out of the
city's treasury to pay for the cost of
survey. The committee should either
have accepted or rejected the paper
In sending substitute it exceeded it's
authority.
II am not willing" continued Mr..
Mills. TO give over our government
10 a few citizens for their purposes
What are their purposes? The answer
is this: 1t is TO re-enforce the posi-
tion Of one association to establish
=
clean. Why don't they come to us ano
tell US what they want? They know
what they want; why don't they tell
US? This survey is nothing but an
audit of the citys books-it doesn't
even touch our school system. The
Civic Association, if you will read the
resolution recommended by the FL
nance Committee. says that it viii!
guarantee the payment of the cost of
the survey. This means that the Civic
Association is merely underwriting the
payment. and in the end. when the
report of the survey comes in, the
Council will get petitions to refund this
$4,000. IF this does not prove to be
true. 1t will be entirely different from
the city's experience in the past.
II have never known" concluded Mr..
Mills. where we have countenanced
outside interference that whatever we
we're striving for was nor total fall
ure. II tho people of Richmond want
10 put burden on us. let us shoulder
it and go up the hill with 1t. We are
tho representatives of the people"
PETERS WARNS AGAINST
CONCENTRATION OF POWER
At this point Councilman Sullivan
moved that the paper be referred back
10 tho Charter-Change Committee for
further consideration. and this brought
vigorous protest from Mr.. Jones. who
opposed any further delay.
President Peters surrendered tho
chair to Vicc-President Powell to take
tho. floor in opposition TO the resolu-
ton. He intimated that the aim of the