Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-16
Mccarthy AND HOBsON
|NDORSE PETITION
Member of Administrative Board
Says 1t is Only Legal Method
Of Procedure.
MANY SIGNERS WITHDRAW
Say They Affixed Their Names I'm
der
Under Administrative Board Aided
i'm Circulating Petitions.

Thc fight between supporters OF re-
forms in the existing municipal gov
crumcut and the rcactionary forces
seeking to forcstall or Kill any move
mcnt in this direction. siinmered along
Yesterday, with several new develop
mcnts. They consisted of a signed
statement from Captain Carlton Me
Carthy. defending the circulation Of
petitions by city employees. and the
announcement of ;raham l.. liobson
that he would solicit signatures to the
paper himself.
Indignation over the plan adopted by
the inns" to defeat the program of
the Civic Association has developed in
many sections of the city. and citizens
are discussing what action may be
taken to rcpudiatc their signatures.
which arc said to have been obtained
under Il misrepresentation. Directors of
the association Will meet early next
week. but action by citizens is expected
in certain quarters before even the
meeting Of that board.
Investigation yesterday disclosed the
fact that several men who are not on the
city pay roll. and who circulated peti-
lions. have at various times done con-
tract work for tho city. From this in
v~estiEation and other facts earned. il
- indicated that the promoters OF The
movement not only m~arshalcd every
available city employee. but also en-
listed the assistance OF every individual
who might gain by "a continuance of
the Administrative Board.
because OF the wide publicity given
inc petition campaign. and the storm
OF protest from citizens it was believed
IT. certain circles last night that tho
papers would never be filed with The
Council. but this is merely the vicws
OF Il group OF men closely aligned win
the directors OF municipal poliiics
J"hh L. Rose. Jr., chairman of the
joint Council ommittc ON cb,r,n-
Changes. issued a call Yesterday for ;,
Spe'''i meeting of that committee Mon.
day night at S o'clock TO receive d..
report of the New York Eurc,u 80,
Municipal Research. which was rcfor
rcd TO ii Tuesday night bv tho rn,,,
OF Aldermen. "
CAPTAIN
,, ISSUES sIGNED STATEMENT
The signed statement of C,n,,in a.
,arthE TX as follows.
! desire the privilege of sayiur 10
,he public through YOUR column. H.,
] assert. without fear Of contradic,inn
ana can maintain successfully. ina,
u present move by petition for and
Ny the people is the first and only
move according TO law. TO change h
iorm OF the city government.
me statute in such cases made and
provided is plain. unmlstakablc and
mandatory and provides the only Legal
"a ~ ottuuTC.
The move. which indorsc 10 nj.
soiutely in accordance with the s,,,u,o
anu IS the only move that is.
Any newspaper that really desires
t. inform the public need only nuh-
lisii IN iull the act approved February
1916"
captain McCarthy's reference is TO
me act OF the General Assembly of
1915. providing for the changing OF
the charters of cities with u population
~ excess OF 100000, which requires
mat petitions containing the sigma
lures OF 25 per cent Of the qualified
voters OF the city must be filed with
the city Council. In the past, as in
the case of the creation of the Ad.
mihistratiVe Board. the charter has
been amended by "a resolution of the
City Council requesting the Rich,nonI
delegation in the General Assembly to
secure the specified changes.