Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-19
CHARTER ELECTION
SET FOR APRIL 80
Ordinance Committee Reports on
City Hall Petition Filed
by Hobson.
PETERS TO CALL COUNCIL
Members See No Conflict Be-
tween This and Pending
Amendments.

After amending the measure TO pro-
vide for the holding OF the election on
April 30. tho Council Committee on Or
dinanccs last night rccommc ndcd TO the
Council for adoption the ordinance
calling special election TO determine
whether lichmond's form of govern
rncnt shall be changed This action
was taken on the strength OF the now
well-known City Hall petition" which
was recently adopted by Commissioner
Graham r. IIobson. and the ordinance
viii! be reported TO the lower branch
at special meeting expected to be
called later this week.
There was little discussion CT the pc
tition or the ordinance accompanying
II. which was Introduced in the Com
mon Council by Captain Morgan Il.
Mills. Of jefferson Ward, who has led
the fight against the charter amend
mcnts recommended by the City Coun-
ell. City Attorney Henry II. Pollard,
in an opinion to the committee. held
that the ordinance was in proper legal
FORM. and would accomplish the object
sought.
President r. Lee Peters. of the Com
mon Council, is expected to call spe-
ciai meeting of that body later this
week TO receive the report OF the com
ni'iee. The ordinance viii then be
placed upon it's passage. and is cx-
pcctcd TO bc concurrcd in By the Board
Of Aldermen at its regular meeting,
which Will be held March L. Taking
into consideration the amount Of time
necessary for this legislation, the com
mittce accepted the motion OF Alder
man Ordway Fuller and fixed the date
for the election as April 60.
WILL VOTE FIRST For
CHARTER COMMISSION
Voters ~ the city will determine at
that time Shall this city take the
necessary steps TO frame and request
that 1t be granted. special form OF
charter" Al the same time electors
will cast their ballots for members OF
a charter commission. There arc TO be
seven members Of this commission
which. in event that the form of gov
crnment Is TO be changed, shall draft
what II believes to be the best pcs
sihlc form of government for Rich
mond.
The commission is required TO report
within $50 days OF its election. and the
voters must approve tho plan recon-
mended by that body. The charter
If approved by the people, would be
presented TO The next session of the
General Assembly in 1920 for approval
In the meantime, the charter situ-
alton in Richmond grows moro com
pick. The charter amendments sought
by the City Council will be considered
this afternoon AZ a joint meeting called
fer 9 o'clock by the Committees on
Counties, Cities and Towns OF the
House and Senate. II is underst God
that the hearing will be largely at
tended.
Under the petition plan two charter
elections wiil be held this year. The
first is to determine whether the form
OF government; shall be changed, and
II the vote then is Affirmative. the sec
ond will be TO pass upon tho report of
the charter commission. Vigorous CT
forts Will also be made TO have the
Legislature approve the Councirs
charter amendments. which must be
approved by the people before taking
effect. This may result in three special
elections being held within the next
twelve months.
COUNCILS PLAN EFFECTIVE
WHILE OTHER Is PREPARING
Councilmen pointed out last night
that the reason the Legislature was
asked to approve RiShmonds cha rter
amendments when another movement
was in progress was TO secure certain
reforms a the earliest possible mo-
ment. The Councils changes, if ap-
proved by the people. will become cf-
fcctive January !, 1919. No change
under the charter commission could be
made until late in the year 1920, they
declared. since the recommendations OF
Continued on Third PagcD