The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-19
Number 10 More Than Is Per
Cent OF Qualified Voters Re-
CURED by Law. 10 Statement
MUST BE VERIFIED
BY OFFICIAL COUNT
II Correct II VIII Then Be Pre-
sented to Mayor Who VIII
Forward Ii to lity Council
for Action by That Body

Tho longtime '-fatherieza petition, %
which has been commented upon for
many weeks by all classes OF citisens.
is no longer fatherless. for late yes
fsrday afternoon Commissioners Ora
ham B. Hobson. baby member OF the
administrative board. presented the
petition to Deputy Clerk William
Breeder in hustings court. and
thereby became father in fact, or al
n hast he became its foster father. and
proclaimed in the presence OF those
In tho Office OF the clerk that he was
proud of it
The petition contains the names of
4,sAs citizens, all believed by Mr..
Hobson TO be bona hde voters. quail
sssd 20 participate In the last election
The number OF qualified voters listed
bby experts for the holder of the petit
ton Is placed at 1889.
In handing the petition to Clerk
Breeder. Commissioner Hobson re-
quested that the names be certified
as soon AZ practicable. so that the pa
per might be presented 20 council
-
early date.
More Than Necessary.
I'VE are confident that the list con
tains moro than the necessary 10 per
cent" said MIR Hobaon last night.
1--WE are pretty confident. also, that
all OF those we have presented to the
clerk are full-fiedged voters. The
number Of nance attached to the pc
,tttion represents a fourth OF an ag-
gregate number of 1900 voters,
many more than we are required to
nave on eur petition.
Clerk Breeder yesterday said that
By close application to the work OF
verifying ths names and certifying
them the job might be completed In
two or three ~eeks--that In. IL the
work Ia to be done by one man. But
1t was suggested last night by Com
missioner Hobson that Judge Rich
srdson will be requested TO give the
| clerk Some assistance In permitting
| him TO secure help, and much viii de-
pond upon the time in this respect.
Law IL Mandatory.
The law is mandatory. Upon re-
ceipt of the petition, the council,
either branch, must by ordinance pro-
vida for the holding OF an election.
not less than thirty days nor more
| than nifty days thereafter. AT this
! election the question OF whether or
| RIO the people wish a change of char
+ ter shall be voted upon and char
Ter commission OF seven members
shall be elected.
II the result shows that the people
90 desire a change. then the commits
sion elected shall meet and formulate
such a charter. which shalt be voted
upon at an election to be called by the
Judge of the hastings court. and X
favorably received by n majority of
the people shall be forwarded TO the
legislature for ratification and then
shall become the true charter of the
city.
when the question OF changes in the
present form of government became
the topic of general discussion eome
months ago true to agitation by the
Civic association. followed by the en-
rioymsnt of the New York bureau of
municipal survey. the question arose
- to proper procedure In placing the
matter before the people and In reach
Ing the desired end.
How Il Started.
MsmOers Of the administrative board.
members Of city council and cth~r men
tamiliar with public matters pointed
cut tAst the only legal way Of prccs-
Aurs was that along the line - set
forth In the charter. and = series Of
poarance, and were signed by hundreds
az people. Then. those who did not
wish this plan to be pursued. entered
protest. and attempted to show that
the action of those who had circulated
the petitions was unpatriotic and not
In accordance with plans already set
on foot by other interests
No one could be found to father the
movement and the petitions were
looked upon as disturbers OF a plan
for municipal reform at variane~ with
the requirements of the charter. Not
until Commissioner Hobson took II
upon himself to lead the petition move
ment. had any one shown hts hand In
the leadership looking toward an cleo
ton.
Committee Gets Busy.
The charter changes committee.
which had been NAMED months before
the petition idea had reached the light.
had languished. and not until the New
York experts got TO work did that COM
mittee start 10 work. 1t worked long,
faithfully and well. and the fruit OF
It's labors Is now before council.
II the petition reaches council before
the proposed charter is acted urcn, all
the work Of the committee and council
ITSELF win have been in vain for the
pstition will take precedence. and will!
have to be recognized and placed be-
fore the people.
IN the meantime the legislature will
have adjourned. not to convene again
tor two years. and the people, II they
fnvor = new charter will have to wait
nAny months. There Is question In
the minds OF many M to the real
Wishes of q majority OF the people.
The action Of Commissioner Robson
.y&aterdAy sets at rest all speculation.
u indicates that the petition win be
rmshsd to ths end. and there seems
OConfinued on Second Paxe)