Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-12
H0BSoN SPONSORS
CHARTER PETITION

! e.)
| Peli'ion, after it was given to him
EVERY name on The paper would have
TO be checked to determine whether
poll taxes for tie required three wears
nao been paid. Mr. Christian said this
would be considerable undertaking.
ana that he would only be able to de-
vote his time to this work at night.
ror This reason. together with tho
iaborious detail connected with tho
chccklns. he expected that at leas;
three weeks would he required TO GER
tify the petition. once it is flied.
PETITION SPONSORS WISH
TO VERIFY COUNT
The request to MIR. Christian for the
number of qualified voters in the city
was declared last night to be - mere
detail. designed simply to verify tn.
count OF those at tho head OF the petit
tion movement. The list of voters has
been checked several times by these
men. tho count running from 1920
To $4,000. and they now merely desire
to know the Official number 10 deter
iInc whether the necessary ~ per
cent has been obtained
II was declared that many more
names than arc actually required have
been secured. and that the petition il
ready for presentation to the Council
rs soon as il can be certified. The
movement first began nearly two
months ago. and for about two weeks
il continued withou! IN acknowledged
head. In political circles. however.
there was never any real doubt as TO
who was responsible for the movement.
yet MIR. Hobson is tho first to admit
his connection with the paper.
The paper was circulated by many
city employees and other persons. but
il was authoritatively stated last night
that the number Of city employees
signing the paper was less than had
at hrst hccu presumed. After the
initial campaign for signatures, how
ever. there has been IA continuous
movement for additional signatures.
and many have been obtained, it was
asserted.
In certain quarters i, was also de-
ciared that additional strength had
been gained N South Richmond he
cause of the action of the Char,c,
Change Committee in recommending
the abolition Of the municipal Offices In
that section. and the removal OF the
Hastings Court. Part H.. TO the City
Hall. Strong opposition to these recon-
mcndations arose in the committee. and
notice was served by ono OF it's mem
hers, Alderman W. w. Workman. that
he would be party TO mandamus
proceedings to force the city TO keel
it's agreement made when Manchester
was consolidated with the city OF Rich
mond.
other yelled threats have been made
within the past two weeks Opponents
to the plan OF tho Charter Change Com
mittee have held AS their ace" tho
petition, and in addition have limited
that a charter commission. selected at
the election caused by the filing OF
their paper, would be named after their
own views on the matter.
In the committee hearings recently
there has been considerable tilibuster-
ing. any excuse being taken in IN ef-
fort 10 cause delay. Probably the most
important point discussed last night.
after it became known that the petit
tion was to he made public. was the
probable action OF the Council Be-
cause Of the delay necessary before the
petition is filed. il is possible that the
Council can approve the report OF its
eral Assembly ON the other hand.
however. efforts TO delay all cons!d-
Grafton are expected. In the meantime.
the General Assembly is going forward
with its work. and in a short time its
docket will be overcrowdcd and local
bills barred from Introduction.
Roumnnin Immune From Suit
NE" YORK. January 1.-THE king
dom OF Roumania retains its status as
a sovereign state. despite tho events OF
war. and as such is immune from suits
in the courts Of the United States
This was the decision made to-day By
the Circuit Court OF Appeals In COM
picated litigation growing out OF
Roumania's purchase OF 100000 pairs
OF shoes i'll this country for the Rou-
manian army. Satisfactory credits il
was alleged. had not been established
By the Bahia An State.