Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-01
RICHMOND CHARTER
PASSED BY SENATE
Unanimous Vote Is Given
Changes Requested by
City Council.
SENATE DEFINES CAPITAL
Also Passes Bill Fixing Situs of
Taxation, Reducing Reve,
nucs cf Cities.
SENATE DEFINES CAPITAL

me Richmond city charter bill
passed the Senate last nigh, wi,hou,
dissenting vote. Senator Cannon
moved to have tho Senate Committee
on Counties, Cities and Towns dis
charged from the consideration Of the
Hous" bill. which passed unanimously
on Wednesday. Tho motion Was
adopted unanimously. The bin was
then substituted for the Senate bul
The constitutional reading was dis
pcnscd with and tho hill was put on
its passage. The hill has passed tho
House, and remains only TO he signed
by tho Governor. Licutenant-C t-C;ovcrnor
and tho Speaker of tho House after
the Senate refuses TO reconsider tho
vote by which the bill was passed
UNANIMOUS PASSAGE
VICTORY FOR CITY COUNCIL
Unanimous passage OF the bill in
both branches Of the General Assembly
is regarded as a complete victory for
the City Council in its contest with the
faction Of city employees headed by
the Administrative Board. More than
year aSo the Council appointed "A
committee on charter changes which
reported series Of amendments. the
chief feature Of which was tho aboli-
ton OF tho Administrative Board and
the creation in its place Of 4 council OF
department chiefs under the super
vision OF the Mayor
Tho Administrative Board was crc-
atcd in 1912 and consists OF five mem
bcrs elected at large, who draw $4,000
per year each. It's creation was by
means Of n charter amendment with
out popular vote. and was regarded as
concession to the general demand for
centralization Of government and a
step in the direction of commission
management. Power of levying taxes
appropriating money. cnacting ordi-
nanccs and granting franchises re-
maincd as il Will under the new
amendments. in the City Council. The
act amending the charter is to be sub
mitted TO the voters Is soon as il has
taken effect, and ia expected 10 be
voted OH sometime this summer.
CITY HALL. PETITION
1 TO DE VOTED ON APRlI. 40
/ Meanwhile. city employees and
others. under the leadership of Gra-
ham b. lIobson and other members
of the Administrative Board have
circulated what is known as the city
hall' petition and have secured tc5t
signatures TO a petition under the ac,
a
commission. This election is proposed
10 be held April 30. when the voters
will first determine whether or not
tho charter is 10 be changed and il in
favor will in the same election elect a
charter commission. which shall draw
Il new charter outright and submit the
results of its work TO another election
Considering the source OF this petit
ton many people have regarded il as
an efort to muddy the water, to divert
attention from the Councils proposed
changes and 10 retain the AdminiStra-
tive Board in office for two years or
more. At the same time. however
opponents Of the two-b branch Council
have shown disposition TO join with
the proponents OF the city hall" pcii-
ton and while welcoming the Coun-
ellis amendments for what economies
they may effec; AZ once, will also ad-
vocate the election OF commission
TO draw up new plan OF city gov
ernment which can he submitted to
the voters and be in shape for approval
by the General Assembly of 1920
SENATE DETERMINES
SITUS FOR TAXATION
The bill defining capital and the one
determining the situs OF all materials
for purposes of taxation TO be the coun-
~ in which ;he material may be To-
Gated were among the bills passing tho
Senate last night. The fact that the
new Code omitted the definition of
capital enacted by The General Assem-
bly, OF 1916 was urged as the demand
for the immediate passage OF these
ompanion bills. The bill relating to
capital defines il as to include. in
the connection with borrowed money
the excess of accounts and bills pay
able over accounts and bills receiv-
able. 1t provides that in this matter
as in all the elements OF capital. the
account shall be taken as an average
OF February and August OF each
year.
The West situs bill provides. for the
purpose Of taxation. that the situs Of
all materials shall be the physical To-
cation of the materials. and not the
location Of tho head Office OF the cor
poration owning such goods. This bill
was passed as one OF the measures
tending toward fairness of distribution
of taxes and towards the benefit of the
counties. 1t will stll further reduce
the revenues OF cities. already hard
hit by the various changes madc in tax
laws I'm recent years.
HOUSE BALKS Ar
INCREASING TANES
After advancing ali OF its local and
uncontcstcd bills TO engrossmcnt and
disposing OF several minor measures on
the final reading. the House OF Dele
gates yesterday baked on the Finance
Committee bill providing for an add-
tional school levy OF cents This
up as unfinished business to-day when
several amendments will be offered
Because II had SO nearly completed
the work before II. the House held no
afternoon session. The Senate. how
ever. still cntanglcd in momcntous
measures. had no rest. working prac-
tically all day and we'll into the night.