Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-12
.HOBs0N STANDS SPONSOR
FOR CHARTER PETITION
VIII Shortly Call on City Council &c
Submit Question to Vote
OF People.
WRITES TO CLERK CHRISTIAN
Member OF Administrative Board
Takes Steps To Block Adoption of
Council Committees Report, Pro-
viding Referendum.


Having been defeated in all other
attempts 20 blocl: and delay contem-
plated reforms in the existing gov
ernmcntal system of the city, sponsors
circulated in all sections OF Richmond
nearly two months ago were prepar-
ing yesterday to submit the paper to
the Council! at the earliest possible
moment. Considerable detail work.
however. is necessary before this ac-
tion can be taken, and steps were i'm
mcdia;ely taken to complete this work.
Developments in the political fight
came fast yesterday, after the charter
committee had reeomu ended. shortly
after midnight, tho adoption OF its sub
committees report. which provides for
the abolition of the Administrative
Board, the Board OF Fire Commission
ers. numerous other changes and the
creation OF six general departments
FOR the administration OF the citys
business. Captain Morgan Il. Mills had
attempted, IN The committee. TO kill
the subcom:ni;tee's report through the
introduction OF u substitute resolution
providing for :. special election.
After this resolution WAS killed"
and the scutimcit Of the committee be-
came definitely known. together with
the adoption OF the report in it's en-
tircIy. plans Of the petition sponsors
20 ale their paper as quickly as pos
siblc were quickly laid Yet. great
attention 10 detail work was given.
that there may be left no ioopho!e by
which the Council can refuse TO rccog-
nizc the paper.
HoHs0N WRITES LETTER
TO CLERIC CHRISTIAN
The first -ction came when Graham
3. Hobson. OF the Administrative Board.
requested Clerk Walter Christian, of
the Hastings Court. TO certify as 10
the number OF qualified voters in the
city Ills letter 10 the clerk OF the
cour: is as follows:
II. with other citizens. desire to pre-
sent "A petition for an election on the
question OF charter changes. as pro-
vided in section liz of the Constitu-
tion. and in the Acts of 1916 General
Assembly. page l16.
"Will you advise me at the earliest
possible moment what IS the number
Of voters who we're qualified 20 vote
At the last general election. as pro-
vided in the said act"
Mr. Christian imm ediately instructed
one of his clerks To count the names
on the printed registration lists in his
Office. and the work was well under
t.,l,, II fl,.r ha
pcctcd TO complete the count to-day.
and this afternoon check ii for ac-
curacy. certifying TO Mr.. Ilt bson the
number OF voters Monday morning.
Such petition, con: aiming the names
Of !. per cent of the qualified voters
Of Richmond is believed 10 make ac-
ton by the Council at once mandatory.
This statement has bean made on nu-
mcrous occasions. and has been used
at various times as club held over
the neaGs OF the Council and its spe-
cial committee. There is no altcrna-
tive for the Council, it is said. and 1t
must request the Judge OF the Hust-
inES Court 20 call Il 81 ecial election.
WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER
CHARTER Is TO DE CHANGED
Voters of the city would determine
al this election whether or not the cX-
istinE mode of government should be
changed In event that reforms were
desired. at the same election the peo-
pie would name charter commission.
This commission would then draft a
report. which would require several
months for The approval of the voters.
and later ratification by the General
Assembly. Fully two years would
clapsc before any reforms could he
carried into effect, since il would be
impossible to secure the approval OF
the Legislature before its 1920 session.
Despite the efforts OF those promot-
ing the petition movement to speed up
matters. undc- the provisions Of the
law il will b, impossible to present
;he paper TO the Council for several
weeks Before it is filed ii must have
been certified to by the clerk OF the
Hastings Court as to the number OF
qualified voters on the petition Mr..
Christian said last night that several
weeks would be required to check the
CONTINUED on Second l1arc0