Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-25
sOUTHs|DE OFFICES
ARE TO Be RETAINED
Common Council Adopts Jones
Amendment to Charter
Report.
LENGTHY DEBATE is HELD
After Considering Paper by Sections
and Voting on Several Amend
ments, Lower Branch Adjourns
TO Next Monday Night.

ments, Lower Branch Adjourns
TO Next Monday Night.
After long debate and much consid-
Grafton OF many minor provisions OF
inc proposed new charter the Common
Council adjourned shortly before IL
o'clock last night. after voting upon
slightly less than onc-hslf of tho papcr
in its entirety. Members, by their vote
upon ono amendment, indicated their
determination to retain the South Rich
'nond Offices. which citizens OF that
section hold 10 be provided for under
tho consolidation agreement. The
Council will NEE, MonGay night at
80 o'clock for further consideration
OF the proposed reforms
The vote upon the retention OF the
South Richmond Offices came near the
end or the meeting, which was attended
by nearly 200 representative citizens
and many city officials. Councilman
Jones. of Madison Ward. and leader
OF the South Richmond forces. dur
Ing the consideration OF the Office OF
collector of city taxes offered an
amendment providing for the retention
OF assistants and an office on the South
side. Mr.. Jones had previously sought
permission TO offer the necessary
amendments to carry out the retention
or all those Offices. and had been re-
quested TO withhold IL until each sec
ton vas considered.
AMENDMENT ADOPTED SAVES
SOUTH SIDE OFFICES
Mr.. Jones recited the annexation
Agreement between the cities Of Rich
mond and Manchester, and declared
that the city was morally obligated
20 continue thi. and all other Offices.
HIS resolution was supported b. Coun
cilmcn fIaddon and Moore. the former
discussing the matter at length MIR.
Joncs's amendment was adopted by a
vote OF l5 20 Z.
The vote was follows:
Ayes-Mcssrs. Atkinson, Chcacwood
English liaddon. Jctcr, Jones, Ladd.
Mills, Moore. Powers. Eoden. Seaton
and Sullivan
NaysMcssrs. Batkins. Butler. Grimes.
Powell. Rose. Umlaut and Peters
On motion Of Mr.. Rose provision
was made that this plan. i! adopted, hc
made effective January /. 1919. Mr..
Powell later explained that IL the paper
vas approved and became effective that
the Council would have twelve months
work before II in working out the
necessary legislation governing each
department.
a; tho outse, OF the meeting Coun-
Gilman Rose, who is chairman Of the
Joint Committee on Charter Changes
suGsested that the report be taken up
and voted upon section by section.
Captain Morgan II. Mills opposed this
procedure on the ground tina, various
chapters and sections M Sht have con-
dieting provisions. He then asked
City Attorney Pollard If the proposed
changes were legal. in view OF the
petition now on file in the Hastings
Court. receiving an Affirmative reply.
MILLS WANTS EXPRESSION
FROM PEOPLE FIRST
40
ton "as misunderstood; that he was
not defending the Administrative BOARD
but that he "as opposing the paper only
because he believed il 20 be usurpinE
the rights OF the people. He also er-
pressed the opinion IL the voters were
called upon to decide whether the CITY
should be governed by bicamcral or
one-b-anch Council. that the p-c-
rondcrancc 0. evidence would be in
favor OF the latter.
letter from Jesse G. Duke secrc-
tary OF the legislative committee Of
tho Central Trades and Labor Council.
VAS then read. which voiced opposition
10 tho abolition OF the Administrative
Board, the removal OF the south Rich
rond Offices and tho adoption OF any
OF the proposed changes until the
voters frst vote whether the existing
charter should be changed. The COM
m!ttee then requested that the Council
rlan be defeated and the entire matter
left in the hands Of the people
Counctlman Mills then offered as A
substitute for the committees report
resolution requesting the General
Assembly for authority TO call a spccisl
charter election. the paper being the
same It's patron had offered in tho
Charter-ChanEe Committee several
reeks ago. This resolution b.ou-h,
forth warm discussion. Mr.. Haddon de-
tlarins that the petition showed that
only 1000 voters were dissatisfied with
the existing mode of government, and
that the Council, as representatives Of
tho people, should attempt TO satisfy
them. No delay OF two years. necessary
II the matter was referred 10 the Cen
eral Assembly. he said, Should be
forced upon them, while the Council
might be able to satisfy the voters
now.
After long discussion. the resolution
was defeated. II to 3, the vote being
as follows:
Ayes-Messrs, Grimes. Mills and
Powers.
Nays-Messrs Atkinson. Tsa,kins.
Butler, Cheatwood. English. IIaddon
Letter. Jones. Ladd, Moore. Powell.
Roden. Rose Seaton. Sullivan. Umlauf
and Peters.
SEVERAL. MINOR AMENDMENTS
ARE AGREED UPON
'H"ioe' h''oh oi inc report tnen be-
gan. with the following amendments
being made:
Changing. on motion OF Mr.. Jones
from thirty days to six months tho
provision that no action for personal
injuries or property damages could be
maintained against the city unless due
notice OF the proposed action was filed
with the CITY Attorney in that period
Strong opposition arose to the pro-
vision. while Mr.. Pollard explained that
practically every other city had such
a regulation for the preservation Of
evidence.
Striking out the provision for the
appointment OF collector OF city taxes
hefOre July /. lAlS and ar,nntiinn L.