The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-27
MILLS WOULD ABOLISH
UNW|ELDY COUNCIL
Iavors One Branch Body Win Adj
ntniarator nj Large 10 Handle
business of City.
BIG CHURCH HILL MEETING.
Candidates of Opposing Factions Re
ceive Glad Hand ut Springfield
School as Gucsts OF Progressive As
socintion---Banne1r Crowd

! Politics and patriotism became
: mixed at the Springfield school meet
ing last night. The American eagle
, screamed and the appeal to patriotism
rang through the speeches of all the
candidates and others who appeared
In behalf Of the city at large.
D Councilman Morgan r. Mills and
councilman John X. Jeter, both repre-
senting opposing factions in the ward
received the cream of applause equally
shared. although they represented OPP
poSite views on the question or char
ter changes.
+ Captain Mills introduced new
thought IN his speech He sard he
wanted the bicameraI council abol-
ished. single branch body chosen,
ON bracinE two members from each
ward, and an administrative officer
erected by the people at large, to
handle the affairs of the city. with a
mayor with power OF veto. This or
ganization no would have conduct and
control the work of the city depart
ments, thereby placing the people
closer to the government
New Charter Costly.
/ He secuted the idea that the pro-
posed charter would relieve the situa-
tion, and declared that 1t would result
in much confusion and would cost the
city great deal more than the pres
ent form of government, although he
opposed the institution Of the ADMIN
istrative board in the beginning. He
i. preferred the present form TO that
/ proposed, although he believed the
form as suggested by himself coun-
Gil of eight members and an admins
traitor chosen at large would simplify
the workings of the government, and
clarity the atmosphere.
number of questions were fred
at the speakers, particularly the pres
ent members OF council. concerning
the price OF water One man was
very insistent, and was called down
by others in the crowd for interrupt
ing the speakers with Identical dues-
tons. He could not understand why
the city sold water in large quantities
10 corporations and other big con-
sumers at lower rate than that
charged the Individual consumer.
| In order to make Ii clear to the
man, Chief Clerk Dickerson, OF the
water department, was called upon TO
explain the matter. He did SO by
showing that the city had fixed mini
mum rate, and that while formerly
owing TO special conditions, large con-
sumers were given water at a lower
price than it cost 20 get IT to the spigot,
the city is now charging not less than
actual cost, while the individual con-
aumer IL getting water one cent less
/ than before the recent ordinance be-
came effective, The insistent man
/ from Fairmount after that remained
quiet.
Councilman Grimes and Council
man Jeter representing the two cle-
i ments concerning the charter changes
question, were both well received.
They explained that they voted their
convictions. and believed they repre~
scented a large ma jority OF the voters
of the ward.
The trend Of all the speeches was
that the people should be given the
right to take part in conduct of the
government by having the right 20
vote for public officers. and that 70
curtaiiment of that privilege shon,d
be considered,
Sullivan Strong for People.
This point was brought out strong
by Councilman Sullivan, who declared
that he believed all administrative
officials should be chosen by the peo-
pie including the city auditor, the
treasurer and the collector.
The question of oommere talking
the electric plant was not discussed
|, by he speakers, with The exception
Of Candidate Collier, who expressed
himself as favora bic 10 the PROPOSE
ton. the others explaining that as
. the question Is a new one. It could
not be answered until full considera.
; ton had been given.
Mr. sullivan said he would discuss
= the question. together with the one
per aiming to the water rates al
length. at The meeting in Fulton,
Saturday night, as he would take
, time to study the problems in the
meantime.
Nothing out of the ordinary oc-
, CURED Captain ]. T. Bailey. candl-
! date for council at the last election.
, spoke briefly, earnestly urging the
voters to be careful In making their
) selections. and ~ see that men true
; to the city and TO the ward wero
, elected. u.s.
Former Councilman Charles X. Rich
r ards spoke at length on the proposed
charter changes He endeavored to
> show that the statement made BY
certain candidates that tina proposed
charter changes tended to one-man
government was without foundation
in fact, and analysed the document
for the benefit Of those who had not
: studied the paper. He said II could
not create a one-nnan government,
becauee it directed the mayor to
: name heads of the departments. who
were subjected TO confirmation by
council. and that the people elect
both the mayor and the council.
Those who spoke were Candidates
Cross, Collier, Johns. Britton. Smith.
CounciImen Mills. Sullivan. Grimes,
Powers, w A Watts, Captain Baiioy
and Mr.. Richards. letter of re-
gret was received from Alderman
Melton. who IS out of the city. r. ".
Clarke, secretary of the East F. Il
| Progressive club. under the auspic"'
OF which the meeting was held. prs
sided, while President Traylor min
, gled" with the audience, SIS he eX-
planned he wished to do, in order 20
. create friendly feeling between all
|, the visitors. The meeting was well
staged and was q big success
: DID NOT GEE FEET WEI