Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-06
ASKS LEGISLATURE
TO IGNORE COUNCIL
Continued from Eirst page,


measure approved at tho polls, has
uon pticss oy this time received the rntt-
hcation of the General Assembly. This
same course Is in process in Richmond
ci'3-the course properly prescribed by
tne Gcncral Assenbly-but we find that
the Ci:y Council of the city of Rich
mona desires TO substitute itself for the
quarter commission Of the said city and
10 recommend TO tina General Assembly
that only Il part Of the form of govern
ment he submitted to the pcopIc ~
kichmond. 1t may he well for the
members OF the General Assembly to
remember that the chief reason for the
anehohcnt being placed in the Consti-
tuition was TO get rid of the CITY Coun
Gil and to give the people the oppor
tunity. by changing the Constitution.
10 dispose OF the said body At any
rate, tho charter comm ssion OF Nor
folk recommended the abolition of Tho
City Council, and il was abolished
by about as large Il majority as our sister
CITY generally gives upon any subject
we desire to protest against any
chahge or the precedent established by
the General Assembly since the new
amendment to the Constitution was
adopted. and most respectfully solicit
the'r disapproval of any suggestion to
submit Il part and not all of the form
OF government TO the people of the city
OF richmond. as such Il proposition was
not even discussed in the election Of
the present City Council that now seeks
20 recommend that part OF tho form
or government be changed, and who
themselves, recommended to the last
General Assembly that the present pro-
ce0ure, prescribed in the act approved
February %, 1916. page 116. be adopted
for changing the form of government
OF cities Of over 100000 Inhabitants
CITIZENS DESIRE TO PASS
on ALI. CHANGES
Now we most respectfully insist that
\ petition signed by 4,242 citizens rem
reSentinE more than % per cent of tho
persons qualified to vote in the last gen
eral election. now on file in the clerks
Office of the Hastings Court in accord
ancc with the act of General Assembly
OF 1916, il evidence TO you members of
the General Assembly that the citizens
ot Richmond desire 10 pass on all and
not 4 part of the form of government
We again suggest that il the Cen
erat Assembly desires, in its province,
10 adopt another course for cities over
10? bcC inhabitants and submit parts of
the form Of government. that they
themselves, Will order first more rigid
inquiry into the government OF cities
OF over 100000 inhabitants and decid.
II the act Of 1916 should be changed,
and if changed. by allowing parts Of
the form of government to be sub
mittcd at an election. and not tho
"HoIo' lhat the administrative Board
of the city Of Richmond most respect
fully submits that. each and every mem
Der thereof having been elected by a
majority of all the voters OF tho said
city at various elections and renomi-
mated for le-ciec.ioa by decisive ma
joriiies, and having been in Office for
over five years, at any election ordered
that the proposition also be submitted
to the people for the form of govern
ment which originated at Galveston. Is
ia operation on the Pacific Coast far
west as Spokane. and substantially
adopted at Norfolk, known IS the
straight commission plan.
%UHICIpAE OWNERSHIP
PRESENTS PROBLEMS