Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-04
CHARTER-CHANGE MATTER
NOW IN A PRETTY TANCLE.
Thirteen Ordinances Have Little
Chance of Passing in Form
as Recommended.
SALARY AFFECTS DIR. WILLIAMS
VIII Undoubtedly BE Named Dircc-
tor of Public Welfare if Council
Consents to Give $4,000 Per An
mum.

Now that insurgency is rife in the
common Council speculation is abuud-
lnlLtccn unlucky ordinances which had
M Men rough sailing at the meeting
NO night Opposition to some Of
tne ordinances has developed such
strength that it is a foregone conclu-
SION that they will not pass in their
original form.
some of the fire which biazed forth
AT the Monday night meeting was. If
reports are correct, started at the meet
me Oh the special committee on charter
ShahEe ordinances which was held just
beiofe the Common Council was called
TO order Serious differences. IL is un-
derStood. arose among the committce
men over the salary Question which is
looming up as one of the big bones OF
OF appointing DIR. Ennion c. Williams
TO the office OF director of public well
fare In fact Councilman Mills ut the
recent Council meeting stated that the
name of DIR. Williams was the ONLY ono
which the Mayor had mentioned TO the
special committee in reference to pros
Their that Dr. Williams is not satisfied
with the salary Of $4,000 recommend
ed by the special committee. but would
salary was fixed at $4,000. pr Will
liams is now state Health Commits
siomer and draws an annual salary Of
MAYOR STILL UNDECIDED
AS TO APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Ainslic is still up in the air
regarding his appointments. with ac-'
ton on the salary question further
mon Council to adjourn over to Mon
day night The Board OF Aldermen
meet; in ,, rsguar session Tuesday
which. under recently passed ordi-
nance. the Mayor can transmit to the
Council his, appointments of depart
mental heads. The whole affair is In
pretty tangle. Councilmcn Monday
night. refused to swallow the whole
thirteen ordinances or any part thereof
until they were given an opportunity
10 digest them. II is admitted that the
special committee has worked hard on
their recommendations and that the
midnight electricity has been burned
on several occasions. but there are men
al the City Hall who are inclined to
charge. tho. committee with RESPONSE
hility for thu, present situation. They
declare that the hard work of the com
mittec has been done in the recent past.
They say that the ordinances contain
ing the, meat Of the charter revision
should have been in the hands OF both
bodies of the City Council many weeks
ago. Then the matters could have been
thoroughly thrcShcd out and the deck
cleared for action by the Mayor.
lnsurEent forces who conducted such
a successful campaign Monday night.
would retain in office the present heads
Of departments. Mr.. IIaddon declared
that If the directors get $4,000 each
remained under them nj their present
salaries ii would simply amount to tho
creation OF extra offices. Mr.. Jones,
with much carucstness. stated that he
had hoped that the new government
would be an economical one. lie said
that he had no idea that there would
be q director drawing $4,000 with an
engineer under him drawing like
amount.
Mr.. Mills replied that the new gov
crnment primarily fixed responsibility.
1t was undoubtedly up to the directors
TO make good. -. believed. however,
that IL the committees recommends
lions were adopted there would he .
material saving OF money TO the city.