The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-16
Committee Takes
Action on Charter
Petition Monday
Members Decide to Hold Spe-
cial Session TO Garry Out
Election Asked For by 4,242
Voters.

Councilman Edgar y, English, sub
chairman of the ordinance committee.
hes requested City Clerk Alfred ii
Mcdowell who is also clerk OF coun-
Gil committees, 10 speed up the char
ter election petition meeting
Subchairman English wants spe-
cial meeting Of the committee on
ordinances Yesterday afternoon ne
endeavored 10 get two more members
of the committee TO sign call for q
meeting tomorrow. but all those called
upon. never dreaming that a meeting
OF any city committee would be called
for Saturday. had made other arrange
ments Two Of them we're ready for
"a noon meeting. but that hour did not
suit other members
However all agreed to attend spe-
clal meeting Monday afternoon at $50
o'clock and the committee will at once
take up the charter election petition
and report IL favorahly. There APP
pears 70 be no doubt about that.
All the members, OF the city council
have a healthy respect for petition
which has 4.242 names attached with
ct least 500 more in reserve, So have
the members OF the Richmond dele
CATION In the legislature
The latter have gently intirated 20
counoilmen that II will not do to have
the report get abroad that the council
Ia blocking the way Of the charter
election petition. This tptimation was
conveyed in due time 70 members or
tho ordinance committee and Council
man English at once promptly de-
clarcd that he had no idea OF being
accused. or allowing the ordinance
committee OF being accused, of put
ting difficulties in the way Of any Pc
tition signed by the voters of the city.
especially one bearing 4a42 names.
Told TO Gall Meeting.
That Ia why the city clerk was told
to speed a meeting Of the ordinance
committee ard as soon as the com
rnittse acts upon the petition Presf-
dent r, I. Peters. Of the common
council. will be asked TO call special
meeting of that body 10 act upon the
report of the committee,
The fact that 4.s42 voters have
signed a petition for an election of
commissioners to frame new char
ter has impressed members of the
| Legislature They would probably
have rushed through the charter
changes asked for by tho city ooun-
ell If they had not taken into con-
sidsration the fact that a petition
signed by nearly 5000 voters, Is a
document worthy of consideration
and that the charter changes asked
for could not have satisfied everybody
or the 5000 voters would not have
signed the petition
| The Richmond delegation in the
! Legislature are in close touch with city
affairs and they know that the chief
object of the charter changes asked
| for is the abolition of the administra-
tive board. They also know that the
council has not shown itself of any
power in the charter changes asked
for. They also know that the charter
,charges give the council the power
to nullify the power of appointment
I by the mayor. under the proposed
/ charter changes, by refusing to con-
L firm the appointments.
1 The members of the legislature are
| in no hurry about rushing through
the charter changes asked for by the
council without giving them thought
|, full consideration, despite efforts tha'
are being made TO force them to act