Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-24
FOUR OR FIVE, WHICH
THE NUMBER OF vOTING-PLACeS IN
CLAY WARD STILL UNSETTLED
The Subject Discussed by the City COM
mittce and Referred to BE
Inquired Into.

iAN O4Af t'iAititNNNN
nearly the whole of its session last night
TO the discussion of the question as 10
whether there should be four or five cleo
ton precincts in Clay Ward.
There was quite a full attendance ana
the members manifested deep interest IN
the matter the importance OF which was
realized by all.
This ward has never had but four poll
iDg-pthees. In the last few years, now
ever, toe West End has grown very raplu,
ly, and the number of voters at FIRST ana
Fourth CLAW has so increased that 1t mas
been found extremely difficult TO get al Oh
the votes cast between sunrise and sunset,
while the counting of them has more than
once in primary contests proved 10 De
two-days' task.
UNRESTRICTED.
SO it came about that during the sum-
mer past it was decided TO redlstrlct Clay
Ward. and an ordinance effecting tins pur-
pose was adopted. The First and Fourth
precincts were cut into three. the new ono
being called the Fifth, and the Eiectora,
Board appointed a registrar therefor. ana
the transfer of names on the poll-books
was soon begun and has now been nearly
completed. much of this work having. been
done since the opening Of city head
quarters.
At the meeting of the Board of Alder
men Monday night this redistrlcting Ordl-
nance was repealed. and the old one was
left in its stead; that is, so far as the
boardl concerneds but the Common Coun-
Gil would have TO concur. The reasons why
this course was pursued were fully gwen
in the Dispatch. and the report was read
with interest and surprise by the party
ms xu.l a. Of the lpaUiDO
Democrats Of the ward. II was this that
brought about last nights discussion.
VIEWS OF Mr.. PHILIPS.
Mr.. Charles l. Philips spoke of the ordl-
nance a. being badly advised, and said he
believed it could do no good and the
changing Of voters from one precinct TO
another would occasion loss of votes.
CLAY Ward don't want it now. or at any
other time, am sure" he continued.
live in CLAW Ward. and / am aware of the
wishes of the people. This thing has all
| been done for the benefit of ono man. be-
lieve. who can perhaps make some money
| 10y it,
Mr. Seay said an additional precinct was
not necessary. He had never known OF
| time when all voters could not deposit
| their votes.
Mr.. Brady. also of Clay Ward. told what
he knew Of the redistricting move and hls
connection with it. So far as he was con-
cerncd 1t did not affect him one way or the
other.
A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.
Mr.. Lamb said the matter was one of
much gravity, and be offered the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resoired. That the matter of repeating
the recent ordinance creating an addl-
tiona voting precinct in Clay Ward be re-
| ferred 10 q subcommittee OF six members
of this committee, one TO be chosen from
each ward in the oity, with direction tc
| inquire and report TO the committee
whether it is practicable to repeal the
said ordinance. and whether such repeal
can be legally effected under the present
circumstances, aud said subcommittee
shall report to subsequent meeting Of
the committee to be called by the Chair
man.
The Chair appointed on the sub-commit-
tee:
Madison Ward, Jef. Wallace Monro,
Ward. T. b. Hicks: Clay Ward. Z. l
Philips: Jefferson Ward, A. w. Rosene
Jackson Ward. Dennis Wren. The Chair
man was added TO the committee.
LEGAL QUESTIONS.
Mr.. lambs reason for offering this resO
luton was that there are several iega
questions involved IN changing back an'
| forth. which will have to be Inquired mt
| before II will be safe to proceed further
| There seems to exist some doubt "a to wha
would be the status of the voters who's
names have been erased from the old book
and nut on those of the new precinct IN tn
event that the Common Council shoul'
concur in the repeal.
The committee will meet again Thurs
day night to hear the report.
THE STATUS.
A writer over the non, de p,ltme Of "Cla'
Wardr i'm Yesterdays STATE after reviewin!
this subject. says " If this (repeallng or
dinance) 1s concurred in by the Common
Council and signed by the Mayor then th'
offices of the registrars IN the three neV
precincts will be vacated, and 1t Will D.
necessary for the Electoral Board Z
meet and appoint officers for the Firs
and Fourth precincts and all OF tn
work of making the new books now. II
possession of three registrars will be of N
value except as "A basis upon which TO max
out another get of books for the registrar
III however, the repeal of this ordi
nance will relnstate the old registrars j
their former offices. then we will still be u
a very ugly condition. for the old book
have been mutilated by eraslng 500 or ~
names from them, and all of those. erase
will have TO register again or not be aol
TO vote"
rhe Rrnoklnnd and Fairfield Barbecue
Al the regular meeting of the Brooklan
Democratic Club Monday night after IN
Transaction of routine business Captain
III. O'Bannon made line speech. outllnin
the work that could and should be don
nv the organization, all of which wa
heartily endorsed.
President y. b. CHM stated that he ha
been requested by the Fairfield Democratl
Club to appoint four committees, eac
consisting of three members, TO meet III,
committees from the Fairfield Club I
make arrangements for the proposed gran
Democratic barbecue to be held at Seve
Pines October 18th under the auspices
. the Brookland and Fairfield clubs.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The President then announced the TO
lowing committees:
on Speakers-Captain J. H. O'Banno
(chairman), X. B. Jones, and John kei
! man.
On Entertainments-W h. Fairlam
(chaIrman), V. 5. Floyd, and W. &. Grant
: land.
On Refreshments-Jo Lindsay (ehail
llthl, llhlNtl W.
Currie.
On Finance William II. Keck (chail
man, III. l.. Curre, and John A. Grayln
This barbecue will be grand afail
There will be a number of prominer
speakers present.
/ FAIRFIELD ACTS.
At the meeting OF the Fairfield Club Ia
night President V0gler announced the t9
: lowing as the committees from that ciut
} On Speeches: Henry NGgier, Jacob DE
: trick, and j. G. Mitchell.
On Arrangements: b. Frischkorn, Il. !
! VGgler, and Richard Newman;
! On Refreshments: W. Il. Holdsworti
James Duggan. and James Hailoran. VIZ.
> On Finance j. G.. Binford, william WI
son. and ". A. Dickerson.
The committees will meet at the couni
headquarters this morning to perfect q
!. rangements for the barbecue.
a The Union Club.
The Union Democratic Club OF Jefersoo
5 and Marshall wards will hold its .weeki
e meeting Friday night at Springfield hal
; corner Twenty-sixth and NJ street
t Messrs. H. NJ. Smith, Jr., James q. Laml
and Others will speak.