Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-01
FIVE V0TING-P
7He MAYOR vsToEs THE ORDINANCE
RESTORING FOUR PRECINCTS.
Roth branches of tho Council Meet and
Sustain His ObJections-wecting of
the CITY Committee, SC.

nave now itttHNAAfitf*
The Mayor vetoed their action, and last
night his position in the matter was en-
dorsed by both the Board and Common
Council with unbroken unsnimity.
The situation therefore remains as II was
before tho repeating ordinance was ever
introduced and the new precinct made OF
slices from The First and Fourth stands.
The Aldermen.
The Board Of Aldermen convened in spe-
-ial session al 7.25 o'clock last night TO con-
,flar the message from the Mayor vetOing
thoordinance restoring the four precincts
ia lieu of tvo. and another one designating
the voting places.
President DickcrsOn was in the chair.
Clerk August read the call Of the meeting
and the following communication
MAYoR's OFFICE
RICHMOND. Va. September 30, 1890.
IT, - CRY Council:
Gentlomen.-I have carefully considered
H. ordinance dividing tho wards ot the
c.tyinto convenient election precincts, ana
au constrained 10 return II without my
Srciion ia of the Code Of 1887 provides
that council of "A city shall establish Tor
,q.h ward rs many districts as they may
deem necessary. and votlng-place IN each
district. but 30 that there shall not be less
fan one election district for every thou
sand voters or fractional part thereof
auovo five hundred.
oSE FOR TvERY THOUSAND.
The manifest purpose OF tins statutory
l~nviei0n was 10 compel the touncu OF IA
-.ty 20 provide a yoting-plaee Tor every
thousand voters. IN the ordinance before
TO q is provided that there shall be IN
CLAW Ward fOuI voting precincts. One OF
fhasc-t the First prcc.nct-it Is known con-
fsIns more than 900 voters. The state
4,r declares that there shall not be less
than one election precinct Tor every l'VJO
voters. and vet II is proposed by TINS ord-
nance TO establish aprecnct that Is known
O. have more than 1900 voters.
The ordinance # passed would, IN my
INDICTMENT, le void. because II seeks to ac-
19mplsh what the statute IN express
terms declares the Council has no right 10
DO.
MUNICIPAL POWERS.
Dillon. in his first volume on Municipal
CorporntiOns in section 3l7, SAYS: since
all Of the powers Of corporation are ue-
rived from the law and It's charter 1t ls
evident that no ordinance or bylaw OF
corporation can enlarge. diminish, or vary
it, mowers - In section 32@ he further says:
1ho rule that municipal corporation can
pass no ordinance which CONNECTS WIN IS
charter or any general statute IN iorce ana
enulcahle 10 the corporation has been be-
fore stated. Not only So, but 1t cannot III
virtue Of its incidental power 10 pass by
laws. or under any general grant OF that
authority. adopt bylaws which infringe
the spirit or arc rcpQgnant 70 the pQhcy OF
the State as declared IL lts general leSlsla-
tom
Would NOT BECOME A LAW.
Therefore any attempt 10 override the
State law would be of no avail hence the
ordinance. If approved by me, would not
become "a law and could have no elect
up0n the ordinance Of June IS, 1920, estao-
L.hiup five precincts in CLAY Ward. II
follows then that the ordnance OF June Is
1880. isin full force and effect, aud elections
must be held in accordance herewith III
order % he valid.
withhold INV signature for the ordinance.
Since cannot sign the above ordinance
l. of course, return without my approNal
the ordinance repeating chapter OF the
Citv Ordinances. approved june ls. 1870,
FOR not 10 DO so would be 70 leave the city
without any election precincts. -,
j. TAYLOR EIIYsON, Mayor.
HE Is SUSTAINED.
Mr. Bowden moved to pass the ordi-
nance TO divide the city into election pre-
ciucts notwithstanding the veto OF the
The vote was taken and the Mayor was
unanimously sustained IN both yetOes.
Adjourned at 7.45.
Common Council.
President Campbell called the Common
Council 10 order at o'clock promptly.
The Clerk read the call Of the meeting
aud reported that the Board of Aldermen
had sustained the Mayor. The action OF
the Board was unanimously cOncurTed III.
Adjourned at s:0i.
The city Committee Meets.
Tho reqular weakly meeting Of the CITY
Democratic Committee occurred last night
The committee was only IN session FOR
fortv-hye minutes. but much important
business was transacted.
steps were taken towards tho canVassing
ot the several wards Of the city, and the
ward superintendents were instructed 10
report at the next meeting what steps are
necessary III organizing their respective
districts. As soon as these reports are re-
ceiyed the committee viii immediately
proceed t. make an active and thorough
lOuse-tO- house canvass Ot the entire city,
and will see 20 II that all white voters are
properlv registered so that a full Demo
cratic vote may be polled at the coming
election. This is recognized a. one OF the
most important things N campaign and
n will be- thoroughly done 10y the ward
clubs under tho direction of the commit
tee.
CLAY WARD HEADQUARTERS.
The superintendent of Clay Ward was
instructed 10 open headquarters IN that
ward 40 once and 10 proceed 10 notify all
voters who are transferred from one pre-
cinct to another by the redlsirlctng ordi-
nance Of the change. and 10 designate
where they will have 60 vote on election
day. This viii prevent the con, ,usion that
might other wise cnsue, and every voter III
CLAY Ward who IL affected by the change
will know Just where he Will have 70 90 10
d. ll.a 80 NHNI
that these voters should be notified IRON
tho committees headquarters, but the
committee thought II Was best 70 have 1t
done directly from tho ward headquarters.
TO oRo,SIzE JACKSON WARD.
4 special committee consisting Of Messrs.
DOnnis Wren, III. L. Phillips, ID. J. O'Neil.
e.. l.. Bigger. and A. G. knowles was APP
lolnted 10 determine what means shall be
taken 20 thoroughly organize Jackson
Ward.
few minutes while the committee was IN
session aud informally conferred with the
members.
MIR. wise's Appointments.
Hon. George ID. Wise. who is making a
very active canvass OF the district. has the
following appointments TO speak:
Manchester. Wednesday night, October
lst. Chesterfield (Branch's church,, Fri-
dav. October Sd Henrco lSmither's).
Wednesday. October sth; New Kent Court
house. thursday, October 9th; Henrico
lD4rby's1, FRIDAY, October 10Th; Chester
Geid Courthouse. Monday. October 18TH
Henrico Seven Pines) Tuesday, October
18th. Hanover Courthouse, Wednesday.
October 18th: Hanover (Jones's Cross
Roads, Saturday, October 18th; Gooch-
lind Courthouse. Monday, October 2Oth;
Hanover Gold Harbor). Wednesday, Octo-
b-r22d King William Courthouse, Tues
dav. October 26th HenricO CLARKE 5
h,0re), Thursday. october SOth.
The Enemy.
The white Republican club OF Clay Ward
held an important business meeting last
uisht al Reinhardt's Hall. To D'spaica
members said that only routine matters
were considered. 80
It Is not expected that the Republican
conference al Henrico courthouse to-lnor.