Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-14


WHERE ALDERMEN nLuNDERED'
The Dispatch has heard many ex-
pressions Of regret from the. people Oh
Richmond at the curt dismissal OF 'he
annexation question by our Board Oh
Aldermen.
Many OF those who are OF the opinion
that annexation is unedvisable at this
time candsdly declare that the Board
handled the subject very awk"aruiy'
Indeed. as to this. there seem to De no
two opinions. Admitting that 'he
Board meant well, men say 1t showeu
great lack Of tact in disposing OLA den-
cate subject
The public must remember that neso-
tiations looking to annexation were IN
vited by the Board OF Aldermen anu
Common Council of Richmond. Inc
Council of Manchester accepted our IN
vitatIon to confer on the subject. Ineh
a committee Of conference was appointed
This Joint committee, after deliberation
that extended through many months
agreed upon a resolution authorizing
the attorneys OF the two critics 10 pre-
pare a bill for submission to the Legs
lature, granting annexation. shouiu -
be ratified at the polls by the No'e's
of the two cities.
This was the resolution that was u"-
tremendously dismissed. Tne senerai
view is that the Board should nave eon-
scented to a popular vote upon the ques-
ton OF annexation; or. II NOT, tnat IL
should have expressed IT'S disapproval III
terms of great civility.
The LEGISLATURE OF Virginia created
Richmond and Manchester, and might
have been relied upon to see that the
act authorizing the submission OF the
question contained no improper or I'M
provident provision.
However, there is no use Of arguing
that the Board of Aldermen erred In
their brusque manner of treating this
subject. There is no question that 1t
was as much a blunder as the Legisla-
ture made when It refused to respect
the legal holiday that 1t had ordained
in commemoration of Lees birthday.
The great question now is, how to set
ourselves right with the municipality and
people of Manchester. Probably the best
way to do this would be for our Com
mon Council to adopt substitute Tor
the action of the Board Of Aldermen.
In this substitute the Council might say
that it does not think that annexation
would be advantageous to Richmond at
this time, and might terminate negotia-
tions In such terms of courtesy as Man
chester has the right to expect from
Richmond. The Board of Aldermen
would doubtless be only too glad to OBJ
literate its curt and ungracious action
with such a substitute.
As for the annexation question, IL Is
not in the power Of the present City
Council to dispose Of it finally. 1t car
never be disposed of until II is fairly put
before the people and voted upon. 1t Is
too late to make ready TO do this now
| There isn't enough time within which tc
frame a suitable bill and get 1t passed
before the close Of this legislative SEES
sion. When q bill is submitted for le-
gislative action there are men who would
wish to speak in opposition to 1t. and
they should have that privilege; then the
supporters of the bill would reply, and al
of this would consume weeks Of time.
Nor should the friends Of annexation
wish to force the question to an ISSUE
until the businessmen of Richmond have
manifested an interest in the scheme
until they have an organization to sup
port the measure and are prepared tC
give 1t enthusiastic help. So for. the
present all that we can do is to seek &c
have Richmond put herself right with
Manchester, and for the rest quietly bid'
| our time.