Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-01-19
THE TANGLE.


Saunders came to Staunton to hear
the question OF annexiDg new territory
and it Was annexed. So far so good.
The next question was how many peo
pie were annexed, that is how big did
Staunton become2 IL she had within
her limits 10, 900 people she must nee
essarily be city of the first class; if
not she remained where she was, a
oity of the second class. The City
Council in conformity to law asked the
Judge of the City Court to direct an
enumeration. AT their request the
judge did this, and the enumeration
was made after much care on the part
of the judge to ascertain just who
should and who should not be counted.
The Attorney General of the State was
consulted, and even the mode adopted
In other States was looked into, and
after careful deliberation the enumer-
ators were given instructions and they
went to WORK and made up their lists.
This enumeration showed II, 336 souls.
1t being apparent then to everybody
judge, and city council, that if the
judge made his declaration of this re-
suit we would at once be a city of the
first class, and as city of the first
class is not governed as Staunton was
then governed, it might be better not
to declare officially the result lest we
fall into a strange and possibly inex-
tricable middle in our government.
So all hands agreed that the judge
should not OFFICIALLY announce the
findings of the enumerators until
about the time the Legislature should
meet 80 that, that body could at once
pass laws necessary to the changed
conditions. Thus matters stood. On
the 5th of December at a regular coun
Gil meeting voluminous resolutions
were passed making ready for THE
NEW CITY. and up to this time it
seems not voice was raised against
our being first class city, or against
any of the proceedings.
During the holidays we hear some
members of the council began TO doubt
whether We ought to be first class, -
assigning as a reason that it would
prove too expensive. A committee
was at once appointed to look into this
question, and it unanimously reported
the difference in cost trifliGg.
This was the first note of discord.
The Legislature would meet on the
10th. and the legislation necessary
would soon be forthcoming. The judge
had not yet made his final announce
ment, but knowing that it was now
time to make it, and knowing that the
LEGISLATURE could not and would not
act until it was made, because that
gave them their reason for acting, on
being requested by the chairman Of
the committee appointed by the coun-
Gil to 60 to Richmond to procure the
proper legislation, the judge handed
him his official finding.
Up to this time only mutterings had
been heard; now the storm broke. 1t
has been alleged that the judge was
asked by the council to hold up his
finding until the council cal led on him
for it, and that having given it to
chairman Nelson was violation of
good faith toward them. This asser-
tion, if made by any one in authority
seems 80 purile and absurd that we
will waste no time in discussing it. 1t
was enough for Judge Holt when the
body was not IN session to have hand
ed that paper to any responsible mem
Der of the council, and especially the
very man the Council had appointed
to carry the information that paper
contained to Richmond. The situa-
tiOn, however, becoming more accute,
has called forth several spirited arti-
Giles in the press, and seems to be paw
ing the way for much examination and
recrimination. The case at present
stands upon the finding of the enumer-
ators that We have population OF
II, 1856, and the declaration of the judge
of this fact, and are therefore city OF
the first class, but we have diYided
Council as to whether we shall be what
4 ha fa cfa shot or mot
The question at once presented is,
why object? The item of cost cuts no
figure. Then why this rumpus? We
regret that we can give our readers no
intelligent idea Of the motives which
actuate those of our city Council who
now seem to be hunting some mode of
destroying the effect of added terrific
ry. and our prestige gained by the re.
suits Of an enumeration, which results
have been known for months past.
We trust the motives are pure. We
hope they are disinterested, but what
are they? This is the question, WHAT
ARE THEY?
Being the first instance Of the kind
in the history of America they certain
ly need explanat ion, and an explana.
ti0n moro forceful than the fact that
the census may not have been correct.
ly taken, or that some diseourtesy may
have been shown the council by some
body at some remote stage of the pro
ceeding.
1t strikes us that when this matter
reaches the Legislature it will make
short shrift of this unseemly tangle
and give Staunton an opportunity to
rise to her place in the list of cities of
the State. which has been so long de-
MED her, no matter who may suffer in
his feelings, pocket, or position.
The Democratic caucus did soma