The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-16

At stormy meeting held yester-
day afternoon the Committee ~
streets recommended to tho Council ..
pan OF distribution Of the 100000
appropriated in the budget for streets
generally by which Clay. Marshall.
Jefferson and Madison Wards get tho
lions share of the total. and Lee and
Henry each secure only a meagre pro-
portion. - n I l
AS matter of fact, Marshall, Jef-
ferson and Madison Wards each got
more than Lee and Henry Wards COM
the balance of power between the
East and West End delegations, cap
tured more than any other ward. The
result was secured by combination
in which 1t was necessary for Mar
shall. Jefferson. and Madison, the
sance OF one other of the seven wards
In order to secure as much as possible
to be expended within their boun-
daries. and Clay Ward. which was the
one added to the combination, dic-s
tated high price for Its cooperation
in the scheme Of distribution. The
whole plan had been worked up quiets
~, but not the less effectually. The
dominant combination did not waste
much time in talk. They had the vote
and the plan of division, and they
knew they could carry 1T through.
Protested in Vain.
In vain did Councilman Cary and
Alderman Burton and Alderman Gill
man thunder against the unfair dis
vision. as they characterized ". In
vain did they offer substitutes favor
able to the combining wards. Their
substitutes were not as enticing as
the division the majority already had
assured. ~. IA
Mr. Cary made an earnest and im-
passioned protest against the unfair
ness to Lee and Henry Wards" ana
especially to Lee Ward, which he con,
tended represented taxable values Tar
in excess of several OF tho combining
wards. and which had enhanced In
value within a few years more than
four times as much as Jefferson or
Marshall Wards. The representatives
of the East Vlnd declared that this
greater enhancement In Leo Ward was
because of tho great expenditures mada
there, and that their own wards with
greater expenditure. would enhance In
value much more rapidly. The mas
iority reminded the Lee and Henry
Ward representatives that q large sum
was being expended on the Boulevard
III
that ward, and in Henry Ward nearly
all the streets were already paved.
When the division OF tho 100000
was taken up Mr.. Burton moved to
set aside thercfrom $4,000 for repairs.
This motion was evidently intended
to sound tho strength OF the combina-
ton, the existence Of which had not
openly appeared until then.
Mr.. Mann, Of MARSHALL Ward prompt
ly moved the following division OF the
100000: Clay Ward. $4,000: Henry
Ward, $4,000; Lee Ward. $1,000; Jeffe.-
son Ward. s16,500: Madison Ward.
$4,000; Marshall Ward, $16.50O; Mon
roe Ward, $4,000; repairs, $4,000.
Total, 100000.
Injustice and Shame.
Mr.. Cary was promptly on tho floor
as representative of the city, rather
than of Henry Ward to protest against
the proposed division.
He declared that In his campaign
for the Council he had pledged himself
to vote against the method of ward
distribution OF funds. and to stand for,
distribution on the merits of tho
various localities He declared that
the assessed values OF Lee Ward were
$s,906,S52, an increase in the last two
years OF $l,200,O00, compared with AN
increase for Jefferson Ward OF only
about 100000. and but little more for
Marshall Ward, Mr. Cary declared
that II the Mann resolution prevailed,
1t would he an Injustice and n shame
and that II 1t did. tho Council wonld
not he fit to be intrusted with Its re-
Sponsipllities In this matter, TIa do
clared that he was contending NOT
alone for Henry Ward, which had
plenty of unpayed and unimproyed
localities. but more especially for Leo
Ward. which was new ward, ana
Net ono with enormous property
values and one which was In the d.
rectlon of Inevitable growth.
Grace and Franklin Streets were the
driysWays OF the entire city He ofYereN