The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-06
Practically Admitted That Ha
Will Win for City Engineer
on First Ballot.
ALL COMBINATIONS FAIL
Eugene Davis Apparently Leads
in Race as Mr.. Bolling's
Successor.

1ndica kions point clearly to the elec.
tion Of churles E. Boiling, superlntend.
ent OF the Water Department, to tina
Office OF City Engineer at the Joint ses-
sion OF the two branches OF the City
Council to-ntght One OF the leaders
OF the Board at Aldermen, who ts luke
warm az to Dir. Bolling's candidacy.
admitted yesterday that he would win
on the first ballot. An out-and. ott
champion OF Henry P. Beck, BUILDING
Inspector, who will look after his cam.
paign in the Common Council, declared
that Mr.. Eeck was beaten.
BoliinE's C1uins Justified.
Though the opposition to Mr.. Boiling
has rldiculed the idea that he had
sufficient number OF. pledges to put him
Into Office, the admission has gradually
come from all quarters within the pas,
two days that his canvass merely
awaits the vote tonight to show that
his claims are amply justified. Combt.
nations OF one kind and another on
the part OF the minority have been put
forward. the most important being an
attempt to delay the matter until June.
Holding the balance OF power. however,
the Boiling faction will insist upon ac-
ton this evening. and a long and bitter
contest Will end peacefully on the sec
ond ballot. even II IL does not end with
the first
Jackson Bolton. regarded as the third
candidate in point OF voting strength.
will receive number OF ballots on the
first roll call. but before the result ia
announced 1t Is said there Will be
changes, not few OF the Bolton ballots
being transferred to Boiling. II tho
la 4
cut. there Will be quick action.
Some interesting rumors have come
to the surface In connection with tho
candidacy OF William p. Marshall, made
public at the eleventh hour. I, was
said yesterday that Mr.. Marshall want.
ed to form combination with Mr..
Beck. but the latter's friends declined
even refusing. It Is said. to switch to
Mr.. Marshall for Building Inspecto,
in the event that he rallied his force,
to the Beck column. This proposition
was rejected for the reason that prac-
tically every member OF Council had
made up his mind as to how he would
vote before Mr.. Marshall entered the
race, 1t being the opinion OF nearly
every one that he and Colonel C. r. e
Eurgwyn would not be important, fac
1t appeared to be duel between Bollint
and Beck. with Bolton hanging on,
but the Boiling faction has developed
unusual strength and the election Of
the Superintendent of the Water De-
partment Is practically conceded.
President Turpn. of the Board OF Al.
dcrmen. and President Peters. OF the
Bolling's most ardent supporters.
Mny BE Bitter Speeches.
There has been more or less !ntt,na-
tion that some strong talk VIII bs
heard In the nominating speeches. the
rampant Boiling leaders possibly using
the recent differences in the RaKland
case against Mr.. Beck, while Beck
leaders threaten to deal with the
trouble at the settling basin as an
argument against Mr.. Boiling. The
more conservative tendency. however,
Is against agitation OF these matters.
and the Council may escape It.
Mr.. Boiling and AIr. Beck personally
have conducted the campaign with
credit to themselves. and have erdeav-
ored TO keep down strife and bitterness
to tho minimum. In the event OF Mr..
Rolling's election, Mr.. Beck will con-
t.nue TO devote his best energies to the
office OF Building Inspector. while an
other lively campaign will be started
for the place made vacant by the pro-
motion of Mr.. Boiling. The most pronl-
mont candidate mentioned for the po-
s.tion OF Superintendent OF the Water
Department is e. Eugene Davis. assist
ant superintendent. who has been in
the department for a great many years.
The Joint session of Council is called
for 1870 o'clock. There Will probably
be more or less speaking. but this will
accomplish nothing. as votes can hardly
be changed. a full attendance is cer-
tain. With every member present,
twenty-seven votes will elect.