The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-08
FIGHT ON MARSHALL
TO Be AGGRESSIVE
First Indications Of Easy Sailing
for Bolling's Office Have
Been Shattered.
BIG CHANGES CONTEMPLATED
Plan Now Is to Give City Engi.
neer Broader Powers Over
Water Department.

Notwithstanding the apparent agree,
ment among members OF City Council
on MONDAY night to elect Mr.. willinn
Water Department. to succeed Mn
Charles q. Boiling. 1t developed lasl
night that n tremendous fight vii, i.
made against him, clearly upsett,ns
the general and popular theory that Ia
VIII win without opposition.
Davis boom to Front. ~..
The sudden changes In muulcipaf
politlcs are sometimes unexplained. Al
moment when there appeared to bs
easy sailing for Mr. Marshall the ROAD
was suddenly filled with obstacles. one
OF thcse was the statement that WITH
simple changes In the ordinance. thu
city could. in a measure. re,ain tine
able services or Mr.. Billing in tho
Water Department by arranging It so
that lie would still be the engineering
| power behind that throne, and at the
same time electing as superintendent
man thoroughly familiar wirh the
duties OF the Office. and with every
branch OF the work.
| Indeed, II was the plan recently to
| consolidate the water and engineering
! departments. The proposition is aito-
| Sether feasible. Part OF the duties now
| performed by the City Engineer .SStl
be transferred to the Building Inspee-
tor, and II Is said that this change
VII! meet the hearty approval OF Mr.
Boiling and Mr.. Beck.
Assistant Superintendent e. Il. Davis,
who has served under Mr.. Boiling for
] more than twenty years. Is the mort
| formidable candidate In the field for
superintendent, In spite OF the claims
OF Mr.. Marrhall's friends. He has
strong backing. His familiarity with
the department work. and his skill
otherwise. would make him valua.
BILE man for the place, provided hs
has the help which he would readily
get from Mr.. Boiling. as City Engineer.
II the changes as contemplated. arc
put into effect
Boiling Not In Any Combine.
In view OF the statement OF men,
bers OF Council that they had agreed
upon Mr.. Marshall whose name was
not presented as candidate for City
Engineer. the impression got abroad
In some quarters yesterday that COM
| btnatlon had been formed whereby he
would stay out OF the race and be re-
warded for doing SO. Whatever truth
| there may be IN this, It Is known pos
itiSely that so far as Mr.. Boiling knew.
no such combination existed. II ans.
of his supporters entered into an
I agreement with Mr.. Marshall It was
/ without his knowledge or consent. he.
says, for he has studiousiy avoided
/ discussion or advocacy OF single
candidate.
What may have been done by out.
/ s!ders was not his AFFAIR, and, more
I over, 1t was plain on It's face that there
was no reason for the Boiling faction
to compromise and line UP with the
Marshall faction for the reason that
I the latter did not exist in the contes.
4 cir NJ ha WAS mo
/ within striking distance OF the Office.
| and no combination could have re-
suited in Mr.. Bolling's defeat.
| With q transfer of some OF the du-
| ties OF the Engineers office to the
Building Inspector, the work OF the
former would be lighter In many re-
! spects, and this would enable tho
| sponsibility OF the Water Department
| chiefly in the matter of engineering
| work. The Mills resolution, relating to
| the Engineers Office. will not have Sc.
rious opposition. In the first place the
inspector in most cities is the GUS
todian OF public buildings. AS the
cumbersome system Is operated here,
/ Colonel Cutshaw was required to give
| street numbers for stores and resi-.
| dences.
Mr.. Bcck's High Stand.
! Mr.. Boiling was assured yesterday
| by Inspector Beck that he would have
\ his heartiets cooperation and support
! in all matters In which the two Offices
were directly or Indirectly related.
| Like Mr.. Boiling, Mr.. Beck endeavored
| to and did conduct his campaign on
| thigh plano. He realized toward the
/ end that he could not win, but in the
face OF that he refused 10 combine
| with Mr.. Marshall. It was said for
MIR. Beck that II he had combined with
anybody he would unquesstonably
have thrown his strength to the man
who defeated him. All this being true.
4 there will be the utmost harmony De-
| tween the two officers.
| Among Councilmen generally. Mr.
Ma shall is not we'll known. He has
been associated with Winston &; Com
pany in important engineering work,
however, and II he presents an indorse-
nicnt Of his abllity and candidacy by
those high-class contractors. he would
have much in his favor. One OF his
friends In Council said last night that
an unqualified Endorsement of his en-
cheering skill by Winston& Company
would be the strongest possible arSu--'
luent for Mr.. Marshall's election, add
ling that lie would seek and use this In
/ a speech in Council.
/ The name OF Assistant City Engineer
Taliaferro has been prominently mem
toned in connection with the office
soon to .Fbe made vacant sbyt Mr.. gBol-
lllng's promotion; Mr.. Davis, however,
seems to. have the best chance, pro-
vided his department will still have
the benefit of Mr.. Bolllng's aid.