The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-25
COMMON COUNCIL
AGREES TO CHANGE
Adopts Conf Com.
mittee Report for
Union of Cities.
OPPONENTS TRY
HARD TO BLOCK 1T
Technical, Objections Raised,
With Whirlwind Of Talk, but
Vote Stood Finally 20 to II.
Goes Now to Board
for Concur

renee.
After cutting its way through an
1nterminubie maze Of legal tangIes
and parliamentary distractions. the I
Common Council last night adopted the 1
ordinance for the union OF Manchester
and richmond. az recommended by the
conference committee. by vote of 22
10 IL. There was no debate on the
merits OF the proposed ordinance, or
on tho question OF union The opposi-
lion contcnted itself with technical oh
Jeeiions points OF order. questions OF
procedure, attacks on the validity OF
TIE formation OF the committee OF con-
ference and as To the form OF its re-
port.
Chairman Mills presented the report
OF the conterees. recommending that
the street guarantee be placed at so
per cent OF the revenue from Wash
lngton Ward" in lieu OF the 40 per
cent as originally recommended and
adopted b. the Council. and OF the 20
per cent. TO which figure the Board OF
Aldermen amended the measure. The
conferees also recommended the Board
amendments az 10 the exemption OF
The receipts from the sale OF gas when
supplied from the percentage, and az
10 the elimination of sidewalk i'm
provemcnts from the street fund, all
OF tho amendments being embraced
in subsection F, section IL. OF the orig
inal ordinance. that being tho only Sec
ton on which the two branches were
in disagreement.
Minority Wants New Conference.
MIR. Gentry, OF Marshall Ward. offer
!. Cd report on the part of the minori-
". consisting of himself and Aldermen
Cottrell and Richardson. The minor
a 4,sH. e a.s4 4fr-
committee had not been properly APP
pointed or constituted under the rules
OF the Council. and closed By Offering
a. a resolution that since the confer
ence committee was improperly con-
stitutcd. It's report be indefinitely post
poned and that = new committee OF
conference be narncH in accordance
with Reefs Manual OF parliamentary
procedure
Mr. Mills made the point of order
that a minority could not offer res
olution or an ordinance. but nigh.
merely report It's dissenting views and
the point WAS sustained by President
Petofs. Mr.. Richards. OF Marshall
Ward, ono OF the original opponents
OF consolidation. spoke a. some length
as to the manner OF appointment OF
the committee. asking that Il new and
properly constituted committee be
named. aIr, Mills replied that the conf
.nittce was legally and properly con-
stituted. and offered written opinion
OF the City Attorney to that effect. as
sorting that the City Attorne. had
drawn the committees report. approv-
cd of its icgalitr. and had said that II
could be maintained In court.
In view OF the opinion of the city's
legal adviser. Mr. R!chards's motion
was ruled on, OF order. the chair cit
ing rule IS of Reeds Manual as TO the
formation OF the committee. and the
manner of presenting its report.
Pollock Opposes Report.
Mr. Pollock, another OF the original
opponents OF annexation. who had
spoken against the ordinance In the
Council, but who voted for it as
amended by the Board or Aldermen,
took the floor to contend for another
legal point
II don't think there is anything In
Mr. Richsrds's point as to the forma :
tion of the committee" he said. "Bu,
we can't vote on the conference COM
mittee's report we must reconsider
the vote by which the ordinance was
rejected, and that requires a two
thirds vote Then we can amend It,
As 1t stands on our records the ordi-
nance is dead the Council having re-
fused to concur In the Board amend
1ncnts.''
MR. Mills argued the point. holding
that the ordinance was not dead, tina,
it had been In effect reconside-ed and
referred to the conterees, saying that
until there was a distinct disagree
ment between the two branches. con-
ference could not have been asked.
He quoted Reeds Manual to show
that the Council might recede from It's
y former position by simple majority
vote. and again quoted the City Attor.
ney as saying that the point had beer
"a 4 the,
adopted would stand the test III Tho
courts.
The chair ruled that the ordinance
as recommended by the conferees wa:
before the house for adoption or re
lection. and the question was further
debated by Aessrs. tIirschberg ant
Pollock. Mr. Pollock insisted that h,
but wanted a legal ordinance. TO en'
what seemed an interminable debate
II AR Cutchins moved to reconsider th
vote by which the Council on Febru
AIRY l6 refused to concur i'll the Roart
amendments. President Peters sait
he saw no harm in such a vote as
prccaution. but that under the rule
there was no necessity for 1t. Mr.. Pol
lock urged all the members to vote t
reconsider, so that tho measure nigh
properly be before the house.
Body Rcscinded, Says Pollard.
s 4e we WOULD DC uolHS away Win Oh
conference committee" said Cheirma
Pollard. OF the special Committee o
Annexation. ut would spoil all TIL
effect OF a conference. This body re
scinded It's refusal to concur when
referred the ordinance to the confer
ence lcom,nittee, There is nothing t
reconsider. We should vote on the or
dnance as it Is"
That is the opinion OF the City AT
tornoy. and the chair so rules sal
Mr.. Peters.
Mr. Lynch thought the Council wa
flopelessly tied up, and that the onl
extrication seemed to he to refuse tn
conference report and concur in tn
Board amendments, Air. Cutchins in
sisted on his motion to reconsider, an
the body refused to reconsider by
vote of 6 to II, The question recul
yed on the ordinance as reported b
iI-. Gontinued on Second Page.)
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