The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-12
SHOW GAIN
Of SIXTY PER GENT.
Consolidation OF Cities Brings
United Population to
100000.
MAJORITY VOTE
Special Provision OF Act lnsrres
Passage of Ordinance by
City Council.
TAKES MAJORITY VOTE

SlLy SOltiiSH'
Prospects for consolidation oil RlcI-'
mond and Manchester in time for the
government censu have materially
frightened with the work of the last
few days. The committees are To-
gcther, and the attorneys, 1t was
stated, found no difficulty yesterday
in inserting the various amendments
in the proper place. making a falr ana
clean draft of the ordinance for maj
acceptance. without the Injection OF
new matter. 1t was stated at the
City Attorneys oficel that all was
y harmony.
Yesterday Special Accountant George
S. Crenshaw spent several hours in
Manchester going through the books
of the Auditors Office to determine on
the list of ofice-holders and their
compensation, which is to be made q
part of the agreement. Richmond
agrees to continue the salaries OF all
present ofice-holders. appointive or
elective, for the term for which they
have been chosen, whether they are
assigned to service under the same
| department in Richmond or not. 1t was
necessary. therefore, under advice of
the attorneys, to attach to the agree
ment a list of nllsthe ofiice-holders of
this date, with their compensation. so
that there might be no contention
hereafter.
, Listing Omcc-Holdcrs.
AS far as the salaried positions go,
1t is plain sailing. In the casc of the
fee officers. however. the probable
| evenuc of the Office has to be esti-
mated on the basis of the average re-
ccivcd from fees for several years
past. In the case OF fircmen and po-
licemcn, by a special clause. they at
once become members of the Rich
mond departments. with the same
grade and pay to which their length
of service would entitlc them in this
city. making a general increase for
all the men in those departments.
If all goes as anticipated at the
meeting Tomorrow night, and there is
no reason to expect a hitch, the ordi-
nance will be recommended by the
committees to the Councils of the two
cities for adoption.
from the standpoint of Richmond.
everything hangs on getting the union
through in time for listing the con-
solidated municipaliei in the govern
ment census of 1910. and every energy
will be devoted to that enc. Indeed.
should 1t later becolnc apparent that
1t cannot be done, 1t Is doubtful
whether the ordinance will pass the
Richmond Council. as many members
have ANNOUNCED opposition. The view
has been expressed by many members
that it might be held to take a two
thirds vote, as it obligated the city
to the expenditure of money.
City Attorney Pollard. however,
holds that such is not the case, and
points to section 5 of the act for the
consolidation of cities. approved in
1906. which says:
"Thc consolidation or annexation or
dinnncc TO he effective must be pnsscd
by the Council of each city pnrtici-
patinE. in the consolidation or %nnncxn-
lion by n recorded affirmative vote OF
a majority Of the members elected to
snid Council, and to cnch branch there
Of. when there arc two
The ordinance is TO be approved by
the Mayor of each city. or passed over
his veto as in the case of other ordi-
nances. and it must not be voted on
by both branches OF the Council In
any city on the same day.
There is no reason. however, why
the measure should not be pending be-
fore the Richmond and Manchester
Councils at the same time. Indeed.
that is bclieycd to be the method In
tended by the act.
Legislature Must Act.
The only possible hitch apparently
now lies in the elimination of the
seven months clause before the cleo
ton can be held in Manchester. h
Legislature will be asked at once to
amend the act to thirty days, and since
all the delegates from both Richmond
and Manchester are favorable, 1t is
believed that prompt action can pc
secured. The first test OF strength
between the consolidationist and the
antt-consolidationist factions In
chester came when D. Tom won
|for the Legislature over Willis g. 5Pui-
liam, who formerly represented the
Southside city in the House OF Dele-
gates. If the Councils of the two
cities act promptly and without I'M
necessary haGSling, the matter may 80
to the legislature within ten days. ana
1T is expected that the election can be
ordered by the first OF February, to
take place about March 1. Fifteen days
has to be allowed after the election
for any petitioner to present claims
OF fraud. II no such claims are made
or substantiated. 1t is then4the duty OF
the court to Issue angorder puttins the
consolidation into effect on and after
a fixed date.
In the case of Omaha n South
Omaha. now considering union census
Director Durand has ruled that u the
union can be actually consummated
and be in full effect without recourse
or appeal by April lit Will DO SO
counted in the new enumeration.
Show 90 Per Cent. Gain.
The city census rbade early inalaot.
following the annexation Of outlying
territory In Henrico county, showed
Richmond with a population OF 10000.
The government census OF lSOO.
which was generally believed to be 4un-
fairly conducted as far as this city IS
concerned, having been manipulated
for political purposes. according 70
charges which nave never been aretut-
ed, gave Richmond $1,000, nm increase
of less than 1000 In the previous Yen
years, Tho same census gave Man
chester e,7l5. Since the Southern
Railway shops have been enlarged, ana
q number Of manufacturing plants az
ded' the belief is that Manchester now
10. 900. i5s
Taking into consideration Rich
mond's rapid growth In the last tVo
Or three years, as shown by the rusn