The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-13

Division OF the city Into four wards
was concurrcd In by the Board Of Al.
"ermen last night by n vote of 15 to n.
ihc ORIGINAL pinn for nm administrn-g
i've hoard, us proposed by the npccIsI
committee, WINS adopted by the decisive
vote of 10 to ;, NIL amendments con-
famed In the HirschbcrE substitute
ocinS stricken out, md the paper sent
back to the Common Council for con.
cnrrcncc IN amended.
ihc ordinance redistrictinE the city
INTO Tour wards of nppro IimutcIy euuaI
n"pnlntton reduces the mem be rsbip of
the Common Council from forty IN
twenty members, and of the Bourd oe
hinernen from twenty-Sour to twelve.
'nc new council Will he selected mt n
primary held previous TO the gencrnI
election on the second Tuesday in 5Junc.
Amendments Killed.
BY adoption Of amendments offered
by Mr. Don Leavy, the Board eliminateI
rom control OF the proposed adminis-
tratirc board the Fire Police ana
Health Departments, which under the
original committee plan adopted by the
Niaernen, Will continue as heretofore.
me amendments bring the paper hack
TO lnst what was originally recommend
ed to the Council. other amendments
prohosins submission of the matter To
p"puiar vote. and the appointment in
stead of election of members of the
proposed board. being rejected
president Peters said that ms soon
as the smoke had cleared away a it'll,
a special meeting OF the Common Co,,u
Gu would be called, probably for next
Monday night. to take up the question
OF concurrence In the administra two
uonrd ordnance as amended by the
Aldermen. The four-ward rcdistrict-
ing ordinance goes to the Mayor for
Eis fnal signature as soon as IL Is en-.
crossed. -
Vote Wildly Chcercd.
livery member of the Board OF Az
dermen was in his scat when Presi,Jnnb
winters gavei fell last night, ana
more man 800 people were standing
III the limited public space within the
chamber, while outside the Corridors
and staircascs were packed with Cit
izcns, waiting eagerly for news on
better and progressive government.
Applause rang frequently through
the house. and was echoed back from
the halls, spectators being apparently
IN favor OF the whole ordinance as It
came from the Council and showine
no approval when the vote was mn
nounced eliminating the Fire, Police
and Health Departments The fear
was expressed that this move would
result In deadlock In the two
branches and the delays that could
only spell defeat. Leading advocates
OF the plan, however. including meme
bers of the special committee which
drafted II and OF the commercial or
ghn'Za tons which have given II such
unanimous and hearty support, predict
That not less than thirty Councilmen
VIII como out for tho Administrative
BOARD, now that the Police, Fire and
ilealth Departments have been OK.
cluded.
Earnest and open canvassing for
votes went on throughout the cham
Der both before the meeting and dur
ing the reading of the minutes and
other prelin,inares. n quick poil
showed only eleven Aldermen who
would certainly vote for the Adminis-
trattve Board with the IIirschberr-
amendments, and it was considered
dangerous to force the issue on thar
vote. although Mr. IIobson, Colonel
Grundy and others fought hard to tho
last for clear-cut vote for the whole
proposition just as 1t came from tina
lower branch.
Four Wnrd Pinn First.
The rcdistricting ordinance came mn
first and It's reading was dispensed
with, II was reported as a substitute
for a fvo ward paper offered by Coun-
Gilman Ratcl!ne last February, he
having been the first to propose the
reduction OF the Council by cutting
down the number OF wards. 1t was
recalled that there was open laughter
In tho body when the paper was first
offered, the campaign OF education OF
the past ten months having produced
wonderful results. q q;
Mr.. Don Leavy. for the advocates
of the ordinance. stated that II wax
SO evident that a reduction was ma.
cessary and since redistrlctng waa i
the plain duty OF the Council the 20 ~
per would be submitted to asyote with. &
out argument unless tho opposition
raised questions which needed TO bAs
answered, The argument was brief.