The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-20
Common a d
Board Reduced TX
actly Cne-H alf.
COMPACT BODY
FOR CITY WORK
Ordinance Prepared by Special
Committee, Which Council
Will Be Urged to Adopt in
Time to Apply to Next
Election-Strong Mem
bers Support 1t.

Cutting the Common Council and
Board of Aldermen exactly in half, the
special committee on changes in the
form OF city government last night
unanimously recommended to the Coun-
ell for adoption an ordinance redts-
tricting the city into four wards of
approximately equal population. The
measure provides for a Council OF
twenty members. a Board Of twelve.
and eventually for Boards of Dolce
and Fire Commissioners. composed of
four each. The ordinance is entirely
independent OF the pending plan for
creation of an administrative board.
and complies with the State law. which
makes it mandatory on councils OF
cities after each decennial census to
redistrict the city into wards of ap-
proximately equal population.
Lines Of Four Wards.
Generally speaking. the plan pro-
poses the creation OF Jefferson Ward.
embracing all of the city caste of Eish-
teenth Street; Madison Ward, the CEN
ire section between Eighteenth and
Third, north of Main. Park Avenue and
all Islands In James River: Lee Ward,
composed of all of the. city west OF
Third. north OF main. Park Avenue, and
Stuart Avenue. and Clay Ward. the re-
naming section west OF Third and
south of Main, Park Avenue and Stuart
Avenue. The lines were carefully pre-
pared by the City Attorneys Office,
with the assistance OF Special Account
n Crenshaw and Clerk +. T. Bates,
of the engineers Office. who complied
an enormous mass OF statistics hear
ing ON population. But one change
was made in the draft presented. Mr..
Don Leavy securing a shift of.the line
betweer Clay and Lee Wards from
Grac to Main at the eastern end. n
from Hanover to Stuar Avenue at the
western. leaving practically, the same
population basis.
Under the plan adopted the judge OF
the Hastings Court is requested to ap.
point commissioners to rearranre the
lists Of voters at the various precincts
to conform to the new lines. and IL Is
proposed that the spring election mex:
June and the primary preceding shall
be on the new lines. so that the Council
based on the new election will take Of
flee from September next.
Hold-Orcr Aldermen.
The most difficult part of. the prob
lem presented was that of the hold
over" members OF the Board of Alder
mei. The entire lower branch comes
up for reelection next spring. so tina
all members have an equal chance in
the reduced membership before the
people. But thirteen members Of the
Board hold over for another two years
These are Messrs. ADAMS. Bliley. Dona.
hoe. Don Leavy.. Gilman, Grimes
Grundy, Gunst, Melton, Mitchell. Mel
sen. Pcrdue and Powers. Since to put
any plan OF reduction into effect some
must suffer for the good of the city al
large. tho ordinance as adopted prac.
tically legisiates out OF Office nll other
Aldermen. leaving tho above members
to compose tho Board for two years
from next September. with the eScep-
ton of one vacancy. in Clay Ward
which will give President Whittet. ar
opportunity to offer for reelection
At the end of existing terms. In the
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