The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-11
CLEAR MAJORITY
IN UPPER BRANCH
Men Opposed to New Govern
ment Plan Upset by Alder
manic Poll.
WHITTET STILL SILENT
President Of Board Gives No In
timation as TO How He
Will Rule.
WHITTET STILL SILENT

The Times Dispatch POLL, printed yes
terday. showing clear majority in
the Board of Aldermen in favor both
OF the plan of redistrtcting tho city
into four wards and of the creation
of an administrative board. proved
bombshell to some politicians and 9TH
ers who from the timo the plan was
first presented have been predicting
that II might go through the Common
Council were sufficient pressure exert
ed. but would inevitably be killed In
tho upper branch
The poll on the plan to redistrict the
city into four wards, which Will have
the practical result of reducing the
membership of the Common Council
from forty to twenty, and OF the Board
CT Aldermen from twenty-four to
twelve, showed the following in favor
OF concurrence:
Leavy, Gilman, Grundy, Gunst, Hobson,
liain. Mitchell. Moncure, Moore and
Rennolds. and opposed to the plan,
hiessrs Atkinson. Bliley. Donahoe.
Grimes, Patram and Perdue. Several
OF those opposed nSrce that the Coun-
ell is too largo. and say that they would
favor redistricting the city into eight
wards, on basis of $4,000 population
each, with reduced representation from
each ward. were 1t practicable to Sc
cure such charter amendments in time
for the spring primary.
Fifteen for Administrative Board.
For the principle of creation of an
administrative board there Is q much
larger majority, fifteen members having
indicated their Intention OF voting for
such n plan, four along the line of the
Hirschberg substitute and eleven for
the original committee plan, eliminat-
ing the Fire, sPolice and Health De-
partments at this time. Those favor
ing the committee plan are Mossrs.
Bennett. Bliley. Butler, Don Leavy,
Gilman. Gunst, Kain, Moncure, Moore.
Perdue and Rennolds: those favoring
the substitute are Messrs. Grundy,
Hobson. Mitchell and Patram. Only
three announced themselves as against
the administrative board-Messrs Ad-
ANS, Grimes and Donahoe-nnd of these
Mr.. Adams said he would favor it were
the commissioners appointed instead OF
being elected from the city at large. |
OF the entire Board, Mr.. Grimes was
the only one favoring the Mills refer
endum plan OF submitting the whole |
Issue 10 popular vote OF those indi-
eating their preference for tho original
plan of administrative board. the fol-
lowing took occasion to place the sub
stitute as their second choice or to say
that they would take tho Hirschbcrg
substitute rather than endanger tho
success of the whole movement: Mossrs.
Perdue, Gilman. Gunst, Moore, Bennett.
Don LeaYy and Kain. Combined with
he four out and out advocates of the
Hirschberg substitute. this gives eleven
who VIII vote to take the whole ordt-
nance as 1t comes from the Council,
rather than endanger the plan OF re-
form. Mr.. Bliiey indicated that he was
for an administrative board only If tho
Fire. Police and Health Departments
were left out, and Messrs Moncure,
Rennolds and Butler did not indicate
whether they would fall in with the
majority and accept the substitute
rather than risk the delays and dan
gers OF further amendment were the
paper TO go back 10 the Common Coun-
ell 1T would appear from the poll
taken, therefore. that all that the adj
Vocates of the new plan of government
nave TO do to win Is to agree on IL def
mite line of action. unity their forces,
and vote down consistently all weak
ching and obstructive amendments
however innocent they might appear
on the first ,seadinG.
Whittct~Mniitnins silence.
President Robert Whittet. of. the
Board OF Aldermen. has preserved n
sphinx-like silence In regard TO his at
NtuGo on the pending propositions
even his intimate friends not claiming
10 know how he will vote. Though he
has not himself 50 stated, II has been
persistentiy reported that he will rule
that the two papers require for their
adoption two-thlrds vote. THIS Is
contrary TO the decision Of President
Peters, of the Common Council, and
contrary to written opinion since rem
dered by the City Attorney, In which
1t is clearly held that since no appro-
priation Is made In either paper, only
majority vote IS required for their.
adoption. Should Mr. Whittct take the
ground that has been asserted despite
INC opinion of the city's legal adviser,
the Board may appeal from his ruling
and reverse him by Il ma jority vote.
Advocates OF tho ordinance do not
anticipate that any such action viii
be necessary. but are terrifying them
selves for every contingency that may
arise. knowing that the opponents VIII
make their fight. not by open antaeo-
nisln, but by such tactics as will carry
The matter along from meeting 10 meet
ing, until the business organizations,
which have given 1t such ca -ncst sup
port. are worn out and relax their Wig
lance long enough for the whole nat
Ter 10 he pu; quietly 10 sleep.