The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-05

are to be placed under the prouosed
administrative board, thus unifyinc- all
OF the activities of the city In the
hands or one commission of five paid
men. II tho acton taken by the Com
mon Council last night receives q con.
current vote In the Board of Aldermen
one week from tonight. .is
Without a single vote to spare, the
Common Council last night adopted
the ordinance redistrictlnE the city
into four wards practically as 1t came
from the special committee. the vote
being FL to 10. In place of the plan
for an administrative board recon-
mended by the special committee, the
Council also by vote OF 81 to IL
adopted n substitute ordinance offer,
ed by Mr.. Hirschberg Identical in every
particular save that It includes as tho
departments to be under the control
of the proposed administrative board
the Fire. Police and Health Departs
ments, now operated separately.
Unanimous for Board.
Grave doubt Is expressed whetber
the resolution in Its present form will
prove acceptable to the Board of Al
dermen. Every member Of the spectaI
committee stated last night that while
voting against tn, H'rschberS substi-
tute In order to support the original
paper. they We're unanimous for crea
ton of the administrative board as now
proposed. and would use every effort
to secure concurrence by the upper
branch In the resolution as 1t has
passed the Council.
Representatives OF the Chamber NJ
Commerce and Business Mems Cluh
also express their entire approval of
the substitute as adopted, and express
earnest hope that the Aldermen viii
see fit to put the whole plan into
operation. 1t was significant that In
tho Council last night there was not
one word said against the administra-
tive board as a method Of govern
ment The only debate was on the adj
bility of placing all departments
at this time under one head, the ma
jority of the Council evidently favor.
Ing a step further in this regard than
the special committee had hoped or
even expected would be practicable
Great Crowd In Chamber.
Inc action was taken In the pres.
ence of the largest gathering of cIti-
zens ever assembled at the City Hall
hundreds were unable to got even on
the floor where the Council Chamber Is
situated, and when the vote was an.
nounced on the redistricting ordinance
cheer after cheer echoed back from the
corridors and staircascs. The roll cali
on the administrative board did moi
como until after midnight. but the cit-
izens stood patiently, showing theil
interest and approval OF the result.
Every trick known to parliamentary
procedure was used to delay or defeat
the four-ward plan. which at one time
seemed to be defeated. majority vot-
Ing for what seemed a weakening
amendment. President Peters ruled.
and was supported by the City Attor.
ney. that the amendment had no prac-
teal effect. and the ordinance won
without vote to spare on the final
roll call. The debate over the admin
istrative board was without parlia-
mentary distractions. It would an
pear that practically the entire Council
favors the creation OF such a board.
No Strong Opposition.
No one openly opposed 1t. All those
voting for the Hirschherg substitute,
which was adopted. may be counted as
favoring board with the fullest pow
ers. and to these may be added mem
bers of the special committee and many
friends of the plan of reform who
feared the effect In the upper branch
of the additions to the ordinance, and
so voted mo-" In the hope OF later
adopting the original paper.
Because Of tho parliamentary situa-
ton, the ordinance was adopted with
tho AID or It's opponents, the advocates +
OF the original paper being technically
put In the attitude II opposing tho very
thing for which they have fought.
In view of tho large attendance Of
citizens, the papers were taken up out
OF their order. the Council adAurnIng
Its regular monthly docket to Thurs
day night at o'clock. The ordinance
redistricting the city into four wards
was first taken UP and read at length. !
Fight on Amendment. fg
Mr.. Milla asked ruling OF the chhii
whether such a paper did not require
q two-thirds vote. since 1t entailed cer-3
tain expense FOR correction Of the poll
books. II
President Peters ruled that the ordi-
nance required only q majority vote, q