The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-03
Victory Almost Within
Sight for New Gov
eminent Plan.
CERTAIN OTHERS
WILL FALL IN LINE
Nineteen Councilnen and Eleven
Aldermen Pledged to Support
Special r eport-L over
Branch Will Act To-Mor-
row Night-Business
Men Aroused.

Two votes in each branch OF the
City Council are needed 10 secure the
adoption OF tho plan for simplifying
tho city government
At the close Of an active canvass
last night nineteen Councilman and
eleven Aldermen wero pledged to vote
for both the redistricting plan and tho
creation OF an administrative board
and of the remainder there were many
not yet pledged to either side. Tho
canVassers did not count In this enum-
Grafton some who propose to vote for
the administrative board. but oppose
the plan of redistricting presented. or
some others who favor reduction Of
the size OF the Council along the lines
suggested. but who oppose the admin
istrative bonrd feature
Among those may be mentioned Al
darman Perdue. of Washington Ward
who vas In the star list printed yes
terday. Mr.. Pcrdue explains that he Is
an advocate of the administrative
board. but in Difference to tho views
of his constituents. viii favor redis-
trictinB along some other than the
plan proposed. preferably by so in
creasing tho number OF wards as 10
permit of Washington Ward being
continued as q separate unit. He fav-
ore, however the reduction Of the
number OF Councimon by reducing
the number from each ward
Where the Fight VIII Come.
Right there the fight Will come to-
morrow night when the two papers
come up for fnal action In the Com
mon Council. Councilman Morgan r.
Mills. OF Jefferson Ward. has prepared
substitute plan for rcdistricting Into
eight wards, with proposal for
charter change providing for three
Councllmen and two Aldermen from
each ward. While there are "A num-
Der OF Councllmen who would be Will
In TO favor such plan as n matter
OF practical politics, 1t Is regarded by
many as impractlcablc OF accomplish
ment. The four-ward redistrictinE
plan can be adopted by the Council
without further ado. and put into CT
feet at once. To reduce the number OF
representatives from each ward re-
qGircs Legislative action, meaning a
delay OF several month"; Then there
must be redistricting ordinance d.
Niding tho city into wards OF approxi-
matcly equal population. Then the
precinct lines must be rearranged, the
iiustings Court pctltioncd to appoint
commissioners to correct the poll
books. and the list of voters rcarranE-
ed. II is conceded that IL IS a matter
OF practical impossibility 70 do all this
before the spring primary, which will
come early In April, so that reds.
tricting on any other than the four
ward plan means the election of an
other Council OF sixty-four members
for the coming two years.
Amendments Arc Dangerous
It is significant OF the whole dis
cussion that there had not been one
word said at any time against the
principles involved Every member
OF the Council who has made any pub
lie statement OF his position favors
a reduction OF membership, though the
faction following Mr.. Mills disagree as
to how It should be accomplished
Similarly every man who has an
nouncod himself favors an admins
trative board. though a minority would
have the members appointed Instead OF
elected and Mr.. Umlauf will renew
his amendment to place under this
board. tho Police. Fire and Health Dc
pnrtments While some advocates of
tho plan do not specially object to this
feature. It is regarded as dangerous in
view of the critical situation to inject
any new features at this stage. since
any amendment might serve TO release
those who have promised to vote for
the plan as 1t comes from the COM
mitte Members of the special COM
fered after months 'of critical study he
voted on as n whole. 1t is offered 20
be taken as plan of government or
rejected, ms the Council may decide.
but not to be patched or amended or
doctored to suit the Views of individual
CouL '.lmen.
How They Now stand.
Those who are now claimed as POSI-
lively pledged to support the renort
as II comes from the committee arc:
Aldermcn-A. w. Bennctt, w. j. GIL
man, Marx Gunst, James 4. 3Ioncurc.
Robert G. Rennolds, Samuel T.. Ca
whrdin, John r. Don Lcnvy, John w.
Moore, Bnrton II. Grundy, Grimm, u.
fIo- IN, Joseph VI. Kahn.
C0uncilmcn--W. ID. Butler, r.. u. Ecr-
Euson, II. II. Pollard. Jr., Clyde VI.
RntcliRe, John Iirschbcrg, John !,
Lynch, Barnes Dowmpn, Gilbert II.
Pollock, George Med. Blake, w. III.
Boschen, Clifton NJ. Miller, f. NJ. Rcndc.
George II. Lumsdcn. George w. Rogers,
W. Fred Richardson, James II. Pinner.
Fred Fl. Powell. q. l.. Vonderiehr ANA
Robert Lee Peters.
Many Not Committed.
Quite a number have not committed
themselves to either side. THE organ
fzation representative of tn, Cham
Der Commerce, the Business Mems
Club. and the special committee, Will
redouoie us eHortS Tomorrow TO reach
every Councilman. many active bus
mess men having pledge themselves to
give lie entire day from their business
to interview their representatives. and
tirge the Importance of passing the
ordinance by large vote, and without
hurtful and dangerous amendments.
The real fight still lies In the Board
of Aldermen, but with eleven men fully
pledged, one of the thirteen claimed
J.-1, Al.
and several others frankly neutral.