The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-20
COLOhED PEOPLE
GOING TO COURT
Announce That They Will Ask
for Judicial Opinion as to Its
Legality, Step Which Mayor
Says Is Eminently Proper.
What Measure Pro
vides.


ordinance. was approved by Mayor
Richardson yesterday afternoon short
~ after 5 O'Clock. when he affixed his
signature to the ordinance. which
takes effect from its passage The act
aims to prohibit any colorcd family
hereafter from moving into a block
the majority of the residents Of which
are white. and any white family from
moving into a block the ma jority of
the residents of which arc coiored.
The Mayors action followed nearly
two hours Of argument for and against
the measure. In fact ever since it
was concurred in by the Board of
Aldermen the Mayors Office has been
besieged By those favoring or oppos-
ing it,
After hearing from all parties at
length, Mayor Richardson made a
public statement to those assembled,
pointing out that there were but two
main points involved The hrst was
as TO the validity of the ordnance
On that score, he said. the charter
provided that the city Attorney SHAH
be the legal adviser OF the Mayor. and
while the plan was new legislation not
yet passed upon by the courts the
City Attorney had advised that in his
judgment the ordinance was valid, and
would stand the test OF court proce-
dure.
Serves Greatest Good. M
The second point was whether It's
adoption was for the best interests OF
the community as a whoie-or. as tho
charter has It. would promote the vol.
fare OF the city
The Mayor admitted that in the ar
sunent advanced it had been shown
mat the ordinance might in some
cases work an actual hardship-in
iac,' very few new laws are adopted
mat do not work hardship on some
onc-yet the cQncensus of opinion
seemed TO be that the measure would
work TO the greatest good TO the
greatest number. and would promote
the general welfare OF tho city at
large, and therefore he would sign It
Attorney Harvey L. Wilson pre-
scented fountain pen. and in the pres
ence OF its patron. Councilman A. T.,
Nondcrlehr, OF Henry Ward. the
Mayors signature was affixed. and The
measure Became the law of the civ
several colored citizens present in
dlcated their purpose OF a once rafs-
Ing fund for the purpose of testing
the validity of the law. a step which
both the Mayor and the patron said
they would welcome, as IL was essen
tial TO it's enforcement that 1t be de-
termined at once whether such a
measure would stand the test OF the
courts The Mayor. addressing himself
10 The colored men who had appea red
III opposition, said he could assure
them OF the justice and fairness OF the
CITY Council to amend the law If In
any particular 1t was shown that some
hardship could be removed the meas
ure as drawn being experimental at
best.
Asks Aid OF All.
Mr.. Vonderlehr said that lie expected
TO be made chairman OF special com
mittee recently authorized. appointed
to study methods of promoting the
domiciliary segregation of the races,
and he invited the assistance OF col
ored and white citizens in working out
the problems.
number OF wel1-known leaders Of
the colored race were present at tho
final hearing before the Mayor, their
arguments being along the line hereto
fore advanced before the Council Com
mtttee on Ordinance Charter and Re-
FORM the principal ones being that
the measure would increase the CON
gestlon or the negro quarter. tend TO
unhealthy conditions, and stop the in
centive 10 better living among the
better element of the race. Several
Clay Street property owners and 9th
crs were heard in favor of the ordi-
nance on the importarc of separation
of the races for the preservation OF
peace and maintenance OF property
values. instances being quoted to show
| that there had been great depreciation
in values OH blocks into which one
or more negro families had moved.
Text of Ordinance.
The complete text of the ordinance
follows:
An ordinance: TO secure for white
| and colored people. respectively. the
separate location of residences for
each race. Z
Be It ordained by the Council Of the
city of Richmond
!: That 1t shall be unlawful for any
white person to occupy a. a residence
or to establish and maintain as Mace
Of public assembly, any house upon
any street or alley between two ada
cent streets on which greater nun
her of houses are occupied as resi-
dences by colored people than are oc-
cupied as residences by white people.
@ That II shall be unlawful FOR any
colored person to occupy as a resi-
dence, or TO establish and maintain as
a place of public assembly, any house
upon any street or alley between two
| adjacent streets on which n creator
number Of houses are occupied as resi-
dences by white people than are occu-
| pied as residences by colored people, I
8. That no person shall construct or
locate OH any block or square on which
| there Is at that time no residence, any
house or other building intended to be
used as residence, without declaring
in hin application for a permit to build,
whether the house or building so to he
! constructed is designed to he occl,picl
| by white or colored people. and the
Building Inspector of the city of Rich
mi t.,