The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-04
Politicians Fight Desper-
ately to Defeat Gov
eminent Change.
CRISIS REACHED
IN CITY'S HISTORY
Only Adoption of Top-Heavy
Amendment or Intimidation
Can Prevent Adoption of Re-
port by Common Council.
Enough Votes Pledged
to Win.

The crisis in Richmond's nsht for
simpler and more efficient government
Will como tonight when the Common
Council votes on the FORWARD and
administrative board resolutions re-
commended by two Council commit
tees by an almost unanimous vote
only two events. Il is stated. can pre-
vent favorable action-the adoption OF
top-hcavy amendments. which will
bring the whole plan to the ground
with q crash, or the absence OF two
or more OF the twenty-five Counc1-
men now announced as favorable to
both papers. 1t is indicative OF the
desperate straits of the opposition
that more than one Councilman was
approached yesterday BY delegations
OF politicians and urged to absent him
self. The indications are, however.
That each of the forty members will
be In his seat.
VIII Make ~ First Business.
On account OF the widespread in
ternst taken and tho probable pres
cncc OF delegations OF citizens and
representatives OF many organizations
favorable to the new government plan,
an effort Will be made 10 change the
order OF busines5 to make the report
Of tho Ordinance, Charter and Reform
Committee on tho two papers the first
business of the evening. The Council
meets at s o'clock. following a Joint
session OF two branches 10 be held at
1880 o'clock to elect a district physi-
cian.
me hrst light will como on the ord
nance redistrictinE the. city into four
wards, which IL adopted. Will result
In cutting the Common Council from
forty to twenty, and the Board of
Aldermen from twcnty-four to twelve
the Joint Council from sixty-four 10
thlrty-two., II is the duty Of the City
Council after each census to redistrict
into wards of approximately equal
population. and the Council may de-
terminc for itself the number OF
wards. State law fixes the number
OF Councllmcn from each ward as fivc
and the number OF Aldermen as three
The Mills Substitute.
Councilman Morgan II. Mills, OF
1eHerson Ward. has prepared and will
offer as substitute a resolution pc
titioninG the General Assembly to
amend that law making the represen-
'ation from each ward not more than
three Councilmen and not more than
two Aldermen.
He argues that this will give more
general local representation. Accord
ing to members OF the special com
rnittee. there are two serious defects
In the Mills plan. which is characterize
cd as a bald effort to delay action I'M
I'll after the spring primary. when an
other Council OF sixty-four members
Will be selected for TWO years to come,
The amendment requires legislative
action, while the original paper does
not, After the Legislature has acted,
the Council must redistrict The city
into eight wards of approximately
equal population. or between 10000
and 1900 population each, making Il
still impossible for Washington Ward,
with 10000 people. to continue as a
separate unit
Tnkes Too Much Time.
When that is signed by the Mayor,
the Council must rearrange and adopt
precinct lines by ordinance, request
the judge OF the Hastings Court to
appoint commissioners to correct the
poll hooks, making 1t manifestIy i'm
possible to have the new plan in opera
zion by the date OF the April primary,
when the members OF the Council and
Mayor are to be selected.
Mr.. Meredith points out another fall
lacy In the Mills substitute So long
as the Council has the distribution of
all funds. all patronage and all con-
tracts, and SO long as street improve
ments arc ordered by a committee
madc up OF a delegation from each
ward. obviously each section or COM
nunity would desire to be n seuarat g
ward In order to have local represen-
tation in the Council and on the street
Committee. But tho new plan proposes
that all street improvements, patron
age, contracts and expenditures be in
the hands of the administrative board.
elected at large, so that the argument
Tor local representation in the Council
does not longer apply.
Mills Expects To Win Out
Mr.. Mills said last night that with
the pledges of support he had rcceiv-
ed, he believed his substitute would
be adopted, and he expressed hope that
II could be accomplished In time to
take effect ut the spring election.
The rcdistricting ordinance out of
the way. either with or without the
Mills substitute, the Council will
squarciy face tho Issue OF a chartcr
amendment creating an administrative
board. Here also the fight Is not in
the open. The opposition has not an
nounced itself as opposed to the prin-
clple fnvolved-in fact nearly every
councilman admits that the old COM
mittee method of conducting business
has worn itself out.
What sir. Blake Wants
But there arc those who do not like
this or that detail OF the plan pro-
posed. and who Will seek to amend
1t. Mr.. Blake favors an amendment
putting the naming of members Of tho
hoard In the hands of the Mayor, In
stead Of by popular vote While only
Q few of tho advocates OF tho plan