The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10
M ajority for Fewer
Wards and Admins
trative Board.
POLL INCLUDES
ALL SAVE FOUR
Eleven Members, or Two Short
Of Majority, Are for Commit
tee Plan and Four Prefer
Substitutes o me Will
Yield Preference to
Save Point.

It has hoen ascert tanned that a clear
majority of the members of the Board
of Aldermen is In favor both Of the
plan of rcdistricting the city into four
wards and OF the creation OF an ad-
ministrative board for the transaction
of It's business affairs
A careful poll taken b. The Times
Dispatch OF the twenty-four members
of the Board of Aldermen shows thr-
teen advocates OF the plan OF redis-
tricting into four wards. six opponents
OF that plan. and hvc from whom no
expression OF opinion was secured.
Fifteen for Administrative Board
Eleven members OF the Board OF AL
dermcn express themselves as favor
able to an administrative board, an
proposed By the special committee. not
having supervision OF the Fire. Police
and Health Departments: four MEM
bers prefer the HirEchberg substitute
as adopted by the Common Council.
making fifteen Aldermen in favor OF
an administrative board. Only three
have announced themselves as OPP
posed to the creation OF board, Others
stating that they are reserving judg-
'nent on this Issue.
1t would seem that II the advoca tcs
of the administrative board can agree
on ono or tho other plan, arclating to
Inc extent of the powers TO he given to
the board at tha outset. a victory for
Its proponents Is within grasp.
The Times Dispatch last Thursday
wrote TO each Of the twenty-four mem
hers OF the Board OF Aldermen. an
nouncing It's desire to publish an au-
'hentic poll Indicating the actual posi-
lion OF the members, NOT based on
hcarsay.
Replies TO this request for an ex-
pression follow:
Poll on Four-Snrd PInn.
For the FORWARD plan OF redistrict-
Ing the city:
William II. Adams OF Jefferson Ward
a w. Bennett. of Lee Ward
Frank l. Butler. OF Jefferson Ward
John T. Don Leavy. OF Clay Ward
w. j. Gilman. of Lee Ward
Barton II. Grundy. of Henry Ward
Marx Gunst OF Lee Ward.
Graham 3. Hobson Of Henry Ward
Joseph NJ. Kain. OF Henry Ward.
John J. Mitchell. OF Clay Ward
James a Moncu.c. OF Monroe Ward.
John w. Moore. Of Washington Ward.
r. @. Rennolds. of Monroe Ward.
Opposed to the four ward plan OF re-
distributing:
Harvey E. Atkinson OF Madison
Ward.
John B. Blley. OF Monroe " ard.
p. H. Donahoe, OF Madison Ward.
John r. Grimes. OF Marshall Ward.
r. l. Patram. of Washington Ward
j. r. Perdue. OF Washing ION Ward.
Poll on Administrative Bonrd.
For the committee plan Of an admin
istrative board.
A w. Bennett. of Lee Ward
John B. Bliley, of Monroe Ward.
frank l. Butler, of Jefferson Ward
John T. Don Leavy, Of Clay Ward.
w. ]. Gilman. of Leo Ward
Marx Gunst OF Lee Ward.
Joseph NJ. Kahn, OF Henry Ward.
James a. Moncure, Of Monroe Ward
John w. Moore, of Washington Ward
j. r Perdue. of Washington Ward.
Robert G. Rennolds. of Monroe Ward.
For the Hirschb .rg plan OF admins
trative board. as adopted by the Coun-
Gil. including Fire. Police and Health
Departments:
Barton IL Grundy, of Henry Ward.
Graham u. liobson, OF Henry Ward.
John j. Mitchell. of Clay Ward
II. L. Patram. of Washington Ward
Against an administrative board:
William II. Adams OF Jefferson Ward
John r. Grimes. OF Marshall Ward.
r. II. Donahoe, of Madison Ward.
Twenty Aldermen Respond.
replies to the request of The Times
Dispatch were received from twenty
Of the twenty-four members of the
Board of Aldermen. No answers were
received from President Robert Whit
let. OF Clay Ward; II. w. Melton. of
jefferson; a. c. Nielsen OF Marshall
and Joseph Z. Powers, OF Madison.
Messrs. Whittet and Powers were stat
ed last night to be out of the city un-
III Monday, and Messrs. Melton and
Nielsen could not be located In tho
committee on Ordinance, Charter and
Heform. Mr.. Nielsen voted for the four
+ ward plan, and against the admInistro
tive board Messrs. Melton and Pow
crs are generally credited as beine.
opposed to the four-ward plan. their
position as to the administrative hoard
not having been as yet clearly ont
lined. President Robert Whittct has
reserved his opinion on the pending
matter entirely. merely stating that
all former assertions that he was for
one side or. the other were without
authority.
Alderman Cowardin. writes that he
is reserving judgment and consulting
the wishes of his constituents. AR.
Grimes would favor submission of the
administrative board plan to the people.
and a number of those who declare
themselves for the committee plan of
administrative board indicate that as
their first choice and will take the
liirschbers substitute rather than see
the night for changed government lost
Clcnr Majority for Redistricting.
AS the situation stands therefore,
there Is clear majority Of all tho
members elected to the Board of AL
dermen In favor OF the plan OF redis-
trtctins the city into four. wards. as
recommended by the special committee
and as heretofore adopted by the COM
mon Council. Concurrence by tho
7 Board of Aldermen and the signature
OF the Mayor Will make that ordinance
the law OF the city. without further