The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-12
ALDERMEN READY
FOR FINAL VOTE
Fight for Simplifed Government
Ends in Upper Branch
Tonight.
FOUR WARD PLAN is SAFE
Almost Certain that Adn,inistra-
tive Board Will Be
Approved.
FOUR WARD PLAN is SAFE

President Robert whittet. of the
BOARD of Aldermen. announced yester-
day that in conformity with the opin-
Ion OF the City Attorney and the rul-
Ing of President Peters In the lower
anoe K for sedistrlcting tho city into
four wards and the resolution request.
Ing charter changes to provide for an
administrative board, require only a
majority vote for concurrence.
The Board of Aldermen meets to-
nisSt RI O'Clock, and Tie, two papers
Win pc the irst busnsas 70 come up
IN the Council II was necessary 10 sus-
pend thes rules TO talsa themSyp out OF
sne'I. 'oFdGS but the rules Of the Bourd
VI AlHdermeiN make business from the
o'hertS branchN tho first order or a
iargs number M ordinances and 1880
iutiohs coming over from the common
c ,,S Tor concurrence. the mrs: on
,.,,l AusN ls dee&et IS the ordinance
redistricttns the citS;into four warns
ana prescribing ths,rf boundarie.
inere seems to be no oSubt tut tha.
ms Will be concurrcd IN SIthout Id.
pate and by large major! ~. Those
VINO have already aun6uucea Mar ,l,nv
would vote for 1t are Aliesmca SAdnms
Bennett, Butler, Don Leayy, Gilman
Grnndy. Guns:. Hobson. Kahn. Mil
cecil. Moncure. Moore ana Rcnnolds NJ
clear majority. Several o.h,vsi + WIN
have not announced their postsian ;.te''
also said t. be favorable u The four.
ward plan.
Administrative Board !i
with thst ";tt q the wa. thc$naSs
pape: 10 c'L1s On the doci:rt rt..In ttlEs
Council for =, 7currer:. is th. j.int
resolution requesting ccrtai1 charter
chanEes for the creation or an admin
istrasive heard. b
The Common Council adopted a SUBJ
stitute for the original paper. similar.
In every respect. save that 4, Includes
as departments to be under supervis-
ION or the Administrative Board, the
Fire. Police and Health Departments.
now managed by scperatc volunteer
boards The committee plna had been
TO place under the administrative
Board only such departments OF the
city government as were being man
aged By Council committees
Fifteen members of the Board Of
Aldermen have indicated their an
prevail OF the idea OF creating an Ad-
ministrative Board. Eleven prefer
the original plan. and four the Coun-
ell substitute. The Common Council
adopted the measure 2. TO -. and
some doubt is expressed whether that
vote could be secured again were the
matter to go back there for cononr-
renee in any amendments. 4 number
OF Aldermen and many business men
have therefore expressed the view
that 1t would be lest TO end the whole
matter tonight concurrence In the
paper Just az 1t comes from the Coun-
Gil. Those who have announced them
selves as favorable to the creation OF
an Administrative Board are Messrs
Bennett, iBliley, Butler. Don Leavy,
Gilman. Gunst. Kahn. Mcncure, Moore,
Perdue. Rennolds, Grundy. Hobson,
Mitchell and Patram
Says Success Is Certain.
Councilman Gilbert =. Pollock.
chairman of the special committee
which prepared chnew plan OF city
government, said last night that he
believed the movement had now ac-
auired such impetus that 1t could not
be stopped by any last desperate eff
forts the opposition might make. The
ruling Of President Whittet. SIR Pol
lock regards as having put an end to
the last ..ope of those who wish to
continue parcclling out street funds
along the old ward grab system that
has for SO long made for waste and
inefticiency in the city government
The whole matter is practically de-
termncd," said Mr.. Pollock The
Board Will concur in the four-ward
plan OF redistrcting by safe ma
iority. A majority OF the Board fav-
ors creation of an Administrative
Board. some with and some without
the Police and Fire departments. If
the votes OF sufficient number of
Councilmen can be plcuScd 10 secure
currenec In amendments striking those
departments out, the Board will so
it to go to a special meeting of the
Council in teh next day or two
IF not absolutely certain Of con-
current vote in the lower branch. the
Board, l am confident, will concur in
the resolution Tonight Just as 1T
stands"
business Men Active.
The Retail Merchants Association.
the Business Mems Club and the Cham
Der of Commerce, each of which has
taken an active part In supporting the
plan of redistrictinS into four wards
, and the creation of an administrative
board have issued q last call to their
members urging them to come TO the
City Hall tonight to lend the weight
of their presence and approval to the
plan for simplihcd government
Mills llns Few Followers.
| But one member of the Board has
! shcwn himself favnrablv impressed by
submit the whole issue to vote Of
| the people. Practical difficulties in the
way have also effcctually answered
some people who presa.rn.l relistr:ct-
ling on the basis Of eight wur]s, even
! though the representation were re-