The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-13
%, = ss.p s.,,n. l., .. cay ), :.

sections Of II he endcayored TO show
that the city bound under contract TO
let Warrington ward remain intact
Tor at least five years under the an
nexattou ordinance. mir. :'atram WAS
accorded earnest attention. but his
argument evidently failed TO carry any
weight. At least. the vote pointed
that way.
in opposition to Mr. Patram Mr..
i. w Moore, OF washington ward.
large OF figure and very rotund. stood
pat. Despite what some OF his con-
stitutents might think on the subject.
he WAS prepared To cast his ballot In
favor of the new board plan, because
he believed IL would be the best thing
that ever happened to Richmond city.
Mr.. Moore spoke right from the
shoulder and clearly meant every
word he uttered.
Having been adopted by the Alder
men, In concurrence with the Com.
mon Council, the FORWARD plan viii
become a law as soon as it ID approx
ed by Mayor Richardson--that Is as
sunn,nx that that official will approve
ii. His friends believe that he Will.
The four-ward plan Will cut the Com
mon Council representative down to
twenty members and the Board
OF Aldermen TO twelve.
The path of the board plan Will NOT
be so short. II adopted by the Com
mon Council. in concurrence with the
upper branch. il must then 80 the
Legislature for the proper charter
amendment before IL can become et-
fcctive.
Fight In Legislature.
Mr. Gilbert X. Pollock. member OF
the Common Council from Madison
Ward and chairman of the special
committee which compiled tho twin
measures for simplifed government.
predicted yesterday afternoon that IL
the City Council insisted on placing
the Police, Fire and Health depart
ments under control OF the ADMIN
is,rative board. the Legislature would
refuse to ra,ify the proposition as a
whole.
Thus. 1t appears, that the prope-
sition TO abolish these three city de-
partments is of far more significance
than some persons are disposed To
believe. And there is talk going the
rounds that certain interests In the
city of Richmond will fight to the
last ditch for retention of the Police
Rcard. even IL the other two depart
ments are wiped out of existence In
other words, it would appear that the
moral issue liz being injected into the
situation,
When the Aldermen took up the
board plan Mr.. Don Leavy sprung
decided surprise by introducing the
amendment himself. giving assurance
at the same time that If the origf-
nal ordinance were sent back to the
Common Council, minus the Hirsch-
berg pre- position TO abolish the Po-
lice, Fire and Health boards, ii would
60 through in walk.
This assurance prompted MIR. Ora
ham h. Hobson. OF Henry Ward. to
remark that the Don Leavy amend
mont would kill the ordinance as dead
as a door nail aid Mr.. Don I,eavy
knew 1t.
Difference OF Opinion.
1T was just a few hours ago
sleman from Clay Ward assured me
that he was going to stand for the
ordinance as 1t came from the Com
mon Council. He would do nothing
TO jeopardize 1t. Therefore il is need
less for me TO express my surprise
when I see him posing as patrcn OF
the amendment.
Mr. Hobson's speech was almost
as fiery as the crimson four-in- hand
which adorned his shirt bosom.
Mr.. Don Leavy admitted that Mr.,
Hobson was quoting him correctly.
but he wanted to explain that his
changed attitude was due to poll
he had taken Of the body. That pcli.
he said. taken after talking with Mr.
Hobson, showed conclusiveiy that
nothing but his amendment could
save the ordinance. TX the Hirsch-
berg substitute was submitted TO O
vote, the measure would be killed out
right, he insisted.
Then up rose Mr.. Gunst, who pro-
ceeded to summarize the entire situa-
L. Il
promised some of his friends that he
would speak briefly and to the point.
Especially was he cautioned to men
ton the fact that the Ordinance Com
mittee adopted the administrative
board measure by almost unani-
nous vote. And that was perhaps
the only point which Mr.. Gunst fail
ed TO touch upon. He spoke as sub
chairman of the Ordinance Commit
tee, Mr.. Umlauf. the chairman, being
member of the lower branch OF
Council. Mr.. Gunst also spoke in his
capacity as Alderman from Lee Ward
at other stages OF the proceedings.
Above all. Mr.. Gunst wanted the Pc =
lice, Fire and Health boards left
alone. He did not Want to overload
the new board with work. 1t would
have its hands full in handling the
other city departments.
When Mr.. Gunst had subsided Mr..
Bennett, from Lee Ward, put in few
words on behalf of the Hirschberg
substitute.
Let's pass the measure as it stands
he urged.
Colonel Grundy Says easy
Colonel Barton Ii. Grundy. of Henry
ward, followed Mr.. Bennett. He ridi-
Suled the idea that a board of five
commissioners could not easily han
die all the city departments. He
knew of some instances In private
business In which one man handles
and directs enterprises that are big
ger In scope than that of the city OF
Richmond.
To the surprise of some Of those
present. Mr.. Il. q. Ranuolds, OF Mon
roe ward. who served as member
Of the special drafting committee,
spoke against the Hirschberg substi-
tute. lie believed that the original
measure would go safely through the
lower branch on the second trip.
Samuel p. Cowardin. OF Marshall
ward. settled all doubts az to where
he stood by announcing. without
snincug words. that he stood for the
IIirschberE substitute. The pool TAX
proposition.
Here Mr.. John J. Mitchell took the
floor. He was surprised at the ac-
ton Of his old-time friend and chum.
Don Leayy. whom he had previously
found true to the bone. Don Leavy,
was the last man he expected to do