The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-06
ANNEXATION PLAN
MAY GO OVER TO
LATER MEETING
Leaders Fear Vote With
Grundy and Per-
due Away.
ORDINANCE SURE
OF NINE VOTES
Mitchell Denies Report That He
Will Vote Against Measure.
Paul Will Vote as Clay
Ward Wants Him to,
but Won't Say
How.


pledged to support the annexation plan.
the ordinance nevertheless stands an
even chance OF being laid on tho table
tonight for action next Tuesday night.
or at later special meeting. The
hitch occurs because OF the illness OF
Alderman Perduc and the absence
from the city OF Alderman Grundy-
both staunch members of the proan-
nexation group.
Mr.. Grundy 1t appears left the city
in the assurance that tho passage OF
the measure at the special meeting to-
night was 4 foregone conclusion. An
ncxation leaders, however. have sub
Jccted tho roll call 10 the acid test,
and find that with Perdue i'll ana
Grundy absent. the ordinance is abso-
lutcly certain OF only seven, votes
one vote less than IS needed 70 carry
IT. 1t is generally admitted that when
brought 10 r show down. one or two of
the doubtful ones viii vote with the
majority, but no chances VIII be
taken.
Pnssnge Is Assured.
The annexation ordinance is certain
10 be passed ~ the Board" said AL
dcrman Power last night. but when
IL Will pass IL another thing We c1-
pectcd TO pass II tomorrow night, and
we may yet do It, but Mr.. Grundy's
enforced absence from the city and
Air. Pcrdue's illness cuts down our ma
tor!ty To the point where IL seems in
advisable TO take any chances. II is
probable. however. that some OF those
who are undecided VIII agree TO sup
nort us. In that case. the ordinance
VIII DaSg tp-rDrrou. ,pfft,on,
trouble
Il am confident that the Board OF
Aldermen viii not kill 4 measure that
represents seven months Of work bv n
special committee. which has the sup
port OF practically every commercial
organization in the city, and which has
heen unanimously passed by the lower
branch. Such proceeding is alto
gether unlikely.
Il believe that even those members
whose views against the ordinance have
beeh most pronounced would vote for
y rather than permit the whole meas
urc to be killed. II must be as clear
10 them as IL is 10 us that the ordi-
nance is. after all. only tentative
plan, TO be reviewed b. the courts"
Many Rnmors Anont
The peoples house, at Eighth and
broad. was torn last night by conflict
Ing rumors An early report had il
that Alderman Mitchell always re-
Eardcd rs safely for annexation, had
undergone change Of spirit and
might vote against the measure. Mr.
Mitchell denied the report IN a state
inent To The Times Dispatch last night
There arc certain features about
the ordinance that l don't favor. and
ihefo are amendments perhaps that
should like TO see Incorporated" said
Air Mitchell. but mall vote for the
annexation ordinance. There is no
truth in the report that | shall vote
against II. because viii not
Alderman Paul. who was all along
regarded as doubtful. was last night
reported as having said publicly that
he VIII vote against the measure Mr.
Paul declined last night either 10 al
firm or deny the runor.
Vote ns Ward Wants Him TO.
VIII make my position clear when
the Hoard meets Tomorrow night"
said Mr.. Paul. Il Will be there. and
Is certain, / VIII vote the way Clay
Ward wants Inc TO vote"
How do you know what Clay Ward
wants you 10 do?" he was asked.
Il have asked ut least 100 residents
OF the ward to-day for their opinions
and they told me how they stand" Mr.
Iaul replied. He declined to say what
he deduced from the expressions he
had received
Aldermen Fuller and Mitchell, who
are the other two members from CLAY
Ward. are both comhnitted TO vote for
the ordinance.
sure of Nine Votes.
While the absence Of Alderman
Grnndy may prevent the annexation
group from mastering the eight votes
necessary for passage Tonight, the Or
dinancc is assured of nine votes and
VIII pass anyway. either at the regular
meeting of the Board next Tuesday
night or at special meeting to be
called later. Ultimate passage appears
10 be only matter OF days.
The annexation camp claims Alder
men Powers. Blilcy. Disney. Gilman,
Grundy, Gunst, Puller, Perdue and Nit
chell. These. it is agreed. will stand
by the measure to the end. The doubt
ful members are President Adams. and
Aldermen Melton. Nelson and Grimes,
all OF Jefferson Ward, and Alderman
Paul. Of Clay Ward. None OF these.
as far rs can be learned, has at any
iime expressly stated that he would
vote against the ordinance
May Go On Table.
The special meeting will he called
TO order at o'clock tonight by Presi-
dent Adams. The ordinance will be
taken up and, it is expected will bring
out considerable debate. Unless tho
patrons of the measure are assured OF
enough votes to carry 1T, the ordinance
viii not be permitted to be put on It's
passage. In that event it will be
tabled for action Mt II later meeting.
Alderman Grundy will return TO the
city in time to attend tho regular
Board meeting Tuesday night II no
special meeting is set the measure will
then come up in tho regular order OF
business. and will be able to muster
Mt least the eight votes needed for
passage.