The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-28
fight MONTAGUE
BECAUSE OF BILL
Feature of Legislative Contest
Over Nonrcsidents Holding
City Offices,
UP IN LAST LEGISLATURE
City Employc Vote Excited.
Hobson and Myers Make
Gains in Campaign.

1t begins TO look as though the prin-
cipal issue before the voters Of Rich
nond in the June primary. as far as
members of the House of Delegates
are concerned. will be approval or dis
approval OF the principle that no one
save voter in Richmond can hold
city office. The fight to date has cen
tired about Hill Montague. whose 20
sition on this question in the last Leg
islature was the subject Of much COM
ment at the time
Early in the session Mr.. Montague
introduced a bill having for its pur-
pose an. amendment to the law re
puiring officers TO be residents of their
city or county for one year next pre-
cedinE his election or appointment.
The change proposed by him was that
in cities of more than 10000 inhabi-
tants. and iii towns. officers need have
resided therein only thirty days prior
to their election or appointment
The measure was the outcome OF
discussions in Richmond. arising from
time TO time over whether not non
residents should be selected for city
Offices. In some instances. il was
pointed out, where the services Of a
technical man might be required, il
, could conceivably he the case that no
suitable person would be available. and
so 1t might become desirable TO go out
side for man. iSut the law would
forbid.
Measure IL Fought.
Mr. Montague got his bill through
the committee and through the House.
hut somebody ragged il in the Senate.
II was then denounced 10y many people.
tt..,,1 ,,l, III,
city Hall and other city employees. who.
naturally. did not wish 10 ADM! out
sders To the possibility OF taking thor
jobs. Further, 1t was pointed out that
MIR. Montagues brother-in-law, Charles
n Winston. then a resident OF Hen
rico County. was or had been a can
didate for Superintendent of the Elec-
trio Plant, and the opponents OF the
bill were not slow to impute "A per-
sonal motive TO Mr. Montagues official
action.
y hasty meeting OF the city Council
was held. and a majority voted to in
struct the Richmond delegation in the
General Assembly to vote against the
hill. and this. Of course. Killed it, since
II was a local measure. as Richmond is
The only city in Virginia having more
than 10000 people. according 10 the
last Federal census
Tried second rimc.
Not long afterwards, another bill
made its appearance. bearing the name
, of William Watts. of Roanoke, as pa
tron and so worded as TO cover cities
down to the size OF his own 1T was
stated on the floor that City Attorney
Henry r. Pollard, Of Richmond, drew
both the Montague and Watts bills
believing them right in principle and
taking the ground that city. like a
business corporation. should have the
right to hire its employees wherever IL
+. could do so TO the best advantage
The second hill did not &c, as far
as the iirst hut WAS caught anu cleo
trocuted by James j. Dreamer. in the
House.
Now. the city employe vote is npbt.
ing Mr. Montague and il has been said
that he will lose practically all of it
Discussing the matter, he shows q de
sire 10 NEE, the issue and to stand his
ground on the basis OF his belief that
me Bill was right Not improbably
this may be made the feature of the
campaign, which will begin May Is.
Fight Warming II.
All the candidates for the I.erisla-
ture are busy Friends OF Graham T.
Hobson prcdict that he viii lead the
ticket, or. at least that he viii run
second only 10 Edwin T.. Cox Captaiu
William NJ. Myers is making a vers,
strong run, his supporters feeling that
ne is absolutely assured of nomina-
ton. II is ar open question regard
inE the othcr positions.
The light between John l.. Sattcr-
held and Wilbur j. GriGss is puzzlinc
10 the onlooker, because OF the implicit
confidence the friends of both nave in
iheir success Not q few people be
heNe the vote VIII be very close The
same statement applies to the contest
Tor City Sheriff between j. Herbert
Mercer and stephen Johnson Things
are also warming up IA the threc-cor-
hered light for Comm ssioner of Rev
enne between Henry T.. Trcsnon. Fred
crick Peasants ana r Peer iiowle