The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-15
LAW
SIGNED BY MAYOR
Fight Against Greater Richmond
Measure Shifted Now to Hen
rico County Court.
END OF NINE MONTHS WORK
New City Lines May Be Effective
in Spring Unless Case Goes
to Supreme Court.

| Mayor Ainslie yesterday afnxed his
signature to the annexation ordinance.
giving the character of law to n meas
ure which 1t is believed, Will DO sup
ported by tho courts with only slight
alteration. lilo began the reading OF
the act shortly after tho noon hour and
sent it TO City Clerk August with his
approval !atc in the afternoon. The
Mayor signed tho completed law eN-
actly nine months and nine days after
he signed the joint Council resolution
creating tho Special Annexation Com
mittec.
From now until the measure Is Anal
~ passed upon by the courts, the an
neNation Issue will be between tho City
Attorney and the individual md col
icctive protestants against the ordi-
nnnce. Tho fight is automatically
shifted from the City Hall to the Hen
rico County Courthouse, where the
coming litigation will he staged I'm
less the opposition Is more widespread
than Is to-day anticipated. annexation
may DO counted upon to 20 Into effect
some time next spring. Appeals 10 tho
Supreme Court Of Virginia would de-
lay the matter further
General Provisions of Act.
The annexation act approved by the
General Assembly on March TO- 1901
lays down the general provisions which
must govern the acquisition Of new
territory by towns or cities. 1t was
drawn by Colonel George Wayne An
dcrson, now Assistant City Attorney
who was at that time a member OF
the State Senate. While general IN
it's application. II was inspired by the
impending Richmond annexation OF
1906
An important section OF the general
annexation law lays down the pro
vision that the tax rate upon land
annexed shall not be Increased for "a
period Of 1--WE years after annexation.
except upon petition of majority of
the freeholders of such territory to
tho City Council The law provides
Furthermore that all revenues derived
from the annexed territory during the
hvcyca period either fom taxes on
property or other sources, shall he
wholly expended upon street. sewer
light. water and other improvements
in that territory.
Alternative Plan.
An alternative plan OF taxation to tho
one just outlined is provided by the
law. At any time within the 1--WE year
period the CITY Council may, By
dinance, set apart sum equal to IL per
cent OF the assessed value. at the time
OF annexation. of the lands annexed,
TO DO expended wholly in improvements
y
sum has been thus set apart and the
public improvements under IL begun.
the annexed land. IL is provided, shall
he subject 10 the city tax rate. and
the proceeds shall be paid into the
city treasury for general purposes.
In addition to the general provisions
provided by the Legislative act. the
Judge who Will preside over the an
neNation hearings VIII have tho power
10 make Il part OF the ordinance spe-
ciai provisions for improvements and
benefits To all or particular portions
OF the new territory.
Signs Cienn-Up Law.
The Mayor signed yesterday also tho
cleanup ordinance. which makes inn
portant changes III the provisions tor
the disposal of garbage II is pro-
vidcd. among other things. that house
holders must provide their premises
with separate rcceptacles for the stor-
age OF combustible and noncombusti-
BILE refuse. one OF tho receptacles is
required 10 be OF metal.
The Street Cleaning Department is
required to carry all combustible re-
fuse 10 the crcmatories, and is prohi-
bited from depositlng any OF IL on
the public dumps. Throwing refuse
OF any kind on the public streets or
vacant lots IL interdcted. and a fine
is provided for violations of any of
the provisions collectible before the
Police Justice. The law goes into eff
feet on February l. 1914.