The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-13
AUGUST is AT WORK
ON ANNEXATION ACT
City Clerk Begins L.aborious Task
of Preparing Ordinance
for Mayor.
CITY ATTORNEY IS READY
Prepared to Prosecute City's
Case Before Court That Will
Pass on Plan.

| City Clerk Ben II. August began yes
! terday the laborious task OF enrolling
! the annexation ordinance which COM
prises many closely typed pages. He
| expects to send IL to tho Mayor by the
| end of this week with tho signatures
OF the presidents OF the Common Coun
Gil and Board OF Aldermen, and will
probably get 1t back with the Mayors
approval Saturday or Monday.
With the measure as good as law, as
far ms the city is concerned. popular
interest veered yesterday in the direc-
ton OF tho Henrico County Courthouse,
which will stage the final annexation
contest. Much loose information WAS
atoat touching the rights of the county
and individuals In the coming suit, and
most OF the citizens who discussed the
measure were In doubt ms 10 the next
step that Will be taken by the city to
secure It's iinal approval.
Up TO City Attorney.
From the signing Of ,he ordnance by
the Mayor until its approval or rejec-
ton by the courts tho annexltiou con-
test will b, carried on by the office OF
the City Attorney. Both city Attorney
Bollard and Assistant city Attorney
Anderson are Intimately familiar with
the 'lata, claims and counterclainis that
the ten-moath agitation OF the prob
lem mas produced. and are practically
10 appear III court
Within day or two after the Mayor
signs the ordinance, the Clty Attorney
Will notify the Commonwealth attor-
neys and the boards of supervisors of
Henrico And Chesterfield Counties That
he VIII, on given day, not less than
thirty days there;. fter. move The Circuit
Court OF the county, wherein tho
greater part OF the new territory lies
in the present mtsancu, Henrico
nv, al,
designated TO hear the case. 10 make
an order authorizing and declaring the
annexation provided for in the yruir-
ance
y copy of the notice and ordinance.
the law provides, shall be published al
least once u week for four successive
weeks in a local new spaper OF general
circulation In the territory affected by
the act. The notice and ordinance. II
is further provided. after being served
IN the manner described, shall he re-
turned to tho CLERK OF thu Henrico
Circuit Court, when tho publication is
completed, and the case docketed for
trial
Designate Distant Judge
With the case dockcted. it VIII be-
come the duty of Judge Il. Carter Scott.
Of the Henrico County Circuit Court-to
notify Governor Mann OF the fact and
20 ASK The appointment or another
judge TO hear the case. The anneya :
.ion act requires that the Judge shall
. oe from circuit remote from the sec
tion affected by the ordinance
Governor Mann will in naming the
judge, set the date for his sitting Both
/ counties. as VOL as individuals whose
property is affected, Will have the right
to appear and make themselves parties
defendant TO the case and be repre-
sented by counsel. The court. without
L Is
dence introduced in the manner in
which evidence is introduced In com
mon law cases, and viii ascertain and
determine upon the necessity or expe-
diency OF annexation. and whether tho
terms ana conditions set forth in the
ordinance are fair and equitable
( VIII Enter Decree.
! The length OF these proceedings will
1 depend largely upon the number Of
! iitieants. The opinion was general
around the City Han yesterday that
\ opposition has been ovcrcstimated and
that only scattered objections will be
I raised against the lines as drawn The
I court will probably be able 10 hear ali
! the evidence within thirty days after
opening.
/ Upon the evidence thus presented the
1 court viii enter decree, which vii
embody the final annexation plan. ano
nix q date for It's going into effect The
-. .Ne7N - 6'NSi liC ouliclilS
TO restrict. or, upon properly executed
petition, TO expand the lines. He ma,
also, in his discretion, dismiss the mo
ton to annex altogether.
lf the decree is unsatisfactory Il
either the city OF Richmond or to an,
or the individuals opposing annexa.
iion, or TO the counties, an appeal ma,
be made TO the supreme Court Of AID.
peals. the evidence to be considered Ir
the same manner rs in appeals il
chancery cases The appellate cour
viii enter such order as the Circui
Court should have entered and sucl
order Will be final.