The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-08
FIVE MEN OUT or ELEVEN
MUST DRAW TNO-IENR TERMS

llN J.. WIEN OUT OF ELEVEN
MUsT DRAW TWO-YEAR TERMS
For tho purposes OF determining the
terms OF the eleven Aldermen nomi-
mated in the recent primary, tho cleo
uoh next June VIII bear the same re-
lation 10 thc charter rs the FIRST oicc-
ton after tho charter went into effect.
Five ct the eleven new Aldermen.
although elected for fouryear terms.
VIII. - The result OF tho lot-drawIng.
nave their terms Cut TO two years
In the election % 1919. shortly after
the consolidation. Clay Ward alone
had a vacancy In the Board az Alder
men III tho other three newly
created composite wards. the va
cancles that would have occurred in
the same election had been filled hy
Aldermen having two more years to
serve In til" wards which were merged
and which lost their Identity.
Tn rosul, OF the circumstances Just
rccited was that In the recent primary
each ward had 10 nominate its full
complement OF three members except
clay ward, which nominated only Two.
since !, already had hold-ovcr mem.
bev In alderman Fuller. The short and
long term problem arose at once,
prominent members OF the city gov
eminent holding differing Jews NJ to
whether Clay Ward shoUil or should
not be immune from the iot-drawing
t"mbcr.
PULLEK'S FOLLOWER TERM
DOES NOT AFFECT SITUATION
The CITY Attorney held yesterday
that Alderman Pullcrs hold-over term
IN now!sc altered the general situa-
t!on. and that a. tho organization
meeting the four wards would have
TO determine by lot which should have
two long-tcrn1 members and one short
term number. or vice versa
The fact that Clay Ward, through
extraordinary circumstances, has in
heritcd 4 short-tcrm mc;nbcr. the City
Attorney held. should not guarantee
two long terms to the two Alder
men nominated by that ward i'm the
recent primary. These. he said. are
bound. In the interest or Il square deal
To tho others. 10 take their chances
with the rest OF the field III landing
long terms.
After the four wards have determined
by lot the number OF short and long
term men each shall have. the mem
bcrs Of each ward VIII draw lots
among themselves for tho long and
short terms assigned to their particu-
lar wards. In the case OF Clay Ward.
Alderman Pullcr Will he eliminated
from the ward drawing. since hc Is
already snort-term member, having
only two more years to serve. II clay
v
member. Aldermen Paul and Mitchell
Will draw lots for the long term.
WOULD lie UNFAIR TO OTHERS,
SAYS CITY ATTORNEY POLLARD
TO eliminate Clay Ward altogether
from tho inter ward lot drawing for
long and short-term positions. said
Mr. Pollard. would amount to stacking
tho cards against tho nine other AL
dcrmen nominated In the rccent pri-
mary. The nine men would then have
to divide among themselves the four
remaining long terms. and tho terms
OF five of the nine would be cut to two
years. With Clay Ward forced TO take
it's chances with the other wards. six
lonS-term positions would be open TO
eleven men. and five members out Of
the whole field Of eleven would have
their terms reduced.
The City Attorneys opinion, If car
ricd into effect. Will materially
strengthen the chances OF tho Madi-
son, Lee and jefferson Ward members
TO land four-ycar terms. According to
lloYlc II is easier TO I'LL an opcn-end
straight, than 81 Is to fiji n four-card
flush, because there arc moro cards In
the deck that will fit the straight than
Will tit the hush. IL the language Of
tho race track. Il . to shot is longer
than an II to shot. and the same rule
of chance obtains In drawing for long
terms on the Board
The charter appears To contain no
provision which contemplated an cmcr-
gcncy such as has arisen and is vague
as to ITO procedure that should he fol-
lowed. Assistant City Attorney An
dcrson, after Il hasty consideration OF
the matter. thought yesterday that
Clay Ward should not he made to share
in the drawing and that its repre-
scntat!on on tho Board is already prop
crly constituted. Alderman pullcr. or
Clay Ward. the only member Of the
upper branch who Will not be affected
one way Or the other. thought that Mr..
Pollard's ruling was tho proper one.