The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-01
CASE
COMES Up TODAY
Proceedings 20 Be Heard by
Judge A. A. Campbell In
Hcnrico Court.
HARD CONTEST is EXPECTED
City Has Been Eighteen Months
Preparing Fight for Room
in Which to Grow.

Richmond's campaign for moro room
pointment OF Special Annexation
Committee more than eighteen months
ago. enters upon Its flnnl stage to-day
with tho beginning of hearings In the
Hcnrico County Circuit Court to de-
tcrminc the equity of tho annexation
plan which the city has submitted to
the court for ratification.
The proceedings follow petition
filed with the court by the city. ask
Ing that an order be entered authoriz-
ing and declaring the annexation pro-
vided In tho ordinance. The defen-
dants In the action are Henrico and
Chesterfield Counties, Ginter Park. and
such other towns or individuals whose
property is affected have served
notice to the court that they win op-
pose the annexation lines proposed by
the city OF Richmond.
Judge A. ~ Campbell, of the Twenty
first judicial Circuit. viii preside over
the hearings. He was appointed by
Governor Mann. in conformity with
the provisions Of the general annexa-
ton law. which requires that the judge
shall be from a circuit other than the
circuit In which either the city desir-
Ing the territory TO be annexed or the
territory to be annexed lies.
JUDGE HAS VERY
WIDE DIsCRETION
The law directs the judge TO deter
mine the necessity for the expc-
diency of annexation. and whether the
terms and conditions set forth in tho
ordinance are reasonable and fair. The
court Ia vested with absolute power
either to add new territory TO that pro-
viGed In the ordinance or to take away
from II. 1t can also, In Its discretion.
reject the ordinance as whole and
order a reopening OF the question. The
findings of the court Will be embodied
in a decree from which there will be
no deviation except through an APP
peal TO the State Supreme Court.
AS the annexation ordinance stands
IT proposes to add to tho eleven square
miles which to-day make up Rich
mond's incorporated territory I6.7
square miles. of which less than one
square mile Is river bod. The new
territory has an estimated population
Of 1925. and possesses school proper
ties valued at S14i.150. 1t contains
n'sc real estate and personal property
values amounting respectively, to S.
97l,SG6 and s2,93i.496. With this
property goes bonded Indebtedness
Of s255,5o0. which. In tho event OF an
nexation, the city would have to as
sumo.
HENRICo CITIZENS
FEAR LOSS OF REVENUE
ratification OF tho annexation plan Is
the opposition OF An association of
Heurico County citizens which was
organized last October to oppose the
absorption OF too large slice OF the
county's territory. The organization
has passed resolutions protesting
against tho annexation plan on the
ground that * takes from tho county
the most prosperous sections. leaving
10 the less populous and less developed
portion the burden OF supporting the
county government.
In the presentation OF Henrico
County's claim there will be asso-
ciated with Commonwealths Attor-
ncy Frank L. Sutton. Attorneys Harry
VI Smith ana Richard Evelyn BYRD.
former Speaker OF the House OF Dele
gates. Chesterfield County will be
represented by Comm onw oaith's Attor-
ney Haskins Hobson and local at
torney5 representing several of the
townships. The weight OF the opposi-
tion. however. is expected to como
from Henrico County. which. under
the ordinance will contribute about
three -fourths OF the new territory
Ginter Park alone OF the incor-
poratcd towns embraced In the an
nexation plan has declared It's inten-
tion to oppose the ordinance. It's in
terests will bo looked after by C. B.
hssiStHnt
and Attorney Royal z. Cabell. former
United States Commissioner of Inter
nal Revenue.
GINTFR Park FIGHTS
FOR SPECIAL. GUARANTEES
The chief objection of Ginter Park.
as voiced befofe the Special Annexa-
tion. Committee last fall by its former
Mayor. John Garland Pollard. is that
the annexation ordinance does not in
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