The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-07
HENR|CO'S STAND
I LOOMS AS PROBLEM
Action of County in Annexation
Controversy Meets With
General Criticism.
PRESS UNDUE ADVANTAGE
City's Proposition Almost Idcnti-
PRESS UNDUE ADVANTAGE
City's Proposition Almost Idcnti-
cal With That Proposed by
Special Counsel.

Councilmen and city authorities gen.
orally united last night in criticizing
the action of Henrico County in falling
to give Its immediate approval to II high
way Improvement plan which. with
minor notifications, Is Identical with
tho plan proposed on July 22 by
/ Special Counsel Harry NJ Smith. re-
tanned by Henrico County to aid Com
monwealth's Attorney Frank T. Sutton,
Jr.. in the annexation proceedings.
On July % Councilman \. Gray Had
don. OF Clay Ward. introduced in the
Common Council, at the request OF Mr..
Smith. the following paper:
1t is suggested that the Council OF
the City of Richmond shall. on or before
September ], 1914, pass. and the Mayor
shall approve. an ordinance appropriate
ing the sum of 100000 to be expended
during the year 1915 on the permanent
Improvement of the main highways in
the County Of Hcnrico. leading into the
city Of Richmond at points not more
than ten miles beyond the corporate
limits. which sum of money is to be eN-
pended In each district In proportion
to the loss of revenue sustained by each
district as result OF annexation, and
on such highways. in such places, ana
| IN such manner as may be agreed upon
by the joint action OF the City Engineer
and Board of Supervisors of the County
of Henrico. and in case Of disagreement
between the City Engineer for the city
of Richmond and the Board of super
visors. that such person AS may be
agreed upon by the City Engineer and
| the chairman of the Board of Super
visors shall be called in as arbitrator"
COUNTY GAVE ASSURANCE,
OF ENTIRE SATISFACTION
This paper was referred by the Com
mon Council to the Committee on III
lance, which held "A public hearing in
the matter on August 5. At this meet
ing Commemorative Attorney Sutton.
! OF Hcnrico County, told the commit 3. &c
that while the Board of Supervisors
had not yet met, he was confident that
the proposition outlined in Council
man Haddon's paper would be accepted
by that body as satisfactory. With this
assurance on the rart of the county,
tho committee recommended an ordi-
nance directing the Mayor to enter into
II cont:cc: with the chairman OF the
Board OF Supervisors.
The contract it was provided by the
ordinance which was later passed and
signed by the Mayor. shall bind the
city to expend 500, 900 In the perma :
ncnt Improvement OF Hcnrico County
roads at points within ten miles from
the corporate limits. In consideration
of this expenditure, the county was TO
abandon It's fight against the annexa-
tion decree entered by Judge Campbell
OH July IL and acknowledge tho juris-
territory.
1t was provided that the fund was
to be expended under the joint dircc-
ton OF the Administrative Board and
the Board of Supervisors OF the county
tho two bodies to call in an arbitra-
tor In case Of disagreement.
ONE CHANGE: MADE IN
ORIGINAL PROPOSITION
The only departure from the coun,y's
original proposition, MS outlined in the
suggestion of Special Attorney Smith.
was on the point Of proportionate ex :
penditurc. The Finance Committee
thought 1t would be unwise 10 require
the appropriation to be divided among
the districts, in proportion TO the loss
OF revenue suffered by the respective
districts as the result OF annexation.
and the representative of tho county
did not press the point.
The annexation controversy looms
up this week as the most formida bl o
problem before the city. There is n
general feeling among city officials and
citizens AT large that Hcnrico County
Is taking an undue advantage In prcss-
ing an agreement on tho detailed OK
pcnditnrc of tn" 100000 as "A condi-
ton OF signing the contract calling for
an abandonment OF Its opposition TO
tho annexation decree.
Mr.. Sutton stated on Friday that the
BPard OF Supervisors would mako no
turther attempt to adjust tho dim :
culty. II the matter is settled at all,
he said. II would be through overtures
from the city. Tho supervisors, he
said. arc waiting for an Invitation
from the Administrative Board for a
conference on the expenditure question
III such an invitation is not forthcom-
| Ing, no intimated, the county will max e
no further effort to MD in a settlement
or the controversy. and Will proceed
with the preparation OF it's appeal to
the state Supreme Court