The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-16
$500, 900 to Be Equal
ly Appordoned Be-
tween the Wards.
MAYORS MESSAGE
Important Paper Show
ing Signal Improve
ments in City il Or
dered Printed.

The s2.5oe,ooo bond issue for the per-
manent Improvement of the streets of
Richmond was passed last night by the
board of alderman and only needs the
signature Of Mayor George Ainslie to
become effective.
The Jones-Sullivan substitute ordi-
nance distributing the money equally
among the four wards OF the city was
concurred in without dissenting vote
only after IL had been definitely estah-
i.shed that the supporters Of this plan
were determined to block any other
ordinance.
Barton H. Grundy. chairman Of the
finance committee. offered a substitute
mod eled on the lines Of the original
Eoden ordinance Immediately after the
matter was brought to the attention
to the board. This measure WAS lost
four voting for and six against It. The
vote was as follows: Ayes-Epps,
Grundy, Gunst. White. Noes-Nelsen.
Nrnnaily. Winfree, Powers, Fuller Mel
ton.
Annual bond lasse.
As adopted. the ordinance provides
for the issuance OF 100000 In Az per
cent bonds annually. the frst block to
be placed on sale September /. 1911:
$4,000 will be expended yearly in each
o. the four wards and a sinking fund
will be created to pay interest and re-
deem the bonds at the expiration OF
ten years by the addition of fifteen or
sixteen cents to the tax or real estate.
Alderman Mark Gunst led the at
tack on the ward plan Of distribution
and Aldermen Nelson. Fuller and Nun
naIly defendeded the ordinance,
In introducing the substitute ordi-
nance. Alderman Grundy said that it
=
himself in opposition to the finance
committee. of which he is chairman
bur that he could not sanction the old
sectional distribution plan.
\ Resolutions from the southside Bus
mess Mems association ana the Central
Trades and Labor council supporting
the ward plan we're read TO the board
and resolution Of protest was intro
duced from the Cham Der Of Commerce.
The Kiwanis club recommended the
more moderate measure apporticnins
500 600 10 each OF the wards and leav-
ing the remaining 100000 for streets
generally.
0ppssitiea Of Gsnss.
Mr. Gunxt spoke at length in favor
OF the Grundy substitute and ably de-
Tended his position. II plead guilty
he said. 10 being on the old streets
committee under the old regime. when
every appropriation for the improve
ment Of the city's streets was fought
for by the representatives for their
sections and divided. piecemeal. among
them therefore feel that am
more competent to pass on the merits
OF this plan than some OF the younger
members who did not have this ex-
rerience."
He then proceeded to elaborate on
his idea of how the money should bs
spent, in a general way, saying that
he wanted q definite policy laid down
whereby every section OF the city
would ultimately benefit, but at the
discretion of the director OF public
works. He said that he was for no
particular section and ended by say
ing that IL the substitute was lost, he
would not be so .'hidebound" as to
refuse TO vote for the ward plan.
Alderman Butler took. up the cud-
gels in defense Of the ward. plan. re-
plying holly 10 criticism Of the plan
and saving that he was not willing
that this he smirched with the odium
OF the old streets committee where
the members went SO far as to desig
nate the very streets on which the
money should be spent"
In advocating the ward plan. Alder
man Nielsen brought to light serious
situation in the east end. He said
that the people OF Fulton had been
disa ppointed SO often by the city gov
eminent A. to cause a protest from
certain business men Of the section
against paying the city any more
taxes.
Alderman Nunnally submitted az
an argument for the ward plan figures
showing how the last 100000 appro-
priated for streets was spent. His
report showed that only 1T 900 OF
this sum was spent In Madison ward.
Alderman Gunst defined this evil
dence as irrelevant, saying that 1t was
the result at action of the administra-
tive board and not OF the counciimanic
body.
To Print Mayors Message.
The annual message OF the mayor