The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-26
THE CITY ENGINEER.

This Office, by a stretch of power as arb,tra-
nv as IL WIS uncalled for, has been created, as
We supposed it would. In order to make the
Office a. ia, as possible, for the favorite-who
ever ne may be that the Council may have IN
thsi. eye-three hundred dollars have been
taken from the Office Of Superintendent of
Streets, and tackled to it.
Il 10 time tina, the people Of this city were
looking more closely into their own affairs
Two or three years ago, having no confidence
in the justice or judgment Of the Council, it
took away from them the election of all the Of
fees then created. That was shearing them
little too closely-clipping the wings of their
power much more thoroughly than was agree
able them. They have determined to resume
it, if they possibly can, and this is their first
step. They re-create the Office OF Superinten-
dent Of Streets-give it the name of Eng ineer
--and then make an effort TO abolish the office
existing under the old name. This is pre-
cisely what we warned the people of-precise-
ly what every man expected who knew any
thing of the Council. The offices must be
theirs. They want them for their favortes-
they want them for the power they carry with
them. The people, it is true, have set their
faces against their wishes but what care they
for the people They have now fallen upon
q plan TO pulify the solemn act of the peo-
pie, and in little time they will have all the
Offices, once more, under their disposal. The
process is a very easy one. The revised char
ter most absurdly left them the power of crea-
ting new offices, and Of abolish ng old ones.
Every one of the Offices now created, it is fair
10 presume, will be abolished, and others, the
same SO far as duties are concerned, but dlf-
ferent in name, will be substituted.
Mr.. Darlington. it is true, offered a resolu
ton to petit ion for an alteration of the charter
30 as to make the new Office eligi ble by the
people. 1t was laid on the table, and there, we
suspect, it will sleep, or be called up only to
be dispatched by direct vote. To pass it
would be TO unsetiIe the object of this move
rent. 1t would be to deprive themselves of
the power TO provide for favorites with the peo-
PIES money. 1t would be to pay to the peo-
Ele degree of respect which these high and
mighty signors by no means think them emit,
lied to.
Fellow-citizens of Richmond do you mean
10 stand with arms folded, and submit to the
fragrant contempt of your authority, practised
by these men7 1fyou do you will deserve to
be, IN point of fact, what they already regard
yourselves Ifyou are men, now is the time
10 act. Go to the Legislature for relief-peti-
ton that body so to amend your charter as to
make all offices created, or to be ere ated, eligi-
BILE by the peope-as TO take away from the
Council the power of creating any new Office
whatever, until the proposition shall have been
frs, submitted to the people, and decided in
the affirmatve-of adding to. or reducing, any
salary, until they shall likewise have submit
ted the question to the people. You have ex-
pressed a solemn determination 10 take the
Offices into your own hands. Do not be
thwarted in your purpose by the insidious
maneuvres Of an oligarchy thatholds you and
your wishes alike in contempt