The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-14
allllnlund 1lspatth.
nspsssDAY ~. OCTOBER 4, 1874 !.
4 Committee of Observation.

d Committee of Observation.
The resolutions some time since offered oy
fwo members OF the two bodies that now
compose our City Legislature bave oeen
amended and incorporated Into one under y ine
name !. The Committee on Public Interests,
and that one has gotten into sort OF iesis'
latiye trough of the sea, and It's fate IS uhcet'
tain. We regret this. because a ooma',' Tee
TO keep watch and ward and tell OF the o 1aa,
.ars ~ the city, as well as point out the way
", which dangers may be avoided, is one OF
great importance, especially at this time,
when our commerce is In greater peril tnan
It has been at any former tune.
We venture to say as an ardent TREND OF
this city, and one having an earnest desire
that the present Council should set the ex.
ample OF an inyigorsted public spirit and an
enlarged and comprehensive view OF the Pc.
lics which should be pursued for the benefit
OF Richmond-we repeat that with these
feelings and hopes we desire to say that
committee OF observation like that held IN
view by the gentlemen who moved the re-
solutions above referred to would be invalid
able to the city. Such committee should
be organized in the simplest manner, and
should be so constituted as to baye the great
es. degree of efficiency and to command the
greatest respect. Therefore we would de-.
cidedly object to its complication with the
Chamber Of Commerce. No such compli-
cation would be beneficial. The Chamber
OF Commerce. should have Its own commit
fee. 1t could confer and cooperate with
that of the Council, and such consultation
and cooperation would be productive OF
much good, whilst the combined commit
tee would have less force and would not be
SO efficient.
we trust that the Council will determine
to appoint its own committee, and that it
will consist of able, practical, and live men.
Indeed, 1t might have citizen or two elected
by the Council upon it. That might. do
good and could not do harm. But the COM
mit,ee should be regarded as committee Of
the legislative body of the city, and its pro-
ceedings should be d1gnifed as such and re-
spected as such.
Richmond greatly needs the active labors
Of such committee. Her interests are in a
critical state. We cannot know how she
may be injured and how she may be bene-
flied unless we inquire. If we relapse into
apathy and go to sleep, why the very bed
clothes may be stolen from US and we know
nothing about it until we find ourselves
saivering in the cold. /,
The spacious physician says that the dis
covery of the seat OF the disease and It's ma
ture is half the cure. When the disease is
discovered the remedy is easy; but If that
is not found out the patient must die, and
then the discovery ofthe cause of death tells
not how to restore life.
The appointment of a committee such as
we speak of will have good, moral effect.
1t will show that Richmond has indeed de.
termined to look after Der interests in an in
teligeut and active manner. It will inspire
her citizens with increased enterprise. They
will see that the public authorities recog-
niZe that Richmond has interests that are
worthy of being taken care Of; that she is
indeed emerging from the life of the village,
and is coming into bloom as city and that
as such she must be treated.
Such u committee would be a happy sign
Of the growth and spirit OF Richmond, while
st is necessary, as we conceive, for the pro-
lection of the public interests.