The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-22
Citv(1oyerrment..

tnan any otuss theN'uSa' N'~ "
country--is that OF New York. AS our
readers know, there have been from time 10
time seasons Of public dissatisfaction IN o''a'
great city. Once its people, partly through
marty phrenzy and partly through the 'n'-
patience OF taxpayers, pet'tionea the Legs
lature Of the State for relief. That hooy' "
response to the appeals that came rom tnese
neon,e. raised laws that were intenueaioi
their relief; but these laws failed utterly
commission was appointed 10 SUPER ',so
and control the city government. vi tue
res,,,ts of the government under 'hts oo'"-
mission the remarkable report OF an ao'.
committee, at the head OF when soo'u
Mr.. EvAsTs, gave the most astonishing Ca"
nosisicn. We published yesterday morn
ing the main points Of this report. Inc
great truth it teaches is that Legislatures
composed OF men coming from rural dis
tricts arc not fit bodies for making laws 1or
governing cities. These require a SORT OF
administration that no public man unac-
ouaintcd with city economy understands al
ell We find in the New York Herald OF
Yesterday the following remarks upon 'n'S
very subject:
EVERYWHERE a small deIiberatire boay
snd an untrammclled executive conSli'ule
the elements OF good government; anu Tue
NOR, these are overlaid with contrlVances
o,tcns;bly prepared to prevent robbery ana
tyr,nnv. the more tyranny and robbery are
farilita;,d. and the sense OF responsibility
IN tho rsonle il lost. This we have eNpe-
rianced in the commission system. Whlch
alone made possible the rllalmcs or the
Tweed regime"
Exactly. This is concurrent with WHAT
Mr.. EvARTs's committee said. as the reader
will perceive by recurring to the statement
Of the views OF the committee in our paper
al Yesterday.
It is known that there has been an cpl
soGc in Richmond in. the consideration OF
CITY affairs this Legislative season resulting
in an appeal TO the Legislature Tor amend
ments OF the city charter with reference 10
the organization OF the police department.
Taking no part whatever with the excite
ment or preiudces Of parties. we desire
merely to say generally that It Is very I'M
wise in cities 10 be unnecessarily making
lpcSIiS 10 VIC LISiSitAt w - IVA 'N"''N $500
ter-amendmentS. Nothing but the graVest
necessity can justify such applications.
We deprecate the idea Of incl easing our
suhordination to legislative supervision.
Cities are the citaGels of liberty. They are
undermining themselves when they throw
themselves upon the mcTcics OF Legislative
bodies. We cite New York rs having tried
this device OF appealing to the Legislature
for redress OF fancied or real grievances.
She has been compelled to confess that it
was unwisc to seek redress from that source.
Richmond MAY profit by the experience
OF so great a city rs New York, whose eN-
perience in the policy of seeking relief
from the Legislature has been so caiamltous.
The economy and wants OF the city are pc
Guitar, and the machinery likely to be de-
vised by a Legislature can seldom better
the condition OF city population. Such
population needs a vigorous executive,
whose responsibility shall be great. and
whose authority is proportional to his re-
sponsibi!ity. He should control the force
acting under his orders.
IL VIC q Cpui paw
we see that it needs government combi-
ming .promptness and energy. The perls OF
such community arc often so sudden that
the utmost discipline and celebrity in the eX-
ercise OF authority are, required to meet
them. These qualities assimilate city gov
ernment somewhat to military order. 1t is
deemed essential to drill the policemen
and to uniform them so that they may
move with harmony and expedition, and
know one another. in the crowd drawn
together by a sensation. Then 1t is
deemed necessary to place such body
OF men under one whose authority is
ample, and not to be called in question or
disobeyed. That person is the mayor OF the
city, and he is assisted by the head or chief
of police. The provisions Of law should
throw no obstacle in the way Of the full eN-
ercise Of this authority. The very wisest
plan is to leave with him the appointment
Of policemen, to strengthen his authority
over the police, so that the city may never
suffer for tie want OF the suiliciency and
promptness OF that authority.
The policeman has a hard service and
comparatively poor compensation. His SER
vice is of description that requires expe-
ricnce. He cannot learn his duties in a
short time, and the longer he serves the
more capable he is. His Office is therefore
not one to be subjected to the rule OF GRO
tation,' as though he were a partisan poll
tician looking for promotion. Policemen
derive no advantages in the line Of promo
ton. Their pay and the public approval
are all they hope for.
Now, this experience is the great point in
a city. Supposing an officer is found faith
iul-and there are plenty OF means to re-
move any who are found to be unfaith-
ful-he is more trusted and contided IN for
being known as a ong-tried and skiiul pub
lie servant.
But we have no idea Of putting in word
Just now with the hope OF influencing the
pending question. The two bodies OF the
city legislature are agreed. and the contest
ants seem to be no less so. We do not like any
of the propositions that have been brought
forward, nor do we like the present provis-
ions of the charter on the subject. Wethink
commissions composed OF several gentle
men unwise and inefficient for many rea-
sons, and if there are any judges in the
commission it is all the worse for that.