The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-08-26
THE LAW.
The Charter Amendments Severely and
Critically Reviewed.
Citizens Should Have More Voice In
City Government.
Cliy's Representation and Condition,

DALLAS, Aug. 25,-[Editor HERALDl-
Section 10 of the amendments
IN the charter OF Dallas, ap-
proved March 81, 1883, thus imperslively
speaks to the present city council
"section Is. The city council shall, prior
10 the first day of November, a. D. 1888,
divide the city into convenient wards not
10 exceed eleven (l1) wards in all, and each
ward shall, at the regular election, April,
1884. elect two aldermen, one oiwhom shall
serve one year, and the other two years.
The terms of service shall be determined
by lot. Each of said wards shall thereafter
elect one alderman annually, who shall
hold his Office two years, or until his sue.
cessor has been elected and qualified
Such is the plain mandate Of the law. Ii
has been the law for six months, and only
two months remain III which to comply
with its requirements. Should the coun.
cll refuse to comply with it. any taxpayer
may apply to the courts after the city cleo.
ton of April, 1884, and show that Dallas
will then have no la Hiul council, empow.
cred 10 pass ordinances or levy taxes, and
this would surely be done, and Justly done,
himself against usurpatlon.
The facts involved are patent to all who
will think and have any conception of the
meaning of the Correlative terms, Taxation
and representation" Dallas has now, with
a population Of about 10000 in the same
municipal territory, the same four wards
that she had ten years ago, with not a sOnl
over 1000 bona tide citizens. The popula.
ton has increased 800 per cent? forests,
thickets and iungles have been cleared and
covered with homes and business houses
yet the people are represented Just
as were those of the old village
when all business was transacted around
that monument OF other days, known as the
Public Square" down on the bank of the
river, whereas the business of the city has
extended east a mile and half
This vast increase in business and popu-
lation, extending over terri DRY then a vii.
derness, demands more and more diyersi.
fed representation in the city government
than did the 1000 huddled around
the public square. The city should be re-
districted inlo at least eight wards. The
territory, population and Improvements
divide Into that number with more sppar-
ent equity and fairness than any other
either above or below. 1t is also fair me-
the highest number of wards which may be
created, and leaves a margin Tor other ter
rit0ry that may be hereafter added TO the
limits.
To show that our present representation
is far below that of other places with which
fair comparison can be made, IL is only
necessary to say that Waco, with
half the population, has five wards; Austin
with less population, has ten wards, aud
Galveston has twelve wards, yet, in none
OF these has the change in population sine,
their division into wards been half so grea
as in Dallas.
Now, that we are entering upon an err
Of expenditures for public improvement
liable to continue in an increasing ratio, Il
sas wise as it is Just, to 80 distribute rep
resentation in our law.maklng body as L
give each considerable community its iai
voice. We want no pent-uD, starchambel
rule in our growing city, but generous
active government directly from the peo
pie for the people, This kind OF govern
ment, in contrast with its former closed
doors, star.chamber character, Is duly ap
preciated in the redeemed city ot New
Orleans, OF which the city council, on The
IAN instant, in n congraluatory address t
the mayor, said
AhaNlls Nhhl hhAlNlf wv h9 NbAhA ~ AAh
each other on the evidences thus abund
antly given of the soundness Of the priuci
pies Of popular representation and open
door government.
Nothing could be much worse than the
foreign, irresponsible, bureaucratic toru
which preceded our present charter.
Nothing could promise much better thai
the system of American HEIGHBoRHoon
representative government now in use"
Thus we see nov keenly our creates
southern city appreciates the popular req
f,esentatiye government to be attained b.
dividing Dallas into eight instead of iou
wards.
We shall soon see whether our counc
will rise to this standard OF jus ljei nan
mony and equal rights, in giving !Te
scope to the people in managing their loco
government. They pay the taxes AID hAy
the "inaliensble right to rule as TO ther
Shall seem best Tor their happiness.
A CITIZEN,