The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-08-30
THE LAW.
The Charter Amendments Severely and
Critically Reviewed.
Citizens Should Have More Voice In
City Government.
Ciiy's Representation and Condition

DALLAS, Aug. 25.-[Editor HERALp'l-
Section 10 of the amendments
to the charter OF Dallas, up
proved March 81, 1883, thus imperatively
speaks to the present city council:
"Section 10. The city council shall, prior
to the first day of November. a. d. 1888,
divide the city into convenient wards not
to exceed eleven C1) wards in all, and each
ward shall, at the regular election, April,
1884, elect two aldermen, one OF whom 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. 1t
has been the law for six months, and only
two months remain in which to comply
with its requirements. Should the coun-
ell refuse to comply with it. any taxpayer
may apply to the courts after the city cleo
ton of April, 1884, and show taat Dallas
will then have no lawful council, empow:
cred to pass ordinances or levy taxes, ana
this would surely be done, and justly done,
as the only means left the citizen to protect
himself against usurpation.
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
population of about 10000 in the same
municipal territory, the same four wards
that she had ten years ago. with not soul
over 1000 bona fide citizens. The popula.
ton has increased 800 per cent; forests,
thickets and junelcs have been cleared and
covered with homes and business houses.
vet 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 bali.
This vast increase in business and poOu-
lation, extending over terri DRY then will
derness, demands more and more 6lvers-
fed representation in he city government
than did the 200 huddled around
the public square The city should be re-
districted injo at least eight wards. The
territory, population ana improvements
divide Into that number with more appar-
ent equity and fairness than any other,
either above or below. IL is also fair me-
dunn between five, the lowest, and eleven,
the highest number of wards which may be
created, and leaves margin TOR other ter
ritory 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, 1t Is only
necessary to say that Waco, with
half the population, has five wards; Austin:
with less population, has ten wards, and
Galveston has twelve wards; yet, in none
OF these has the change in population since
their division into wards been half so great
as in Dallas.
Now, that we are entering upon an era
of expenditures for public Improvements
liable to continue in an increasing ratio, 1t
is as wise as it is Just, to so distribute rep
resentation in our law-making body as to
give each considerable community its fair
voice. We want no pent-up, star-chamber
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 APP
Orleans, of which the city council, on the
14th instant, in congratulatory address 10
the mayor, said :
Lastly, your honor, let us congratulate
each other on the evidences thus abund-
antly given of the soundness of the princi'
Piles of popular representation and open
door government.
Nothing could be much worse than the
foreign, irresponsible, bureaucratic form
which preceded our present charter.
Nothing could promise much better than
the system of American NEIGHBoRHooD,
representative government now in use."
Thus we see how keenly our greatest
southern city appreciates the popular rep
resentatiye government to be attained by
dividing Dallas into eight instead of four
wards.
We shall soon see whether our council
will rise to this standard OF justice, bar
mony and equal rights. in giving free
scope to the people in managing their loca
government. They pay the taxes and have
the "inalienable right to rule as to them
shall seem best Tor their happiness
A CITIZEN.