Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-16
WEDNESDAY. MAY l6, 1888


More than month ago we called attention
10 the fact that this city was liable to the
misfortune q being without lawful Mayor
The charter provides that in case OF the so'
scnce or inability OF the Mayor, the Presi-
dent Of the City Council Uhe President OF
the Board Of Aldermep) shall act as Mayor.
This is not new question. Az we baye
heretofore stated, It is the same question ION
small scale) which arose IN 1881 in the case
OF President GARFIELD. The Constitution
OF the United States provides that in case
Of the inability Of the President the Vice
President shall act as President; but as no
law had ever been passed defining lima
biity," the Office Of President was left IN
filed for months, Mr.. GAEUELD being I'M
able 10 IN II, and Mir. Arthur having no
statutory authority for filing it.
our attention was recalled TO this subject
BY the newspaper reports Of the proceedings
Of the Board OF Aldermen OF this city on
Monday night. At 1880 O'Clock the Clerk
read letter from President Bass "stating
that be was stu uRaJle 10 be present. La
ter IN the evening an ordinance was passed
granting permission 20 the Richmond Union
PasssDger.Railway Company TO extend their
road down Seventeenth street aud up Cary
erect. and from the corner Of Hancock and
CLAW streets to the corporation line. This or
dinance, the report goes on 10 state, "Dow
goes TO the acting Mayor for his approval"
who is the lawful Mayor Of Richmond
The Office Is a constitutional one. There
shall De chosen by the electors Of every city
MAYOR, who shall De the chief executive
officer thereof, and who shall see that the
duties OF the various city officers are faith
fully performed" Gle shall have power TO
suspend or remove such officers" Mem
bcrs Of common councils shall hold no other
Office Ia cities" The sentences in quotation
marks are parts Of the State Constitution.
The Mayor ,s by law e1.oGicio President OF
the Board Of Police Commissioners, and
must preside at It's meetings, and has cast
ing vote in case Of tie.
which II any Of these duties, and other
duties prescribed by law, is President BASS
authorized to PERFORM Suppose that he
to the Richmond Union Passenger Railway
Company TO extend its line up Cary street:
win the company contest his right to DO SOL
or suppose that he shall approve the said or
dinancei will the property-hOders contesthis
right to do soi or suppose that the ordi-
nance in question, or any other ordinance,
shall be submitted to Mayor CAREINGToN and
he shall siau It: how is his inability" TO
be ascertainedi
There Is no man In Richmond for whom
we have higher respect or a greater per-
sopal regard than we have for President
Bass. There is 20 other man whom we
would rather see In the Mayors Office or in
any Office that he would consent TO accept.
lie understands that 10 writing these articles
we have no other object than the removal OF
all doubts as TO the validity OF the acts OF the
temporary or acting Mayor. The fact that
the Legislature is not In session may render
It difficult perhaps lmpossible-tO devise
any means OF ascertaiung the "iuabiity" Of
the Mayor. II, however, the City Council
can do for the city what the Legislature
could do for the State IN a similar case then
the question may be settled. 1t is not worth
while TO shut our eyes TO the facts, nor to
Imagine that there are not lawyers here who
stand ready whenever occasion offers, and
clients demand such 3 service, to get the
courts to decide that up to this time there
has been no authority conferred upon any
man, or court. or body to ascertain the in
ability Of q city's mayor.