Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-07
SUNDAY. -. SEPTEMBER z, 1880.
Citv governments.

Thu address Of ex-President WHITE, OF
Cornell University, recently delivered be-
fore the American Social Science Conven-
ton st Saratoga is attracting attention.
He argues that cities should be governed
A business corporations are. This, he
alleges. ia the way the thing is done In the
Old World. and this, he claims, makes
their city governments better than ours.
Roth propositions may be disputed. but If
tbev are true they will not influence the
people Of this country.
Our government is republican. IL is so
In name and so in fact. except IN some IN
stances where Federal power and influence
are illegitiruately exercised. The rights and
privileges that have been taken away from
us make the remaining ones doubly valua
BILE. Undoubtedly there are many abuses
that should be corrected; many reforms
that should be effected. but the intelligent
masses of the land are as well qualified for
the work as visionary men like Professor
Wurrs. His theory is that city Is not
political body, but purely business cor
poration. He says its affairs should have
nothing to do with political issues. Inc
remedy, he thinks. is TO be found In system
bv which the Mayor and the City Council
.hould continue to be elected by the peo-
ME. the councilmen. however, to be chosen,
not by wards as now, but by the people at
large and a board of control, to be chosen
by property-owners, to have veto upon
anv expenditure or the granting of any
franchise.
"Iwould elect the Common Council" he
SAYS, "by majority of ell the votes OF all
the citizens, but instead Of electing them
from tho wards as at present, SO that wards
largely controlled by thieves and robbers
can send thieves and robbers, and so that
men who can carry their wards can control
the city, l would elect a Board of Alder
men on general ticket, just as the Mayor
is elected now. thus requiring candidates
for the board 10 have city reputation.
As to the functions of the Board OF Con-
troll representing the owners OF property,
he adds that il might be well to allow the
votes of the board as regards expenditures
for primary education to be overridden by
A two-thirds majority of the Board of Al
dermen. a. should do this because here
alone does the city policy come into direct
relations with the general political system
Of our entire republic"
We prefer to jog along with our present
system. but we do wish we could arouse
more general interest in the selection OF
our CITY councilmen and municipal SER
wants generally. We have never had
"thieves and robbers" in our municipal
legislature, and very rarely indeed has
there been any reckless expenditure ofpub-
lie moneys. We built our new reservoir, our
new city pump-works, and numerous mar
kst- and school-buildings, and are bringing
TO completion the new City Hall without
suspicion of jobbery anywhere. Perhaps
we NAV have paid something more Tor
labor and material than private persons
would have been charged. but this is an
inevitable municipal condition from which
Professor WHITE could not relieve US. All
the world knows when q government goes
into market, and prices are made accord
ingly.
The few changes which Richmond needs
could be easily engrafted upon our present
charter. We have derived benefit from
the creation of Board of Police Commits
sioners and Board of Fire Commissioners.
Perhaps this board system might be ad-
vantageouslv extended over some other
departments.
We certainly need well-settled, pro-
rressive, and e1pansible street-improve-
ment policy. Here We are sadly deficient.
Nearly all street improvements bring the
city good returns. and plans ought to be
made that will project them far into the
suburbs and enable them to be made by
easy annual appropriations.
Ours is Q conservative system. We do
mt pead Professor WHITES.