Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-28
A Mnn,cipal Code.

Richmond has been incorporated as 10 city
moro than hundred years, and her pro-
gress during all that time has been steady.
Every year we have increased in wealth
and population, and we now have the
right to claim something like metropolitan
greatness.
Our ordinances, however, arc not all
suited TO our present condition, though
within few years past many improve
ments have been made in them. IL is now
no longer permissible for cows and goats
10 20 at large in the streets, and soon o
aw will 20 into force which will prohibit
The keeping of hogs within the corporate
limits.
But other changes are seen TO be needed,
and the City Council will soon consider
the propriety of revising and codifying the
ordinances, so that necessary reforms may
be introduced-so that. obsolete laws may
be repealed and incongruous and conflict
ing ones harmonized.
II is much the same work, but on
smaller scale, that the revisers of the Code
did for the State Of Virginia. Before 1887
no man could say with positive assurance
that be was right what was the law of this
Commonwealth with respect to a number
of important subjects.
The revisers patiently plodded through
the Code Of 1873 and the Acts, and struck,
ont what was unnecessary, cleared up what
was obscure, conformed the statutes to re-
cent decisions Of the highest courts, and
made the law harmonious, compact, and
intelligible. They performed a great work
for Virginia. Few States have codes the
equals Of ours. 1t is blessing to the
bench. TO the bar, and to the people, and
is well worth the money it cost.
Richmond should have a municipal Code
after this fashion-and il ought TO be
printed in form which will allow it to be
sold cheaply, so that it may reach thousands
of people. Such laws as pass the scrutiny
of the revlser, the committees, the City
Council, and the Mayor may be consid-
cred necessary and proper and should be
enforced.
There are many ordinances now in exist
ence that are not observed. If they are
useless or improper they should be repeal
ed, otherwise they should be firmly exc
cuted. One Of these. TO which we have
referred from time to time, relates to fast
driving, and was enacted in the interest
OF public safety. On country roads one
may speed his horse without danger to
life: but he cannot do so in a crowded city.
and hence the regulations on this subject.
No occasion can arise which will justify
the imperilling of human life for the sake
of speed. The Fire Department has no
such right. The street-car companies have
none. The hack and wagon-drivers have
none. The owners and drivers of fast
horses have none.
The first consideration should be the
safety of the people on the streets, and
particularly should the public cross
ings be sacred to persons who, in the pur-
suit Of business or pleasure, seek to cross
from one sidewalk to another. If our
ordinances on this subject are not strin-
gent enough they should be amended, and
heavy fines, and Imprisonment, too, should
be visited upon each person who recklessly
chases a pedestrian of a crossing.
There are many other city laws to
which public attention should be drawn,
and which. if not already clear and en-
pnaJlc, bnoulu De put III eHdpo easy w NC
understood. This done they should be
enforced, although TO do it may for a
time make the officers of the law unpopu-
lar.
Our people are proverbially obedient to
law, though they growl q good deal at
times, but this is usually harmless ex-
plosion of wrath, born of desire not to
be disturbed in old ways.
In the promised municipal code we see
great possibilities for good. 1t will put us
on a metropolitan plane and detach us
from customs that came to US from the
time when every householder here had his
vegetable garden and his COWS and hogs,
and when he harnessed his horses to his
wagon or carriage and expected pedestrians
TO "clear the track" for him.