Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-26
SATURDAY. MARCH 26. 1892
Why Abuse the Councilmen?

No public service that is rendered In
Richmond is 20 little appreciated as that
Of members of the City Council. 1t is this
fact even moro than the annoyances
of canvass that prevents manv worthy
and popular men from Offering as candi-
dates.
The people are foolshly censorious with
respect 10 their councilmen. II member
of either branch is prospering in his ousi-
ness there are not few who wohuef
where all his money comes from" IL no
Is a broken-down businessman II is not
rare that that is recalled 10 his prejudice
II he votes against appropriations he IL
set down as without public spirit; II he
votes for them ne is charged with disre-
gard of the interests of taxpayers. III he
keeps aloof from the masses he is charac-
terized as inflated with self-conceit. while
il be pursues the opposite course he earns
the title of demagogue
Turn which way he will. he finds hum
dreds TO condemn and few to applaud him.
Work and worry. time and talents he gives
without price to the community only 10
earn its condemnation. To his once no
pay and no perquIsites attach-unless we
except "dead-head" tickets on the street
cars and free passes on the railway lines
(and the latter are doomed to death by the
Mason bill)-and his only hope of reward is
that in the distant future the public Will
appreciate the sacrifices that he has made
and will concede him abilities which the
men OF to-day dony or ignore.
Yes. posterity will do him justice. A
quarter or half century hence the retro
spective political philosopher from his
seat on fre-hydrant. or on box or barrel
lin the corner grocery. will lament The de-
cadence OF the public service and weep
that Richmond no longer has City Coun-
Gil composed of men such as were council
mon in the memorable and ever-blessed
wear 1892. SO it is that the philosophers
fellow of to-day, looking down the vista
of primary elections, ward-meetings. and
ballot-boxes for from twenty TO forty
wears, deplores the lack of great council
men in the present as compared with the
past. And yet the Councilman of the Past
was as roundly abused IN his day as the
4 Councilman of the Present is in this day.
1t was only when his aged feet were totter-
ING 10 the grave that he learned that he
had belonged to historical era IN munich
opal affairs.
Through all the generations that have
gone the rate of abuse has been about the
tame. The tradition is that JOHN Mar
SHALL found his duties as Chief-Justice of
the United States easier of performance
and productive of more satisfaction to the
people than were those of Recorder Of
Richmond, which Office he filed a short
time before the world was filled with his
fame.
Surely our public officials are deserving
-pf more consideration. Surely we owe
eometbing to our city councilmen. Cen
srally speaking, they are good If not great
smen. and through all our history they
have been singularly free from faint Of cor
,uption. A Doodle" alderman or coun-
Gilman is unknown here. THIS is some
Shing vastly 10 our credit and is something
ahat mauy other cities would like to be
able to say.
We ought gratefully TO remember that
while scores of American cities have be
come the victims of "boodlers" we have
been wonderfully exempt. If it be true
and il probably is-that our new City Hal
Ahas cost us more than we could we'll afford
80 spend for such purpose. let us at least
DE thankful that the extra cost went into
che pockets Of honest artisans. and not
unto the pockets OF corrupt contractors OIL
.boodle aldermenn
Other cities-in fact. most cities-have in
.dulged in similar extravagances, but usual
~ the excess has gone TO enrich plumber
srs Of the public treasury. Here, If oul
money has been extrsvagantly spent it hal
zone TO feed, clothe, and educate the fami
lies of stonecutters. carpenters, bricklay
ers. iron-workers. &c.
The day when we begin to show prope
appreciation OF the services of the mem
bers of the City Council will be the begin
ring of a time when our best and ables
citizens will seek seats in the Counci
chamber