Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-06
THURSDAY. JULY 6. 1893.
ECONOMY in Municipal Expenses

II we mistake not, the Retrenchment
AID Reform Committee Of our City Coun-
ell are destined 90 rise TO great impor-
tnnce before this year IL ont. Hitherto
there has been disposition 10 laugh at
them. # not 10 sit down upon them al
together. rs a useless appenda2o OF the
Council.
By reason Of the vast expenditure which
Richmond has incurred on account OF the
new City Hall, we now find ourselves face
10 face with the prospect Of either having
10 curtail municipal expenses OF raise the
rate Of taxation. Certainly at this time
no one can hope that the latter PROPOSE
lion would prevail. even if any one daring
enough TO mako 1t could DO found il we
are correct in this suppOs',ion then 1t IN
,dubitably follows that we shall have TO re-
duce our expenditures.
But where shall the loppine-oH begin
Gnd 10 what extent shall IL be carried All
this IL will be the duty Of the Committee
on Retrenchnent and Reform TO ascertain
and report. This Is peculiarly their work.
and II i. Il work which, we believe they
have already entered upon. Hence, We
say that that committee is destined TO be-
come one Of the most important, if not the
most important. iii our city government.
In addition to "a budget of current eX-
pensss which is fast outgrOwing our IN
come. we have 70 confront the unpleasant
convection that we must soon make large
outlay OF money upon tho city wat er-
works. Whether we conclude 10 adopt the
metre system, or determine to buy new
pumps. build new reservoirs and lay down
new mains. we shall soon have 10 spend
large sum of money 10 improve our water
supply. And then our new City Hall will
soon be finished. which means that we
shall then have TO tax ourselves with the
cost of superintendent of the building,
lanitors, electrician. engineers aud fire.
men, elevator men, &c., &c.
These will make large new charge upon
The Treasury. How large the Committee
on Retrenchment and Reform must find
out and let the public know. We have
had no information upon this subject a.
vet, but it Is none too soon TO get 1t. be-
cause in next years budget-perhaps
sooner-such items as those mentioned
must be provided for. We have hand
some hall sumptuously think far
toosumptuously- and Of course
we shall have 10 have numerous corps OF
employees 10 keep II III order.
After voting. for members of the CITY
Council the average citizen considers his
duty done; but this ought not to be 50. 1t
is Mr.. CLEyHLAND's constant aim to remind
oil good citizens that they should never
cease taking interest in public affairs. tie
is right. The truth Is that the more pro-
perty man acquires-the greater the stake
that he has in the communicative more
interest he should take in politics, and
municipal politics especially. Instead of
this il is quite the custom of men who
have acquired fortune or high professional
position to wipe their hands OF all response
bility for the conduct of public affairs.
We should like TO see a change in this re-
spect ell through our land, and, above all,
IA Richmond and Virginia.
As to how our Committee on Retrench-
ment aud Reform shall do thsir work we
have no further advice to offer than that
they should examine thoroughly into the
expenses OF each and every department of
the city government, and when cutting
down is ordered see TO 1t that no unjust
determinations are made.