The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25
THE REPORT or THE INvEsTI0ATIN0
COMMITTEE.

to 70 before the public. be read and I'M
derstood before II remarked on It's lesso ls.
The Times submits now the remarks
on u which IT thinks the public interests
call for. feeling that its readers are in a
much better situation now for passidg
on the justice OF wnat IT says than they
would have been yesterday.
The Times wishes. in the first place.
to congratulate Messrs. Dickerson and
Glover upon the character OF the commit
tee which they appointed. II would not
have been possible to appoint better
committee. The gentlemen composing 1t
have attended to their duties properly
and faithfully. and have made a report
characterized by independence and an
earnest desire 10 protect the interests OF
those whom they represent, aud by
firm purpose to set their foot upon the
head OF corruption at it's first appearance
in the doors OF our city legislature. The
committee deserves well Of the people OF
Richmond. and will receive their unquali-
fed thanks.
The committee was right 10 point out
that it is a councilman's duty, in award
ing contracts that bind the city. to exer-
else the same judgment and rigid econ
omy that he would exercise in his own
personal business. and that he should.
therefore. be careful 20 award them TO
the lowest instead OF to a higher bidder
unless some imperative necessity exists
why the higher should receive the award.
This Is a principle which lies at the
foundation Of all good government, and
all government must 5rift into rotten
ness and decay If those who are entrust-
ed with its administration allow It 10 be
absent from their minds And in this
connection we note that Mr.. Carter, Tor
whom we have a very high regard, is
reported in the Dispatch as saying In the
debate which took place when the com
mittee submitted it's report that the pub
lie and the newspapers have 10 right to
criticise the action Of the Council"
Mr. Carter is as far wrong in this as
it is possible for a man TO get The
Council is the puol.c's servant charged
by it TO administer the city government
with all the economy possible. The pub
lie has the right 10 exercise the most
vgilant watch over its proceedings ana
actions, and II is the duty Of the news
papers, as representing the public, to
keep It accurately informed Of just what
the Council does in all matters Of gov
eminent. pointing out TO both all cases IN
which the action Of the Council is out OF
harmony with that economy which is lis
first and highest obligation.
The committee was right too. to express
it's condemnation Of committees Of the
Council sending subcommittee abroad.
at the city's expense, without authority /
so 10 do being first conferred by the |
Council Subcommittee sent on such |
expeditions may secure valuable informal /
ton for the city. but. IL they are TO be |
sent away at the pleasure Of each com |
mittee. and at public expense, the Gus |
tom is much more apt to degenerate |
into method for organizing junketiag |
parties than it is to 90 much in the way |
of securing public advantages.
But the Investigating Committee is TO
be especially commended for what it has
to say I'm regard to the way In which the
committee that awarded these contracts
was beset and piled by all the seductive
arts Of the lobbyist It has spoken out On
this subject in no uncertain tones, and
it has expressed the unanimous judg-
ment and opinion of this community in
what II has said. No bidder for a public
contract should be permitted TO approach
those who are to pass upon his applicl-
ton either by loans of money, theatre
box parties, suppers or presents Of hats.
The purpose in bestowing any favor Of
the kind is to unfairly swerve the juds-
ment Of the judge, and there IS no differ,
ence In principle between judgment |
thus swerved from its true and direct
course and one absolutely corrupted bv
the giving and the reception Of bride.
We say that in a case where such pro-
ceedings took place as in the awarding
OF these contracts. an Independent, self
respecting bidder who stands upon the
merits OF his goods alone. as all honest
men want to stand, has not one chance
in a thousand. The whole atmosphere
that surrounds this case is detestable,
and cannot be breathed without contain
ination and decay.
Finally, the committee was right TO
recommend that the contract for Office
furnishing should be annulled. and the
Council ought TO have adopted the reso-
luton that st proposed. This matter should
have been started all over again from the
beginning, under auspices that will give
all bidders an equal show, and that would
give the city a chance TO get the best
results for the smallest amount Of money.
But whether this be done or not, a
great public service has been accom-
plished by this investigation and report,
and we repeat that the members Of the
investigating committee deserve well Of
the people of Richmond, and they have
their gratitude and thanks.
Now. let those who believe in public
contracts being awarded on the money
lending" theatre box" and hat" idea
stand upon the rejection Of the commit
tees recommendation. The rest OF Us
are content 10 30 before the people on
the proposition to condemn all such pro-
ceedings. and the vote in the Council
viii tell the people for whom 10 vote IN
future elections for the Council.
CORN VEAL IN EUROPE.