The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-09
THE ROANOKE TIMES. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9. ss3
OBSERVER REPLIES TO CITIZEN.
Continued from page L.

pal woes. The primo movers in the
constitution Of board of public works
are gone, and the pupils they made in
tho school Of charter framing have
nothing at this time to suggest. 1t is
presumed that they want to place the
responsibility on the Council for any
further efforts at changing the charter.
No one will question Citizens" right
to draft new charter for this CITY, He
could have submitted his suggestions to
the Council. One of the people would
have then been heard from. II that
BODY would have refused to adopt his
suggestions he could have transmitted
his charter to tho legislature, and still
but one OF the people would have been
heard from. Or he could have gathered
around him q body of followers as large
as the Commercial Association, and still
he would have been in very weak
minority. The truth appears TO crop
out between the lines of his communi-
charter TO stand, but he has failed to
tell US which shoe, in the proposed
changes, pinches his foot
he next passes upon the section en-
towering the Council to impeach the
mayor, and seems to think that for NAL
feasance or misfeasance in Office it
might be right and proper, but by the
word "misconduct" in Office, he becomes
fearful OF the authority of mayor, and
fears that the stability Of the position
would be continually endangered. He
apprehends that Council will not under
stand the meaning or implication OF the
word "misconduct." We are inclined co
think that the people Of Roanoke would
be thankful to have any officer removed
who is guilty Of misconduct in office, be
he mayor, policeman or the man that
handles the dog net.
He then proceeds to give his views in
matters of public improvements and the
award of contracts, and appeals to the
rights of the lowest bidder, and regrets
that there will be no one except the
Council to approve bills for public i'm
provements after tho board OF public
works shall have been abolished. |
mink the contractors and mechanics of
Roanoke will be satisfied with the
changes along this line as suggested by
Council. On several occasions, in
awarding contracts under the provisions
OF the present charter, the home bidder
has been but 3 few dollars higher than
the non resident, yet, under the Com
nercial Association charter, it could do
naught but award the contract to the
nonresident. The consequence was
that mechanics and laborers were
brought here from 4 distance, building
material was manufactured hundred
miles away and imported into the city,
while our own industries stood almost
idle, and our own people walked the
streets and applied in vain for work on
the Improvements going on, and for
which they were taxed to build.
Citizen" comes boldly to the aid of
the executive department Of the city
government and his statement that
Council has rendered itself ridiculous
by certain OF it's acts toward those de-
partments during the last two years,
leads me more and more to believe that
he has been secured to defend and pre-
vent the abolition of one or more posi-
tions, But If on some occasions Council
deemed it necessary to sQuelch the
usurpatory uprisings in the executive
departments it probably did so for the
good of the city and it's action usually
had very salutary effect on some OF
those departments.
The City Council of Roanoke has no
10 ore power, nor will it have under the
proposed charter than many other city
councils OF much larger cities in the
country. Power is safer in the council
than IN the judiciary or executive. The
Legislative branch of a city government
comes in closer contact with the people
than any other branch, and the day has
never been when the people of Roanoke
demanded a hearing by Council that
they did not get it. But as yet the
people have demanded no hearing on
the proposed charter amendments.
"OBSERVER. ="
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