The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
M. John ?. Epps and the City Charter.

In replv TO your editorial In your issue
of yesterday, we cannot fail to thank
you. before we proceed, for your fair
and magnanimous expressions. for az
you say, a full and free discussion" OF
the subject now under consideration.
we regret that you see so little In our
communication that is important TO
answer" but this is not our fault, that
you do not see the figures we have placed
before Won. We have Informed the
readers OF The Times that the city OF
Richmond owes the colossal debt Of
81 OO0 0OO one-ninth OF the whole assessed
value of all the real and personal property
OF the CITY. and we have kindly asked
The Times to point out 10 us how the
interest can be paid on this immense
debt and at the same time to meet all
OF the citv's current expenses. This is
the vital nroblem OF the hour, and one
that all classes are deeply interested in.
fo- II affects both rich and poor. II the
revenue OF the city Is not sufficient 70
meet all demands upon IT, the dernier
remedy for this Is an Increase OF taxes
upon all the property In the city. III the
landlord has to pay an additional tax
upon his property large per cent. OF
the laboring classes-we allude TO those, or
course who do not own their homes-will
have still a greater burden 10 carry. We
fully expected The Times TO reply In
satisfactory manner to TINS interroga-
tory. 1t having failed TO DO So we here
renew our inquiry ana we trust me
Times viii adduce some figures on this
subject that will not only satisfy us but
the public also. The Times alludes 20 a
"sIpposed financial embarrassment" We
say there is no supposltion In the case,
hut II is a stubborn fact that the city Is
not only embarrassed, but that II is
overwhelmingly So We wish for the good
of orr city that we could look upon Il
as a fabulous or imaginary statement,
but we cannot. for the huge debt OF
5000 900 IS alarming and defes the mayor
and the rest of the city authorities and
nothing but retrenehment and reform.
and that of the n. ost economic kind, can
etern the current OF financial distress
ord min We do not agree with The
Sr,,,es wbeul II saws the Reform" Coun-
iii was the Pandora box out OF which all
.reea financial evils sprung. There was
n very large debt contracted by the city
,revio,s ia the Reform Council coming
into povs.r. which the reformers mad noth-
inc to do with and cannot In anywise DE
held responsible. No doubt the action or
the Reforner-s in requiring the City Hall 20
be built by day labor, instead OF by CON
tract, has very largely Increased the COST
of that building. This was great error
in business principles.
But the Reformcrs are not IN power
now. vet the debt is increasing alarming
" all the time. In regard 10 your COM
rrission or commissions controlling all
the heads of the departments, we fail
10 see that there is one atom Of merit
,n n The neople do not desire to del
eoate 10 commissions what thy can
do AZ the ballot box themselves; that
is IN elect all the heads OF the depart
ments. end 10 hold them responsible
for every act they perform. We are for
electinp those officers by the peo-
ME and TO say the people are not ca
nable and intelligent enough to DO THIS
is a reflection upon the community IN
which we reside. Under our city Charler'
amended I'm March ISL, the people elect
ed all their municipal officers. including
the nudge OF the Hastings Court. We
ask If the people are not as capdDie now,
ae then of electing all the city officers!
The CITY had little or no debt then. Now
she owes 100000. We regret very rnuch
In having TO differ with The Times. that
he's heretofore always stood up mantul-
Nv 10 chompion the cause of the people.
Now, we contend. and we can sho"
that the city government is not run on
as economical basis. all things consld-
cred. as under the charter that existed
previous 10 the one OF FEBRUARY, leo''
An ~ the officers under the old charter
were elected by the people. We knew
many Of them personally. md they
were thoroughly qualified for the places
they filled. They were not go well paid
for their services as the incumbents or
these places are to-day. But they were
efficient and performed every duty con-
nected with their offices stisfar torlly 70
the people. who had the privilege OF
electing them. These departments were
not then. IS you say, they will be II the
naonla elect the heads Of them, "huge
noliticai bureaus" But TO the contrary
thew were conducted on sound business
princjuIes the heads Of them, and en-
Moves taking very little part in polltics.
So I'm this you are mistaken. NOW II
we are to Judge the future by the past
we will not have all this 'elecuoneer-
ing" YOU SO much dread, but we VIII
have competent heads Of these depart
ments. who the people VIII place IN
tban and who will be held responsible 70
the people and not TO the mayor, anu me
CITY Council. The city government
should be controlled by the people from
tho office Of mayor down. more par
ticnIarlv the heads OF the departments
can YOU give any good reason why the
cItv attorney. the judge Of he Hust-
ings Court, police justice, president OF
fhe Board Of Health, superintendent Oh
almshouse. city engineer. superintendent
Of water works. superintendent OF gas
works should not be elected by the poo
ple? If YOU have any good and cogent
reasons for this, will you kindly give
them to the public in your columns 50
that the people may judge for them
selves whether you are right or wrong
MADISON WARD.