Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-23
Tho Citizens Meeting.

Whom the citizens meeting Is held. as
nronosed by the Chamber OF Commerce
we trust that II will not content Itself
with hearing speeches. but VIII TAKE ne-
cided action OF some sort
II II thinks that the Board OF Pubhc
Interests ought 10 he abolished, II ought
10 say so frankly. II II thinks that the
ras-works ought 10 he put under COM
mission II ought 10 speak out. -or, on
,bc othcr hand. II ii thinks that the
passwords will prosper better under the
control of a committee OF the CITY Coun-
ri, than under commission /, ought TO
declare so with becoming emphasis.
The proposition of the city Council
that the Board of Public Interests should
surrender TO the city Council nearly all
the mower that the board now possesses.
is not supported by public sentiment so
far as We can learn public sentiment
Not at all The action OF the CITY conn-
ell is as much as IL the city Council had
said 10 the board: you have been I'M
faithful. Come. turn over your powers
IN lis We will see that the work Is
ccr clusion of the City Council. but 1t Is
not the conclusion Of the people. Inc
heard may safely appeal 10 the people on
Ills question. Consider how well our
Police and Fire departments are man
aged. and then look at the record OF the
gas-works under the administration OF
the late superintendent,
.l.ax mo
businessmen and other citizens soon
TO be he'd in the hall Of the Chamber
OF Commerce, action should be taken
expressive Of the sentiment Of this com
mrnity. And We hope that that action
will be favorable TO the appointment
Of committee Of influential citizens TO
appear before the Legislature and beg II
NOT TO listen to the suggestion OF our
City Council that the Board OF Pubic
Interests should be deprived OF the
power that it now has TO nominate Poiice
and Fire commissioners.
All that the board can do IL 10 nonni-
nate commissioners. and II lies with the
city Council to accept or reject those
nominations This power, so far as We
know. has been Wisely used by the board
and we say, and the people. when called
unon. will say. Let the board alone
hands off the board The appointment
of members OF the Board Of Public In
terests is wholly with the City Council
II it's personnel il not as good
as il used to be. nobody but the city
| Council is to blame The Chamber 81
/ Commerce has nothing at all to &c
with the appointment Of the members
| of the Board Of Pubic Interests.
When the late primary was over. anc
until recently. we cherished the hope tina
no attempt would made to undermine th'
| mower which controls the Police ans
FIRE boards. We had hoped that TIT
| whole subject would be dropped Though
we won a great victory before the people
| We INDUCED in no notes of triumph
| being unwilling to Grow over IN
peonl. who voted in favor OF charte
changes.
IL would have been better II the matte
had been dropped then and there. D.
one and All; but here We see the 'i'
Councilmen-not all OF them. but IN
majority Of Overwhelmingly voting no
/ only TO renew this agitation. but 10 carr
il to the Legislature Of Virginia 80 nov
we are to have az judges of Richmond
wishes men from other cities as well a
from our city: men from distant countie
as well as men from the neighbour
counties OF Henrico and Chesterfield
We are going to an outside jury. VIVA
folly. What trouble does the city Cour
ell thus invte What tribulations doe
It not lay up against the day of the neN
city election?