The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-28
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE CITY CHfRTER DISCUSSED
BY CHfTRMfN DAWSON.
He Reptile. to The Times Editorial Asking
for the City Committees Authority
in Its Recon { Action.


To the Editor Of The Times:
Sir.-The widespread interest which the
recent action Of the city Committee look
regarding the proposed amendment TO the
city charter shows that this Is a ques-
ton OF considerable importance. IL mas
been the subject OF universal comment
and neither the press nor the people nave
failed 10 express their opinions upon H.
As "A member OF that body, 1t Is gratiis-
ing 10 me to know that most OF the COM
rhents which have been made have peeh
OF a favorable and commentators lehvl.
My knowledge Of human nature anu ny
experience in politics cautlohs1 ny
against hoping that any acton OF ~,
litical body, however Iudicious. wel-tiih.u
or advisable would meet with the az
prevail Of all the electors, bee ause az iDi TN,
as there are individual MINDS th.tt W.
be honest differences of opinion. Inc Ut
most that a body Of this sort can reason
ably hope 10 accomplish Is 10 merit ~
the faithful discharge Of duty a 70 $50
II. the confidence and approval OF tl' -
jOrty of those 10 whom Ii IS Responsible,
and TO whom n must render an ace". IL
Of its stewardship. This, ! heheNe, ''c
committee has done. and VIII continue ~
do
Some have thought that IL acted unwise-
hility." Others. among them thai III
gressivc and public-spirited journal no
Richmond Times. have eNpreSS.i
opinion that 10 exceeded us aulno' -,
The Times too, in its issue OF lo-ua ii'
asked the committee TO give lts autng' -
for taking a position for which II hau 10
precedent
TIE REPLY.
In answer 10 the first objection II may
be asserted that If the people, tial j., W.,
majority Of the Democratic Nol'lS, ~
whom slOne the committee - resp"iii9i ~
for it's actions. desired 1t 10 suoihi. Wv
question of amending the charter 10 ueW
for their approval or disapproNal, .ol
their final decision. for or against WE
amendment IL was the plain dulA Oh We
body to yield TO those wishes ~ '',li
mittee's duty having been ascerttiii.'i, az
responsibility however Wcighty OF u.
/ bic" should deter it from acNHS- ~ W.
people then desire this mucn-teNe pu's
tiOn settled. or is II advisable as 70
Htcal measure 10 have N disposed on
An answer 10 this question can caslly ~
| obtained. il any one rs really lsloi dl ~, Dl
| IL. by sounding public sentiment. -
who are posted are not lshoIa "a a.
| fact that this more than any othtI 20
| ltical question. has for long time asl-
| tated city politics. \ resolution aio,.
| this limo was introduced ana success vi,'
/ passed through the Council pul Wa r,
| feated i'm the Board of Aldermen. \ Hl.'
/ clsss Of fhe people have since vainN
ZION
made repeated efforts 10 get the quesil
| before them and have become restless
and Justly dissatisfied with the unfeason-
| able obstacles which have been thrown
I'm their way ! do not eXagsefaie e,le
| present condition Of affairs when coh-
| identlv assert that the time mas no"
| come when they are determined 10 "
mand their rights ana 10 VOC upgH
! it, either within or without the RANKS
of the Democratic party. | think il
will be universally conceded, even
| bv the most conservative element
! Of the party that such qhes, IONS
| should be settled within party lines tere
ali differences should bee healed, all classes
! should strive TO Doe on terms OF p'Ii'c'
| confidence and friendship with each oihfi,
and we should be a united party. IN 'ilis
way. and in this way only, can We Hvp5
10 be "A strong and successfully party anu
maintain the ascendency Of Democratic
| principles.
THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.
The question from whence the commit
! tee received its authority for submitting
this question 10 the people, may nt
| answered by saving that a. derived TINS
| authority from that source from whence
comes all of its authority, namely IL
masters. the people None can De mgr
or than this. An agent can Only ne -
pccted TO carry out the WISHES anu COM
! mands Of its principal. II has berl ull-
| dcrstood for some time that the commit
tee would be asked TO act upon tHia
question. The press has again ana asaiu
asserted that resolution NOuld piopdnif
! he Introduced into this body providing
for an expr~ssiOn Of opinion from lnr
| ueOnle along the ines or the Lips
Resolution" The clubs have asked tne
representatives OF their warts 10 Fpl'
| for IL and 10 work for H. and / ga nol
see or hear any objections raised 10 u
| before the acthn OF the committee anu
/ have seen and heard but Few since. ,.I1
own opinion Is that the committee ua =
~, same right 10 give the Democratic
voters an opportunity 10 express 'll''li-
| SCI rs on a purely poliuca fueSllon on
.i,ie rsfure as 10 has go say VINO shdii
renresent them In the halls OF the Legs
afure. or I'm any other political poSluo D.
| / helfeye that this Is the proper province
| of the committee. and that TINS is lus'
exactly what this body is iIlleh ,p . o,,
| and that this is praciscly Ne an
| fhoritv delegated 20 II ny ine peo-
| ME This opinion OF mine Is con,
| CURED I'm by most of the p'oihin"ul %..-
| conservative men in the cor .lt.s p
among others. l believe the en-, .i'l. - u" W,
| vor ,yNo holds the respJ lsiD.e po; ~
of legal adviser for the city: We sto.i.n
| kcen clearly before US Lle latl -Hdl 'n'
| nc,nr,iftee as body. does not uhleI-
| take to say whether IL would 20 Miir,,,,I,,
,,,,,-ieo "a amend the chartei- IT SUNNI
| saws that If the Democrauc Fo'olS -,
10 express their opinion III -, 80,
| mn democratic primary concerhlhs any
| rotitioaI question they ought 10 ma
an opportflnltv To do so, II lt Is VT ~
cable. and that the committee ana i ii'
only. should pass upon the pId' I,'D'''Is
Of In Upon this rock, as member ol
The committee. | take my stand
ELECTION By THE PEOPLE.
In this connection the question oust ~.
| ne to he discussed whether certain clly
nGicials should be elected by the people
| rather than by the Council, hut take
| ~. o.cas,on 20 saw that I believe that
the election Of SOM, Of those tsec, Th2 2o a,g
| mon nv the people. because the electors
OF Richmond are honest d inie rs hsvs ana
| &c in the election of their officials
They take proper pride IN i ,,i s mun 10
| cipal government, ana they VIII see 10
/ n that thev elevate To positions of power
4 and responsibility those only, "ho VIII
| I'M them with ability and reflect credlt
upon their city.
In closing. candor. obliges me TO say say
| that / do not think the committee adopt
! 81 the best plan for putting this ques-
| ton before the people. | therefore voted
| against it,
Yours truly,
MARION l.. DAWSON.