Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-18
p,o,..cd Creation of Bonrds.

provescd Creation of boards.
the public meeting held in the ha'l OF
the Chamber Of Commerce tn night oe-
fore last was largely attended. ana the
subject OF municipal commissions was
ably and deliberately discussed.
Little was left unsald that could be wei
said I'm favor OF committees or comniiS-
Sions. Though no vote was TAKEN an"
the further disposition OF the question
is lex To the Chamber. we believe that
the majority Of the gentlemen preseh,
were convinced that a number OF addi-
t.onal commissions might be established
here with great advantage TO the city.
In the first place. members of the CITY
Council are beginning To- complain very
( much that they are overwofkcd. ana
particularly do they complain or me
numerous committe e-mecungs that tney
have 70 offend. Commissions would ie-
heve them To great extent MI. Newton
made an excellent point in what ~ sam
about members OF our legislative BODY
having deVOlved upon them inconSiiVNs
duties and responsibilities Of an executive
character.
In the next place. our city has suffered
so much loss from deialcauons in recent
years. our taxpayers have come to think
that tne committee system is not neaiN
so Efficient as Il should be. ana ihat
IL i. vastly inferior to the commission
system.
The latest development here tending 10
unsettie the public mind as 10 the COM
mittee svs.om relates 10 the sas-works
where # appears that the city has been
systematically defrsuiei for years ana
years and wh.re We have suffered
loss of at least 10000
To soy tn least the city Council com
uit.ecs have not the leisure t. manage
a great concern such as the gas-works
And yet committees persist IN Under
taking such work. ana resent any Inter-
ference with them.
A committee is weli-neh supreme. by
common consent they are allowed to
have their own way within certain very
broad lines Not uriil there is an "eN-
plosicn" is a committees work invosti-
gated. Not so with the work of COM
missions The city Council is naturally
JEALOUS Of the commissions. and council
men arc ever on the lookout TO critcise
the commissioners work, and this Is an
the better for the city's interests.
There can b. no question that tn two
commissions that We have have served
us well. and We cannot but believe That
the time has come wnen our chart
might be adyantageously amended 50 as
to put some Of the other departments
under like commissions. Certainly. the
gas-works should b. put under COM
mission. The committee system has mad
a fair trial there. and has ingloriously
failed. The revelations as 10 the frauds
committed in connection with the gas
works management have shocked our
people as they have not been shocked
in many years before. Thus The general
voice is in favor OF an amendm mt to the
city charter TO establish commission IN
the stead Of the Committee on Light.
In late years there have been defalca-
lions in our collecting Offices which
showed that our system Of finance ana
AUDI is not as good as it should be. me
city Council proposes TO cure this. and
such declarations IS that at the gas
works, by the appointment Of a cry ac-
countant But we much rear that a city
accountant cannot cure the evil. Not so
very long ago We saw with what con
tempt the city Councils CommHtee on
Retrenchment and Reform was rebuned
and ieered at when it undertook TO make
Investigations Now. how can it be eX-
pectcd that an accountant VIII meet with
a better reception? We ought 10 have
a city accountant. but ne should be APP
pointed by a board OF finance and audit,
and the board should be required to s.e
that b. does his work. The accountant,
TO be truly efficient, should be backed by
q courageous and independent body OF
men. Directed and encouraged by'a board,
be would be able TO earn his salary I'VE
shines over.
So, there are Two departments Of our
city government that have signally failed
10 DO the duty expected OF them. They
have been tried and found wanting Ger
tainly as to these we have the right 20
ask that The Legislature shall grant us
corrective legislation. And that the Leeis-
laturs will grant us the relief We wish
for We cannot bat believe. provided We
present petition in proper form. support
Cd bv the signatures Of citizens repre-
senting all classes Of our community.
We may also expect the Legislature 10
refuse to abolish the Board Of Public
Interests. The City Council never ought
10 have attacked the board. The Council
should have respected the implied com
mands of our people as emphatically eN-
pressed at the last primary election.
The bills that We are going TO ask the
legislature 10 pass should BE- ready Tor
consideration 10y il as soon as the legis-
iai3is return here after the Christmas
holidays.