Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
Rec..t Dcfsicaslons here.

| We should suppose that the warm IN
terest now being taken by our business
| men in the fiscal affairs OF the city would
result In a meeting to consider what
changes may be prontaby made In our
| municipal machinery.
| No proposition yet advanced In the CITY
| Council is anything more than nan
way measure. Talk about putting INTO
the hands OF q clerk the duty OF over
| hauling the accounts ana business
| methods of heads Of departments-why' IL
won't do at all! The clerk may be able
| to ascertain IL the columns OF figures are
added ND correctly and the posting pro-
| perly done, but he will not venture 10
criticise business methods. No; We need
a better system than that-a comprenen-
sive system Of supervision az to reeeip's
and expenditures. beginning with an eS-
animation OF tax-returns, and not ending
until the vouchers in every department Tor
claims paid have been vigorously scruti-
nized.
Our fiscal affairs ought to have mead
centre; that is, be governed by power
which will take charge of them In the
beginning, give daily attention TO them'
and see that they are properly admins
tered throughout And all this can De
done without invading the constitutional
prerogatives of the City Council ana
Mayor. We can have a board OF COM
missioners OF finance, as other cities have,
and make it an instrument for good under
the guidance of the City Council ana
Mayor II VIII be ever so much better
TO amend our charter and provide for
such board than to adopt any temporary
expedient or makeshift.. such as has been
proposed in the City Council.
with a board OF finance recommending
to the City Council how our revenues may
be increased, and how leakages may be
stopped, we may reasonably hope that the
current expenses of our city government
may be brought within our present tax
rate, and so continued.
For years past. our income has been less
than our expenses. and we shall soon have
to determine whether we will increase tn.
tax-rate or make a regular business OF
issuing bonds to take up floating debts.
In the consideration OF all such questions
as this. board OF finance would be Of
great service to us. Under board our
fiscal affairs would be placed upon a
satisfactory foundation. repeated bond-is-
sues stopped and an authority created
which would not only have the power but
the motive to exact prompt settlements
from every officer In this city.
With n fiscal board steering our city
away from financial dangers and putting
a stop TO dsgraceful xposures-stopping
exposures by seeing that there IS no de-
linquency TO expose-we should think that
our people would be well content with the
present organization OF our city depart
ments But no more sensations such as
we have just had are wanted. Tho people
have had enough OF them. More would
tarnish the fair name OF Richmond so
badly that 1t would take a long time TO
remove the stain.
Let our voters, rich and poor. take more
interest in city affairs. Let them demand
that greater attention be given to settle
ments with public officers. Let them in
slst that the City Council and its commit
tees enquire If there are not other officers
who have never been settled with. Let
them ask for an amendment to the city
charter creating a board of finance, and
giving TO this board the authority to en-
ploy expert accountants. In our opinion,
such board would have TO be paid. but
II might be made a small board. Three
members would probably be enough; but
all OF them ought 10 be familiar with
financial affairs. set
The Dispatch is not working up SEN
sation. On the contrary. we are working
down a Sensational sensation that will
surely be experienced if we permit an
other default to occur. such as the three
we have had. without having taken the
best possible precaution to prevent it.
a stitch In time. etc.