Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-07
Observation-Disclosures.

Municipal Investigations.
Our Common Council at its meeting
night before last was prompt TO adopt
the Recommendation Of the Committee on
fsrbt in favor Of a special committee
for the investigation of gas-works anai'S'
A thorough oyerhauling OF the boohs'
accounts. and business system OF the gas
works is necessary. and the public wouid
particularly like 70 know 10 what extent
the annual reports Of the Superntend-
ent for some years past may be relied
upon. II IS understood that they contain
some serious risstatcments. one of these
refers 10 the cost Of manufacturing gas
This cost. it seems. has been undersiated.
And then We suppose tn works nave
not been credited with good many
thousands Of dollars that were paid TO II
for coke. etc Altogether. the public Is
undecided as to what the gas-works have
really been doing for some years past
and what they are capable Of doing in
the future.
The proposed investigation should be
OMEN as the day and thorough. Secret ses-
sions Of the committee VIII not do-w!i
not satisfy the people. Moreover, II
secrecy BE- attempted. it win not succeed.
The facts will get out at last and thu
better way is 10 allow them 10 come out
I'm the beginning. In the matter OF ap-
pointing an expert accountant the two
branches OF the city Council are not at
one. The Board Of Aldermen wishes 70 ap-
propria;e Sl.Oo0 per annum to enable the
Sayor 10 have the work done. The Com
mon Council. on the other hand. Is in
favcr OF referring the matter 10 a COM
mittee 20 report upon, etc. Meanwhile
nothing Is being done, and the righteous
Indignation Of the people as TO the way
their business has been managed is pre-
sumably cooling.
our own opinion IS that this matter
OF employing an expert accountant would
better be entrusted 10 the Mayor, as
being IN the lina Of his constitutional
duties. Besides, il would be better to
have the Mayor appoint the expert than
e. have the expert elected by the City
Council. The expert who had q spend
time soliciting the votes OF councilmen
would have little time left in which TO
do his duty. Yes; II there is 10 be an
expert accountant. 1T the Mayor appoint
him. But. 10 be candid, ,ne expert clerk.
IN our opinion. will not be able 10 do
ALI that is expected Of him; he won't
be- able 10 do what a board Of finance
could do. Yet. we recognize the wisdom
of the saying that half q loaf is bet
ter than no bread. Let's have the clerk
and continue at work for the board.
The clerk will 90 over the books and
will doubtless see that the additions are
right and the accounts Well kept, but he
viii have no influence as to the business
policies Of the various departments. In
deed. a mere clerk viii feel himself a
.srnalI mar" In the presence Of the
mighty head Of a department we have
seen city Council committees SAT down
upon" by departmental chiefs. and what
must we expect 70 be the fate OF mere
clerk?
II the cl.y % Richmond would oonhie
the MANAGEMENT Of her fnancea-her in
come and expenditures-to board OF
finance 0sndcr the direction Of the City
CoanclD, We would then have an au-
thnrity. able. willing. and competent 10
supervise the monetary transactions Of
each Office. This board could earn Us cost
ten times over by watching the tax re-
turns Of citizens and seeing that licenses
are properly assessed. Our city has been
going on for years exceeding its income
and from time 10 time converting It's float
ting debt into a bonded debt. while. there
IS good reason TO believe. a more rigo-
rous examination Of the matter Of assess
ing licenses. etc. would bring into the city
treasury thousands Of cellars which now
never 20 there. y reform In this direc-
ton is only 10 be expected through a
board OF finance. Experience shows that
Council committees cannot OF VIII not give
the nee1ful time and attention 70 details.
and II is useless 10 expect that commit
tees are going 70 % better in the future
than In the past. II we expect ever 10
have our city work done systematically
and well. We shall have 70 create a board
% finance and pay rs members for their
services. Ths cost would be Insignificant:
indeed. Il ISN'T that that makes the City
Council hesltste-bUt rather. that board
OF finance would disturb the existing order
os things and take from some OF the
committees some Of their duties.
However. just now We see no prospect
Of board OF finance; but We think tha,
q will come in time.
And now, back 70 the gas-works; The
Dispatch IS under peculiar obligations 10
srxe that rigid investigation BIZ made
,nto the snairs Of this department Why:
Because we have Always spoken for The
Democratic party when We said that our
party could ard would give ihis city a