Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-07
SATURDAY,. SEPTEMBER 7, 1s9;
Fire md Police BOnr6n.

The fact that our Fire and Police boards
were established by the Legislature
10 take these two departments OF our
municipal government out Of politics
ought TO be remembered. now that
II is proposed 10 amend the charter OF
this city 90 as TO elect the commissioners
nv the people. instead Of by the Board
Of Public Interests and City Council.
The charter as it stands provides that
these commissioners shall be selected by
the Board Of Public Interests. and That
for each commissionership the bodru
shall send to the city Council three
nominees. out Of the three the TWO
branches Of the City Council sittlhs III
Joint session select one. Thus these
elections are removed. as far as possible
from polltical influences. Under the pre-
ylous system many OF our poiceneh
and fremen were active politicians, ana
depended more upon political influence
than upon their official records Tor pro-
motion or fayors. But, under the present
advancement all OF that has been done
away with, because the commissioners
are perfectly independent, having 10
fear of the pull OF this or that police
man or fireman.
we are astonished to find how little
attention our businessmen are giving TO
,bis nroposition TO reorganize our boards
~ Police and Fire Commissioners. 1t
may be that the seeming indifference Vi
the public IS the result Of false sense
II eecurity-that the people cannot imasiue
that II is possible that the Democrats Oh
Richmond will 80 to the primary poiis
and vote TO reorganlze (disorganize, rather
these two departments. But we Woulu
warn our businessmen and all other con-
seryatiye and patriotic citizens against
any such overconfdence. Unless there Is
large turnout Of conservative voters the
proposltion may be carried, and then our
members Of the Legislature VIII con-
slider themselves instructed to support an
amendment 10 the city charter proViuihs
that hereafter members of the Police ana
Fire boards shall be elected by the peo-
nle. lust as city councilmen now are
When there is considerable pay attached
10 an office, as a rule, the diincui'S
=, Getting suitable candidates to announce
themselves for it Is not very great pu'
these commissioners that we are speak
ing about are not paid cent Tor theh
services. They serve without compehsa-
zion. They take the places for the hohor
that Is in them. and with the pa'rlouc
,urnose of serving the taxpayers OF the
community. and the general public. But
when YOU make the commissioners eiec-
tive by the people you require each
nerson who wishes to be a member 10
subject himself TO the expense ana laDor
Of n personal canvass. Not many ues"-
able men will agree 10 do this. Inc con-
seouence will be that the personnel OF
these two boards win deteriorate. Anu
what Is more, from the beginning 10 the
ending OF his term of office each COM
missioner who aspires TO reelection VIII
be found catering more or less 10 the
politicians who are members OF the force
II In n wonder TO us that this proposed
change In the city charter is not receiving
more consideration than IT Is. Few oil
our businessmen have given II thought.
Yet IT is matter demanding urgent
attention.
The place 10 check the movement In
favor of the change Is at the primary
polls. II the popular vote is largely IN
favor OF the proposed amendment 1t Will
be useless to hope TO defeat it before the
Legislature. SO, too. as to all the other
charter amendments TO be voted upon
mt the Democratic primary. Let our peo-
pie think about these things. and resolve
10 vote at the primary, and vote wisely.