The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-17
JUDGE CHRISTIAN'S SPEECH.
A Convincing Argument In Favor of "Com
t..Issiu....s


mi.sious' Presented.
Judge George L. Christian followed Mr.
- in behalf of commissions in one
OF the strongest argumentative speeches
ever heard in this city. He discussed
municipal government al great length.
and quoted from Mr. James Brice. Mr.
Moorfeld Story. Professor James. and
other great authorities i'm substantation Of
his views Judge Christian exhibited
great familiarity with the subject of city
government. The speaker dwet upon the
significance and importance of the move
ment for good city government, referring
10 the numerous organizations TO chat end
In the cities of the United States
Judge Christian quoted from the Audi
tors report to show that during the last
decade the real values OF the city have
only increased about ten millions. whilst
it's debt has grown within that period
about two Millions or about ~ per cent.
OF the real values He then went on to
show that the remedy was TO put the
management OF the departments OF the
citys affairs under the control of COM
missions
The speaker then discussed at great
length the inherent characteristics of the
two forms of city government. presenting
in most interesting manner a striking
contrast between the committee" gov
eminent as at present and the proposed
commissions" PROCEEDINGS, he spoke as
follows:
ONE COMMISSION.
In February. 1855 some citizens of Rich
mod. with that philosophical. saga
cious. and worthy man, the LAKE Edward
Cohen. at their head. hnl' X that our
Fire Department. was by no means as
efficient as IL should be- considering the
amount of money which was yearly spent
I'm maintaining IL. and appre lending thst
under the committee" management L
would become more inefficient from gear
10 year. applied to the Genera, Assembly
and procured the passage of an &c; put
ting that department and that of the
fire alarm under the control of com
mission OF six citizens. one a resident Of
each ward-three names from each ward
to be nominated by the Board OF Public
Interests" and from these one 20 be
elected by the Council. The act provides
that II shall be the duty Of the City
Council to appropriate annually upon
the recommendation of the Board Of FIRE
Commissioners. such sum of money as
said Council shall deem sufficient for the
proper maintenance of both fire and fire.
alarm departments for pay-rolls, expense,
equipment and construction; provided,
such appropriations should not be reduced
below the sums appropriated 10 the fire
and Ilfe-dldlln departments loi tllt lS'di
wear 1878" Whilst the Council has in
creased the appropriation for the pay
rolls OF the Fire Department because OF
the fact that a larger number of men are
employed by the department than former
~. yet TO meet the expenses Of the de-
+, partment proper exclusive OF the pay
rolls. IL has appropriated the minimum
amount allowed by the act-viz, that APP
propriated for the year prior to the time
he took effect creating The gOIQmlS-
SIGN.
AT my request. the efficient president
of the board has furnished me with
detailed statement of the amounts APP
propriated. and the expenditures ana
growth OF these two departments. under
the commission for each year since the
commission took charge OF them III
shows that for the year 1897 ,the last
year of the departments under the com
mittec'D the amount app Opriated Tor the
expenses OF the fire department was SlS,-
$3.50 (the number of feet of hose then
owned by the department Is not gwen
but that owned in 1855 is put at lo,w
feeD: the department then mad twenty
eight horses. six engine companies, TWO
truck companies. two hose companies,
no chemical engine. and that year pur-
chased a No. engine. This appfopfia-
lions for the expenses OF the depart
ment for each year from 1850 to 1888, IN
elusive. have been 81. 1870: except tor the
years 1891 and 1894. when IL was Sl',"p
In 1886. the department had 2l.vJO icet
OF hose forty-two horses. eight engine
companies. three truck companies and
one chemical engine. whilst each year the
hetterments procured for the department
out OF appropriations for expenses are
simply amazing. Among other things.
the commissioners have purchased one
loAand built three engine houses. pur-
t-A -. SIS
hose wagons. and all sorts OF Necessary
apparatus. which II is impossible for me
to enumerate here. making an aggregate
OF about $4,000 spent In betterments Tor
the department within the seven ana q
half years since the board took charge
OF the department: thus practically rene
waiting the department and its outnt
throughout. and making 1t rank a. one OF
the very best OF it's size in the whole
country. The expense bf the department
Der capita OF population. as compared
With other cities OF about the same
sixe as Richmond. is as follows: Lowef,
Mass. $l.s5 per head. Syracuse. n. y,
$50: Atlanta. Ga, $40: New Haven.
Conn, $ils; Worcester. Mass. 81 10; Pat
terson. n. j.. sl07 Richmond. Va. So
The Improvements in the hre-alarm de-
partment are equally marked. and again.
] can't read them. but invite your inspec-
ton OF the report, IL you wish TO see H.
So much for the work OF one commits
sion And no one who remembers the
police force under the old administration
will fail to recognize that the improve
ments In that too under the commission
ers have been marked. and most salts
factory in every way.
THE LIGHT DEPARTMENT.
We now reluctonfly turn from this pic
turc "a the administration by "a com
nistes" OF the Light Department, and
what do we findg ! can't 80 into the de.
tails OF the receipts and disbursements
for each year. but they are Here for the
inspection OF any ono who wishes TO see
them. ! can only refer 10 them by de-
cades and In general way. In 1850 the
oVpenses Of that department. were u.s.
Nh. while the receipts were $o6, o5a.67.
MI ~ at y per thepssnd feet In 1850