Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-02
The Hoard Of Public Interests.

1t is given out that some persons are
going to vote in favor of electing the
Fire and Police commissioners by the
people because they do not Ike to have
the Board OF Public Interests NEEDING
in the matter" In other words. they
would vote against amending the
charter as TO these two boards II the
City Council we're authorized TO elect
these commissioners OF their own motion
and without nominations from the Board
OF Public Interests. 30 ~.'.
Well, this Is a matter that may very
well he considered hereafter. II the pend
ing amendments are voted down but
1t cannot come up for consideration II 1t
Is decided at the primary that these
commissioners are hereafter 60 be elect
ell by the people.
The right way is TO vote against these
amendments, and then take up the ques-
ton whether the Intervention Of the
Board OF Public Interests is beneficial
or not. The Dispatch promises that in
that event. it will give literally OF its
time and space TO the discussion OF the
question. whether the selection and cleo
ton Of these commissioners should or
should not be left wholly TO the City
Council But. at present, the pending
question is whether the Fire and Police
rect vote Of the people or not.
In our judgmen: Richmond would take
a great back-step should II resolve TO
throw these two departments, into the
maelstrom of municipal politics at a time
when il is known that ii costs a good
deal of money for any one to malie a
canvass OF this city. And the more
money a man is suspected OF having. the
more he l. expected TO put up" for the
benefit of the workers" at the polls.
We feel sure that many men VINO would
gladly accept the Office from the Board
of Public Interests and City Council and
who would consider II an honor to be
asked to do so, would not give their
money and the time required TO make a
personal canvass In order to become
members of these boards; and we also
fear that the boards would then fall into
the hands OF men who would get into
Office and keep In office by the influence
Of such firemen and policemen who might
choose to make themselves active In poll
tics.
Not only this. but we suspect that the
movement in favor OF elect.ng these
boards by the people means that these
boards are TO be completely recognized
If so, then we may expect the new
boards to reorganize the police force and
Fire Department. as far as may be In
their power to do so.
We have seen no authorized statement
from the advocates of these amendments
saving whether they proposed, in the
event of the adoption OF the amendments
10 fiji the vacancies on the two boards
as they occur, or expect to ask for legis-
latlon enabling them TO retire all the
present members simultaneously. If the
latter Is not their purpose, then we sup
| pose they mean TO retire two members
! of each board at the next municipal cleo
| ton. and two others at the election &c
| be held two years later.
We say 1.-TWO members at each cleo
| ton because ii is conceded that the
! commissioners will have to be elected il
| couples 10 prevent the appearance or
! the boards of colorcd members from
| Jackson Ward. Thus. Clay and jackson
wards would elect two members; .lon
roe and Madison. two: etc, etc.
The truth is that. viewed from any con
servative standpoint. these amendments
are full OF danger. No more mischev
Gus proposition has been brought L
public notice here for many years
| Friends, vote them down