Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
nj observation-disclosures
Anne
Losses

The agitation growing out oi VI .ho
nense losses sustained by the Guy ps -. -
eas-worlSs promises 10 result III 81 81
= nm unon this Legislature TO put al vi
., D'i 10, danartments under commls-
zion \ bin for such a purpose VIII Dc
irtroduced in the Legislature AFTER CIiist-
roe II will be bitterly opposed'-fNo"-
r,ond snecial In Baltimore sun.
vo wound better not try to eaten all
the fish in the sea at one haul II we
ceeded. apparently, our net "ou" o'e"N'
and our catch would not amount ~
ANYTHING. Last october the auVooa'eS
=, charter amendments wrecked ther
cause bv attempting too mucn' !"
,ossihle that they might have caffieu
three or four of the amendments Du''
when they submitted eight or nine '''e
movement broke down Of its own weight
.. no take warning by their expert
ence
F,rst we ought TO insist that the peu-
,,or NJ the CITY Council seeking TO uhuer-
live the BOARD of Public Interests be re-
iected. Next, we ought to ASK tha' ''o
vas-Uorks be put under a commssion
Next. we ought to ask Tor u poaiu "a
e,onca and audit. These three Things
.a NAV succeed in getting; but we
o,n, az n revolution Of the city govern
-, we shall almost surely fali.
~ charter change is needed TO give
the Mayor more power. Ills uu"''
,,rescribed in the state Constitution. MS
,,ovvers are ample. But u wlthi" wv
T.. 81 the constitutional provision II i
,,oo,,ad desirable that the Mayor shdh
no made TO take more aclVe pai' -
,nunicipal affairs than he now uoes' "o
a,,,ht that can be arranged by ordinance
TITO Disnatch is by no means sauS-
fed with the present DIVISION ol '.0
c,tv into wards. Instead OF SIX "arus'
q city as large as this ought 10 haNo n.
Least ten: but we doubt whether " "ouiu
he good policy to inject that queS'io"
into the pending controversy. ms con-
troversv had its origin in the ih-judged
and unwise movement in the CITY Coun-
oil 10 undermine the Board OF PUBIC
interests. The City Council mot all OF
the members, but majority are hoslile
IN the Board Of Public Interests while
the hoard is in high favor with the
people.
The CITY Council will go to the Legisla-
ture with the request that the board
be relieved OF its power to nominate
fire and police commissioners, ana VIII
be met in the legislative committees py
DELEGATIONS Of earnest citizens, who VIII
argue that this is one OF the ques-
t,ons that were settled at the last Demo-
cratic primary, and who VIII CONTEND
that it is good policy to keep the flre
and Police departments as far removed
as possible from city politics. They are
not very far removed now. but they are
farther than they would be II the COM
nissioners were not nominated by the
Board of Public Interests.
Doubtless, there are several city Depart
ments that might be placed under COM
missions with advantage TO puphc III
terest; but, In aiming at too wide marA'
we may miss everything. For these
reasons we would have our people con-
fine their efforts before this Legislature
n securing such action as will defeat
the purpose Of the City Council to under
mine the Board OF Pubic lhleIes's' ai4u
give us two new commissions.
This subject will doubtless come before
the Legislature soon after it reassembles
In January. We recommend that those
who favor such course as we have
outlined get together and appoint COM
mittee to draft the necessary bills' ana
TO represent them before the committees
Of the two houses OF the General AS
sembly.