Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-08
SUNDAY. ..... SEPTEMBER 8, 1875.
The Democratic Primary.

AZ tho urinary election Of the Demo-
cratic party Of Richmond TO be held IN
Octob.r I'VE candidates 20 the House
of Delecates IRE 10 re nominated anu
tbe people Will be asked 20 say then
whether. in their opinion, tho heads OF
city departments now elected by the
City Council should or should net her'af-
fer be elected by tho people; also. whether
The Boards II Fire and POlioo commas
sioners WHO are now dominated hy tEe
Board OF Public Interests and elected by
the city Council should or should not
hereafter be elected by the people by
direct vote.
Thus It viii be seen thot our next pri-
mary will be one Of extraordinary I'M
portance. Richmond ought TO be well
represented I'm the House. and we trust
that our voters viii have q large humber
OF good names from which 20 select five.
But II is q fact that IL ia becoming more
ana more difficult 90 get suitable men to
announce themselves as candidates for
the legislature and the reason OF IL is
that the work OF occurring a nomination
has become very burdsnsome In time
and money. Each Of the candidates has
to look for support 10 the electors of
fhe whole city
II Richmond were divided into Two
cassembly Districts" and each district
were given one representative. many de-
srable men who now refuse 10 declare
"a = d tat faA no tn
duced 10 consent thus 10 serve the people.
In most Of the large cities of the country
this district plan has been adopted, and
with beneficial results. We cannot but
believe that Richmond VIII ask for leg
isla;ion Of this character before many
years have past. AS II Ia. one Of our
candidates for the House Of Delegates,
has to cover more territory In his cam
vass than has a candidate for the New
York House running In the city Of New
York
We would have our people make up
their minds that they will go to the pri-
mary election polls and select five of the
best men Offering thus encouraging the
candidacy of desirable persons, and en-
suring for Richmond a strong and vigil
liant delegation In the House. And, by
the way. II seems 70 us that the candi-
dates are being needlessN questioned on
the subject OF tho charter amendments.
since the primary is looked TO 10 gettle
that very thing.
we see in the list OF offices "a 10 which
II IS proposed 10 change the city charter
Offices that could as well be filed by the
people rs by the City Council, but there
are others that would be much better
nlled by the City Council We beg -
people 10 ponder the questions at issue.
ana TO vote discreetly as 10 all OF these
Offices. Let each businessman and each
workingman make his ballot the sincere
expression OF his weil-consldered and dis
interested judgment. Let him act the
part of a juryman In the great issue 10
be then Joined
Among those Offices that we think
should not be interfered with are the
Fire and Police Commissioners. These
places are now filled under a system
which was devised with the express mr.
pose to remove these appointments as far
as possible from political influences. The
selections for commissioners are frat made
by the Board OF Public Interests. For
each commisslonership this board chooses
three names. which are forwarded 10
the City Council and out OF the three
the City Council elects one. This system
has worked well. Under II our Police and
Fire departments have been tudiciously
managed. In tho matter OF economy. no
other departments Of the city government
chow better. II so Well. Indeed. on tho
part of some of tho iiIemen and ex.f,re-
men, who are fayorlng this change in
the charter. II is contended that tho Fire
Board has been too economical" and
that 81 Ought to have spent in salaries
the money that II has saved I'D and bu,lt
new engine houses with" We need
scarcely say that the average taxpayer
VIII not>concur in this view; nor will tho
workmen who have earned wages In the
building OF the new engine houses.
Whether the proposition to amend ths
cnsrter VIII be carried as whole or
VIII be acted upon according 10 the merits
OF the case OF erch separate Office under
consideration, will depend upon the mum.
Der OF conservative voters who prese,,
themselves n, the polls on the day of ths
primary election. II the subject be well
Understood. and the voters turn QUE in
great numbers, we trust that both OF the
Doaras that We have mentioned. and
some OK the other offices will be- struck
IRON The list to bs voted upon Hero IL
glorious opportunity for our business.
men and for our work,ngmen 20 show
that they feel a great interest in the
welfare OF Richmond, and that they can
be relied upon to give thoroughly
honest. Intelligent and petrioMc verde,
~ the noils