Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-20
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The Heard 81 Pwhlse Interests.

The Heard 81 Pubue tntrSeS~
In the discussion at the Chamber OF
Commerce on Monday night last. on the
y, bject OF placing our several city de-
pariments In the hands OF commissions
tn argument adverse TO commissions
was based upon the probability. as Wen
az the possibility. of the Board OF PUB
H. Interests using It's power TO perpetu-
ate the influence OF ring or clique
commissions. II WAS rorndiy asserted
that the Board Of Public Interests vir-
tually dictated TO the Council. and oy
nominating men OF straw forced the
Ccvncil to an acceptance of their choice.
and hence We should wipe out the board
and restore this power 10 the Council
Such an argument Is not only misieah-
ing. but It Is "falsum In uno. falsum III
omnibus" We must 20 back OF the COM
missions. back OF the Board OF Puphc
Interests. and fix the responsibility where
Il belongs-upon the Council itsen. Ergo.
tb> remedy cannot be the restoration Of
this power TO the Council for II itself
il the offence In the case. The proof
o. this lies In the composition OF the
Board OF Public Interests. This board
Is solely and entirely the creation Of the
Council. and hence the Council must as
sumo the responsibility Of the acts OF the
agents they select.
The Board OF Public Interests Is COM
posed OF eleven citizens. six OF whom
including the President OF the common
Council. a-e members OF the counch' the
other five are citizens at large. selectcr
by the two branches OF the Council.
II is obvious. therefore. that if the
Rcard of Public Interests be or become
corrupt in the exercise OF power COM
mitted to IL. the Council itself is TO be
visited with the responsibility and con-
domination Of choosing UNFIT persons.
Again: The nomination OF persons 10
the Council by the Board OF Public In
terests for service on commission re-
oulres a majority vote OF the members
elect Of both branches Of The Council 10
secure an election. II the Council. tnere-
fore. be of the opinion that the board
has sent them an improper or corrupt
nomination. IL Is their duty not TO con-
firm: II they do confirm they perpetrate
a wrong upon the community, and can
not shift the responsibility upon the ooard
or upon the commission.
Again: The Council has the election
Of the Board OF Public Interests In its
hands for a term Of office corresponding
with its own. II a previous board has
been corrupt they have the power OF
choosing an entirely new board. and at
all times the power OF impeachlng ana
removing corrupt member OF either
the board or the commission.
We cannot escape these conclusions.
Let us place the responsibility where 1t
belongs If we have at any time cor
rupt Board OF Public Interests the res
possibility for its continuance lies with
the Council. and no one else-ergo. the
disease IL not reached al all By discon-
tinuing the Board OF Public Interests.
The present discussion about the Board
OF Public Interests has arisen out Of the
action OF the two branches OF the City
Council in asking that the city charter
he so AMENDED as 10 undermine the
board. So far. little has been said by
the people in support OF the Councils
proposition. On the contrary. from all
the evidence that we can gather We
believe that our people wish the board 10
retain all the power that IL now pos
sesses. And. in addition TO the duty OF
nominating police and fire commission
ers. we are satisfied that the great
majority OF our voters would like 10 see
the board clothed with authority TO
nominate members OF commission 10
manage the gas-works. and members Of
a board OF finance and audit. These
two changes would be very popular We
doubt II ii would be wise at this time
to attempt TO bring all of the city de-
partments under commissions. But we
could make a powerful argument in favor
Of these two commissions, in view OF
the defalcations that have occurred
in recent years in Offices where officers
are charged with the handling of money,
and believe that II the case were properly
presented 10 the Legislature the desired
amendments to our charter would be
readily granted.