Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-30

We take IL for granted that the revision
of the ordinances which Is now being
made by the city Council will have no
bearing upon the duties OF the Board OF
Public Interests. Tha. is matter which
should be dealt wiln in the charter. HOW
ever. the friends Of the board would 90
well TO watch and see that nothing slips
into the new Code which will disturb the
present status with respect to the board
We trust that no member Of the Leeis-
lature will commit himself 10 the Coun-
CHS ambitious proposition undl he hears
the other side-the peoples side. In our
Judgment. the citizens OF Richmond do
not wish TO give the City Council any
more patronage than it now possesses.
They do not desire TO take away from the
Board Of Public Interests the power to
nominate police and fire commissioners
They do not desire to put fhe commis-
sioners' official fate entirely into the
hands of the City Council. They would
have well enough le, alone. And In ask
ing this they will urge the Legislature
thereby TO respect the viii of the Demo-
cratic voters as expressed at the last
Democratic primary election.
IL the decision of our voters in favor OF
the present mode OF electing police ana
fire commissioners had been reached by
bare majority there might have been some
excuse for the proposition OF the city
Council. But as our voters by two
fbCir caIcfdctiOn
with the present mode of choosing com
missloners, it is a great mistake TO reopen
the question But reopened 1t is to be-the
CITY Council has said so-and we doubt
not Richmond's whole municipal system
will thus be reviewed in our legislative
halls.
The suggestion will be made that the
gas-works ought to be put under COM
mission, and it happens that at the very
time when the City Council has declared
it's dissatisfaction with our two COM
missions. a committee of the City Coun-
ell is found TO have been doing its work
very badly. indeed We have seen it
stated as a fact that the authorities at the
gdS-WOrks puiTptu al Ii'o INV P'p''' """
pamed it off upon the public as genuine
article of hydrogen-gas! Other frauds OF
a glazing character have come TO light
since the honest and vigorous admins
tration Of Superintendent ". p. Knowles
began.
For our part. we are quite willing that
the Legislature shall lake either the
Fire or the Police Department and COM
pare il with any department which Is now
under a committee, TO learn whether IT is
better TO continue or not the present sys-
TEN of commissions. Between Council
committee and commissions, such az the
City Council would have. We see not
great difference. Really the only differ
ence of consequence would be that the
new-fangled commissions would not be re-
volutionized by each new Council as the
Council committees are liable to be.
SO we can see no possible good 10 result
from putting the commissions wholly
under the thumb OF the city Council.
Already the city Council has great in
fuence over the Board of Public Interests.
The public doesn't wish 10 see this in
fluence extended; ii would rather see II
curtailed. Hence We advise our legisla-
tors to give no countenance to the
city Councils ambitious scheme Of char
ter changes-certainly not until the peo-
pies side Of the question has been
argued before them, as II will be in due
season